Building on the success of Under Western Skies: Climate, Culture, and Change in Western North America in October 2010, Under Western Skies 2 welcomes academics from across the disciplines as well as members of artistic and activist communities, non- and for-profit organizations, government, labour, and NGOs to address the environmental challenges faced by human and nonhuman actors across North America.UWS 2 will take place on Mount Royal University campus in the LEED Gold-certified Roderick Mah Centre for Continuous Learning.

Confirmed keynote speakers include:

•environmental historian Donald Worster (University of Kansas; author of Under Western Skies [OUP, 1992]);
•2011 Gemini Award-winning filmmaker and Arctic anthropologist Niobe Thompson (Clearwater Media, Edmonton, AB; co-director Tipping Point: The Age of the Oilsands);
•award-winning Canadian poet Skydancer Louise Halfe (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan);
•climatologist Scott Denning (Colorado State University);
•environmental journalist Alanna Mitchell (Sea Sick: The Global Ocean in Crisis);
•ethnobotanist Gary Paul Nabhan (University of Arizona).

With its mandate for both interdisciplinarity and community outreach, UWS 2 broadens the geographical scope of the inaugural conference but retains its wide call for contributions from all environmental fields of inquiry and endeavor, including the humanities, natural and social sciences, North American studies, public policy, business, and law. Artistic, creative, and non-academic proposals are also welcome.

Direct all proposals, together with brief bio and contact information, to Dr. Robert Boschman at rboschman@mtroyal.ca and to Dr. Mario Trono atmtrono@mtroyal.ca.

The conference website can be explored at http://skies.mtroyal.ca/

Closing Date: Monday, January 23, 2012