Network in Canadian History and Environment
Encyclopedia
The Network in Canadian History and Environment (NiCHE) based at the University of Western Ontario
was established in 2004 as a confederation of scholars working in the field of Canadian environmental history and Canadian-based scholars working in the fields of historical geography
and environmental history
, but focused on other regions of the world.
The network has over 400 members, primarily researchers in the fields of history
, geography
, and the humanities
.
Natural scientists and policymakers need access to environmental history
research so that they can make informed decisions about current and future practices. NiCHE seeks to provide historical context of environmental issues and to promote dialogue between researchers of different disciplines as well as with policymakers. Just as importantly, NiCHE is committed to engaging with the broader public, working to preserve and interpret Canada's past for the benefit of all Canadians.
The NiCHE Digital Infrastructure project provides a space on the web to members in need of a way to disseminate their research. The NiCHE website hosts a number of blogs in English and French that make Canadian environmental history
more accessible to the wider public. NiCHE also works to adopt, digitizes and publicizes research databases. NiCHE can also digitize and present illustrations, maps and other materials complementary to print publications.
Networking
NiCHE sponsors numerous events on local, regional, national and global scales to help build a strong network of Canadian environmental historians. Numerous regional networks exist within the NiCHE structure. Moreover, NiCHE facilitates communication with a wide variety of organizations interested in Canadian nature and history. NiCHE also works with the American Society of Environmental History and the European Society of Environmental History to help build a global network of researchers. To this end, NiCHE co-sponsored the first World Congress of Environmental History held in Copenhagen in 2009. Finally, the NiCHE New Scholar's committee uses Skype and other free online resources to run online events, including monthly writing support groups and an annual virtual conference called Place and Placelessness.
Podcast
NiCHE sponsors a monthly audio podcast called Nature's Past: Canadian Environmental History Podcast
. Sean Kheraj, a new professor in the history department at York University
, interviews Canadian environmental historians and historical geographers and helps mobilize their research beyond the limited orbit of academic publishing.
Projects
Each fall, NiCHE holds a "Call for Projects", with funding for new, one-time projects. NiCHE looks to support innovative projects that mobilize or disseminate Canadian environmental history
.
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
was established in 2004 as a confederation of scholars working in the field of Canadian environmental history and Canadian-based scholars working in the fields of historical geography
Historical geography
Historical geography is the study of the human, physical, fictional, theoretical, and "real" geographies of the past. Historical geography studies a wide variety of issues and topics. A common theme is the study of the geographies of the past and how a place or region changes through time...
and environmental history
Environmental history
Environmental history, a branch of historiography, is the study of human interaction with the natural world over time. In contrast to other historical disciplines, it emphasizes the active role nature plays in influencing human affairs. Environmental historians study how humans both shape their...
, but focused on other regions of the world.
The network has over 400 members, primarily researchers in the fields of history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
, geography
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
, and the humanities
Humanities
The humanities are academic disciplines that study the human condition, using methods that are primarily analytical, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural sciences....
.
Mission
The NiCHE website describes the network's mission: "Understanding today's environment demands a clear understanding of its past. Unless environmental matters are studied in their historical context, there can be no measurement of relative change. NiCHE is a confederation of researchers and educators who work at the intersection of nature and history, seeking to provide that context. NiCHE acts to help make that work more available to fellow researchers, policy makers and the Canadian public."Natural scientists and policymakers need access to environmental history
Environmental history
Environmental history, a branch of historiography, is the study of human interaction with the natural world over time. In contrast to other historical disciplines, it emphasizes the active role nature plays in influencing human affairs. Environmental historians study how humans both shape their...
research so that they can make informed decisions about current and future practices. NiCHE seeks to provide historical context of environmental issues and to promote dialogue between researchers of different disciplines as well as with policymakers. Just as importantly, NiCHE is committed to engaging with the broader public, working to preserve and interpret Canada's past for the benefit of all Canadians.
Activities
Web SpaceThe NiCHE Digital Infrastructure project provides a space on the web to members in need of a way to disseminate their research. The NiCHE website hosts a number of blogs in English and French that make Canadian environmental history
Environmental history
Environmental history, a branch of historiography, is the study of human interaction with the natural world over time. In contrast to other historical disciplines, it emphasizes the active role nature plays in influencing human affairs. Environmental historians study how humans both shape their...
more accessible to the wider public. NiCHE also works to adopt, digitizes and publicizes research databases. NiCHE can also digitize and present illustrations, maps and other materials complementary to print publications.
Networking
NiCHE sponsors numerous events on local, regional, national and global scales to help build a strong network of Canadian environmental historians. Numerous regional networks exist within the NiCHE structure. Moreover, NiCHE facilitates communication with a wide variety of organizations interested in Canadian nature and history. NiCHE also works with the American Society of Environmental History and the European Society of Environmental History to help build a global network of researchers. To this end, NiCHE co-sponsored the first World Congress of Environmental History held in Copenhagen in 2009. Finally, the NiCHE New Scholar's committee uses Skype and other free online resources to run online events, including monthly writing support groups and an annual virtual conference called Place and Placelessness.
Podcast
NiCHE sponsors a monthly audio podcast called Nature's Past: Canadian Environmental History Podcast
Nature's Past: Canadian environmental history podcast
Nature's Past: Canadian environmental history podcast is a monthly episodic audio podcast about the environmental history research community in Canada, sponsored by the Network in Canadian History and Environment. The podcast was first produced out of the University of British Columbia in...
. Sean Kheraj, a new professor in the history department at York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
, interviews Canadian environmental historians and historical geographers and helps mobilize their research beyond the limited orbit of academic publishing.
Projects
Each fall, NiCHE holds a "Call for Projects", with funding for new, one-time projects. NiCHE looks to support innovative projects that mobilize or disseminate Canadian environmental history
Environmental history
Environmental history, a branch of historiography, is the study of human interaction with the natural world over time. In contrast to other historical disciplines, it emphasizes the active role nature plays in influencing human affairs. Environmental historians study how humans both shape their...
.