Sociopolitics of Biosecurity

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Posted on 02 August 2010

The second of a series of ESRC-funded seminars on The Sociopolitics of Biosecurity was held at Keele (June 2010).  Run by Dr Sarah Taylor (Biological Sciences), Professor Andrew Dobson (SPIRE) and Dr Kezia Barker (Birkbeck College, London), this seminar looked at the native/alien paradigm in the context of conservation policy. 

Presentations by a range of speakers from Forest Research, Natural England, the Soil Association, CAB International and the Black Environment Network examined the language and definitions used to structure nativist concerns, the suitability of classification criteria, the underpinning science, the pragmatic justifications for nativist policies, as well as ideological assumptions and cultural motivations, including the degree to which the 'native good, aliens bad' discourse is a barrier to ethnic minority participation in environmental conservation. 

The 2-day seminar concluded with a campus tour led by Dr Taylor, Robin Cross and Andy Parry - all of Keele - which demonstrated the challenge of restoring 'invaded landscapes'.

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