Join experienced environmental journalist Fiona Harvey, historians of science Prof Jon Agar and Dr Sally Horrocks and oral historian Dr Paul Merchant as they reflect on what the life stories in the British Library collections offer to conversations on questions such as:
- Why have most British farmers – big and small – intensified their use of the environment since 1945? Under what economic and moral pressures did they act?
- How do these interviewees reflect on their past practice now?
- Who has had access to farms, as owners, tenants and workers? How has this changed – or not – over time?
- How can the analysis of life stories shed light on the current challenges of agriculture and the environment, in the face of climate change and the crisis in habitat and biodiversity loss?
- Why is it useful to record stories of past uses of the environment? Who can benefit?
This early evening event celebrates the completion of the National Life Stories project, ‘An Oral History of Farming, Land Management and Conservation in Post-War Britain’. Intriguing audio clips from the project will be showcased to give a sense of the themes covered in the 50 testimonies collected from across the UK.
Speaker biographies
Prof Jon Agar (Professor in the Department of Science and Technology Studies, University College London, NLS Trustee). Jon’s research is on the history of modern science and technology with specific research interests in the history of science and government; history at the intersections of technologies and the environment; history of computing including artificial intelligence; history of Cold War research; and new ways of thinking about technology.
Fiona Harvey is an award-winning journalist who has covered the environment since 2004, at the Financial Times and subsequently for the Guardian – where she is now environment editor. She has written extensively on every environmental issue, from air pollution and biodiversity to farming practice, soil health and climate change.
Dr Sally Horrocks (Associate Professor in Contemporary British History, University of Leicester and NLS Senior Academic Advisor for Science). Sally’s recent work concentrates on scientific careers and the use of oral history as a method for researching them, with a particular interest in women scientists and engineers, gender and scientific careers and on careers outside of the academic sector.
Dr Paul Merchant (NLS Oral Historian and Researcher) has interviewed for NLS since 2009 on a wide range of topics including climate history, geology, science and religion and agriculture. Paul has used this extensive experience as interviewer for ‘An Oral History of Farming, Land Management and Conservation in Post-War Britain’.
When:
Friday 30 June, 5.15pm – 9.00pm (drinks from 5.15, event starts at 7pm)
Where:
Pigott Theatre, The Knowledge Centre, The British Library, 96 Euston Road London NW1 2DB
Cost:
£10 per ticket. Book here: https://www.bl.uk/events/the-value-of-life-stories-of-the-environment
We are grateful for the support of Arcadia, a charitable fund of Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin.
