Announcements, Events and Research Interests

Each issue we will preview upcoming events, conferences and talks that we think our readers might be interested in. We will also make suggestions for good sites and resources that people recommend and share research topics and questions. If you want to contribute email us at: actsfactsdreamedeeds@hotmail.com

This month we feature the Reclus Conference, L'Homme et la Terre, the launch of the revised edition of the Geddes-Tagore correspondence at the Edinburgh Book Festival and the RTPI Commemorative Lecture 2005.

Civics as Applied Sociology
But first the Gutenberg Project, the worlds oldest free internet publisher has re-produced Civics: as Applied Sociology, Read before the Sociological Society at a Meeting in the School of Economics and Political Science (University of London), Clare Market, W.C., at 5 p.m., on Monday, July 18th, 1904; the Rt. Hon. CHARLES BOOTH, F.R.S., in the Chair.

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net.

Go here to read/download the whole text.

East-West
The revised edition of the Geddes-Tagore Letters, by Bashabi Fraser is to be launched at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on Monday, 29 August in the Studio Tent at Charlotte Square at 5 p.m.

Full Price: £7.00
Concession Price: £5.00

The book is the first publishing venture of Wordpower Books Publishing, a new independent publisher hoping to build on the success of Elaine Henry's Wordpower Bookshop.

'In this luminous exchange of letters between two kindred spirits Bashabi Fraser has revealed a new fascinating side to the age-old relationship between India and Scotland. Rabindranath Tagore and Patrick Geddes were inspirational innovators and their quest for a dream of perfection was clearly a meeting of true minds.' Trevor Royle, Associate Editor, Sunday Herald

'Cities in Devolution' - Royal Town Planning Institute Annual Lecture
The 2005 lecture is to be given by Raymond Young, chair of Architecture and Design Scotland on the subject of 'Cities in Devolution', on 16 September at 4.45 p.m. at St Andrews in the Square in Glasgow.

The lecture will be followed by a drinks reception for all delegates and then by an Urban Design week workshop held by the West of Scotland Chapter of the Institute.

The event is promoted again by RTPI and Saltire Society and is sponsored by the Scottish Executive and Glasgow City Council.

More details and a booking form are available from: Graham U'ren FRTPI,
The Royal Town Planning Institute in Scotland, 57 Melville Street, Edinburgh EH3 7HL
Tel 0131 226 1959 or email: scotland@rtpi.org.uk

Read last years lecture here: 'Sustainable Development Past and Present', by Jonathon Porritt.

L'Homme et la Terre: The Legacy of Elisee Reclus (1830-1905) Conference, New Orleans

Lectures and presentations to include..

Peter Marshall (UK), “Elisée Reclus, Geographer of Freedom”
Dana Ward (Pitzer College): “Kropotkin and Reclus' Friendship and the Cross-fertilization of Ideas”Aragorn! (Anarchy: A Journal of Desire Armed): "The Future of Green Anarchy: Reclus Beyond the City and the Primitive"
Patricia Leighten (Duke University), “Abstracting Anarchism: Élisée Reclus, František Kupka and the Project Modernist Art”
Amy F. Ogata (Bard Graduate Center), "Van de Velde, Reclus, and the Applied Arts"
Robyn Roslak (University of Minnesota-Duluth), “Render Nature Most Beautiful:” Élisée Reclus, Neo-Impressionism, and Holistic Landscape”
John Clark (Loyola University): “The Living Legacy of Elisée Reclus: Ecology, Ethics & Politics”
Mike Small : “From the Commune to the Polis: Anarchism & Neo-Vitalism in the Work of Patrick Geddes & Elisée Reclus”
Katholiniki Venet (New Orleans): “Reclus on Tribal Society and the Ambiguities of Progress”
Frank Fillebeck (Louisiana State University): "Reclus: Anarchy, Spirituality and Nature"
Mark Bonta (Delta State University): “Mapping Reclus onto Deleuze: Toward a Geophilosophy of the ´New Earth’”
Kent Mathewson (Louisiana State University) “Elisée Reclus’ Latin American Writings and Travel”

For more details email John Clark at: clark@loyno.edu

Research Queries

Natalie I Bentz wrote us saying:

"I’m currently conducting research on Sir Patrick Geddes for a paper on maritime law. In particular, I’m looking for any piece of information on his time at Aberdeen University, especially any information and documents regarding the zoological station in Cowie near Stonehaven that Patrick Geddes set up. Apparently, there are a few pictures of this station and other documents regarding the exact location. Unfortunately, they are not in the library collection in Aberdeen. I’d therefore be very grateful if you could help me with any information or advise me on where I could find the documents I’m looking for?"

Contact Natalie at: u01nib2@abdn.ac.uk

If you have research queries contact us and we can help share ideas and solve research issues.