Online meeting
Liesbeth Huybrechts shared her work as part of the Reworlding EU project which addresses socio-ecological concerns via participatory approaches, as well as the Spatial Capacity Building research cluster that presents various projects supporting spatial transformation processes. Liesbeth’s extensive experience from working with people across domains of life as well as countries and cultures has frequently highlighted the importance of language and culture as joint understandings are being sought, in contexts of community resilience, sustainability, climate change challenges and more. Cross-cultural barriers linked with language concern perceptions as well as policies, posing challenges in developing aligned visions and joint narratives. The ability to speak more than one language and connect with diverse cultural backgrounds is invaluable, as well as building up networks across countries, where experts can translate and mediate between the expert group and the diverse cultures.
Niamh Ann Kelly gave an overview of relevant research at TU Dublin, highlighting a range of areas where language matters in the context of climate change. Niamh’s own work centres on museums, cultural representations of food security, and cultural heritage, all of which involve cultural interpretation, perceptions and narratives that characterise the associated social histories.