CALL FOR PAPERS – The State of Maritime History Research

CALL FOR PAPERS

University of Greenwich, 9 September 2017

Over the past few decades there has been significant debate as to the place and shape of maritime history. In January 2008, the Council of the American Historical Association approved unanimously to add ‘Maritime, including Naval’ to its taxonomy of academic specialties. But since then, it has been suggested that the field has been marginalised.  Or does the growth of new areas of interest – such as the study of port towns, the ‘Atlantic World,’ Coastal History, and the role of gender in maritime history – suggest a flourishing, if more diverse, environment? What is the state of health in other research-orientated maritime activities such as public history and heritage?

The Greenwich Maritime Centre and the Society for Nautical Research are excited to announce a major conference to be held at the University of Greenwich to consider these questions. The conference will bring together key contributors from within the broad field of maritime history, as well as those who write on maritime and coastal topics, but do not consider themselves maritime historians. Papers and key discussion points will be published in hard copy and/or online by the Society of Nautical Research.

Proposals are invited for papers on any of the following aspects, or on other related and relevant themes. The principal criterion for acceptance will be the extent to which a paper provides a broad overview of the current situation in a specific field, and of the prospects for the future, rather than narrow, descriptive accounts of a particular period of history or historic ship (to give two examples).

• The study of maritime history in the university and school sectors
• The state of maritime research in particular geographical regions and countries
• The state of particular sub-disciplines within maritime history and research, e.g. naval history, nautical archaeology, port towns, coastal studies
• The health of the maritime museums sector, and current and future challenges for it
• The state of the historic ships and craft sector
• ‘Sea blindness’: fact or fiction?

Proposals of 500 words, together with a short biography of no more than 150 words, should be submitted by 1 June 2017  to  https://tinyurl.com/SNRConference2017

NB: There will be a nominal fee of £25 for the conference. Please book  at  https://maritimeresearch.eventbrite.co.uk/, registration will open on 1 June 2017.

Greenwich Forum presents The Blue Economy – The UK Opportunity Maritime Technology and Sustainability conference

Thursday 20 November 2014

HQS Wellington, Temple Stairs, Victoria Embankment, London WC2R 2PN

The Blue Economy – the extensive interdependent range of economic activities that depend on the sea – offers huge potential for sustainable economic growth. This has been identified in the EC ‘Blue Growth’ strategy, with an emphasis on marine knowledge, spatial planning and integrated maritime surveillance. In January 2014 the Commission launched Horizon 2020, the EU’s largest ever research and innovation programme. Within the UK, current government initiatives to promote marine and maritime growth include the Marine Industries Leadership Council with representatives from the main sectors. Indications of rising international awareness of the importance of blue growth, include the action agenda for the Global Oceans Commission (2013-), the activities of the Global Forum on Oceans, Coasts and Islands (2002-), and the five-day Global Oceans Action Summit for Food Security and Blue Growth (The Hague, April 2014).

 

Taking as a starting point the three elements of the EC Blue Growth strategy, the Blue Economy symposium will examine these in relation to future UK opportunities in marine/maritime exploration, exploitation, energy and enterprise. What are the gaps in marine knowledge, spatial planning requirements and surveillance capacity that UK technology and skill can fill? What is needed to ensure that public policy and private interests combine to benefit the UK’s Blue Economy?

 

Programme

08:45	Coffee and Registration
09:15	Welcome and Introduction Professor Sarah Palmer, Chair of Greenwich Forum
09:30	Keynote Address: Simon Reddy, Global Ocean Commission
10:00	Theme 1: Exploration Professor Ed Hill, National Oceanography Centre Koen Verbruggen, Geological Survey Ireland Robert Ward, International Hydrographic Organisation
11:15	Morning Break
11:45	Theme 2: Exploitation Dr Philomène Verlaan, IMarEST John Breslin, Smartbay Ireland Dr Adrian Glover, Natural History Museum TBC
13:00	Lunch Break
14:00	Theme 3: Energy Michael Cowling, Crown Estate Martin Wright, Aurora Ventures Ltd. Oil and Gas UK TBC
15:15	Afternoon Break
15:45	Theme 4: Enterprise Gregory Darling, Gardline/Marine Industries Leadership Council Martin Hampson, Satellite Applications Catapult Lloyd’s Register
17:00	Keynote Address: The Rt Hon  Matthew Hancock, Minister of State for Business and Enterprise
17:30	Concluding Comments and Drinks Reception
18:30	End of Event

to book a place click here