Climate change is already happening but remains underrepresented as a concern in the heritage sector across north and east Africa. This lack of discussion must be rectified, particularly in these regions where fluctuations in temperature, humidity, and precipitation can have devastating impacts on tangible and intangible heritage as well as regional economic viability and humanitarian issues.
In 2024 and 2025, thanks to support from the British Academy, the Egypt Exploration Society will work together with other British International Research Institutions to address this lack of discussion by creating a regional hub for heritage adaptation to climate change.
Working with colleagues at the Alexandria Research Center for Adaptation to Climate Change, Alexandria University (ARCA), the Climate Change and Heritage Adaptation project intends to advocate regional policy change in the heritage sector. To attain this overall objective, several specific objectives are to be addressed including:
-Raising awareness of climate change impact in the heritage sector and adaptation options
-Promoting research on climate change impact and potential adaptation in the heritage sector
-Providing briefs and guidelines for policy change in the heritage sector for adaptation to climate change.
Online conference
18-19 September 2024
The Climate Change and Heritage Adaptation project begins with an online conference held in partnership with ARCA. This two-day online conference invites projects working with or impacted by climate change in the broader North and East Africa region to share their experiences. Discussion sessions intended to open dialogue across geographical and political borders will help to share the lessons learned by working in these areas. Speakers need not have already implemented adaptive measures on their projects as this is intended as a starting point where we hope to raise more questions than answers.
Call for papers
The organisers invite papers dealing with various aspects of climate impacts on heritage including but not limited to:
-Paleoclimatology
-Archaeology and current fieldwork
-Impact on intangible heritage
-Impact on tangible heritage
-Earth sciences
-Natural disaster
-The history of research
-Site management and conservation
-Population movement
-Community engagement
-Paleoenvironment, biodiversity, zooarchaeology, and/or archaeobotanical studies
-Geographical and time coverage
-Papers should focus on North and East Africa, and can cover any period.
Submission procedure
Abstracts, of no more than 150 words should be submitted by 17:00 on 1st July 2024 to [email protected]. During the conference, presenters will have 20 minutes to present their work in PowerPoint in English or Arabic to be followed by questions and discussion.
Live translation will be available during online attendance (English-Arabic / Arabic-English).
Selection process
Abstracts will be considered by a panel made up of representatives from the organising institutions and confirmation will be mailed by 26th July 2024.
Important dates
Abstract submission – 1st July 2024
Assessment outcome – 26th July 2024
Conference registration – 29th July 2024
Conference – 18th-19th September 2024
Organising Committee
Prof Mohamed Abdrabo (ARCA, Alexandria University)
Dr Corisande Fenwick (British Institute for Libyan & Northern African Studies and UCL)
Dr Kennedy Gitu (British Institute in East Africa)
Dr Carl Graves (The Egypt Exploration Society)
Dr Penelope Wilson (EES Delta Survey and Durham University)
