CEH is thrilled to welcome back Elliot Hurst. Elliot stayed with the centre for a prolonged period of time during his doctoral studies—studies which Elliot recently completed, earning him a PhD degree in geography from the University of Stirling.

At this event, Elliot will introduce his work that cuts across engineering, hydrology, and environmental humanities approaches. More specifically, he will be presenting a paper in progress entitled “Water qualities in more-than-human waterscapes” followed by open discussion. Please see the abstract below.

All are welcome for Elliot’s presentation and the subsequent discussion with no registration necessary. Coffee and tea provided.

Also, do consider joining us for the CEH semester start social event that takes places immediately afterwards. (Please note that registration is required for the social event. More information and registration here.

Abstract

Connecting to recent critical literature on water quality, this talk tells a story of three water quality parameters: Escherichia coli, Biochemical oxygen demand and Nitrate-nitrogen. I narrate these water quality parameters across the materials, infrastructures, ways of knowing, ethics and politics of various water quality assemblages. Drawing upon fieldwork in India, Scotland and Aotearoa New Zealand, these explorations of water quality align with the concept of a more-than-human waterscape, where biosensing and toxic harm to human and other-than-human beings emerge as key problematics. This talk connects water qualities to discussions of toxic politics in STS and geography, and to the reflexive yet engaged approach of critical physical geography. Inspired by feminist STS, I hope to contribute towards a critical and reflective scientific praxis; a water quality science and politics adequate for more-than-human flourishing.