UC in the City Lecture Series - Science

Professor Eric Pawson (College of Science) presents “Empires of grass: making New Zealand’s landscapes and economies”.

New Zealand’s farming landscape is a legacy of nineteenth century enthusiasm for exotic grasses. How did this come to be, when there were other ways of earning a living? Exploring this question opens up the story of a country transformed and also shows how such changes are inseparable from larger transformations in global power and exchange. But in enacting "empires of grass" as the basis of New Zealand’s landscapes and economies, have we foreclosed on other options for developing our biological economies and future wealth generation?

Professor Eric Pawson trained as an historical geographer and economic historian at Oxford University. He has been involved in a number of interdisciplinary projects, co-leading the Changing Places projects (1992, 1996), in which the geographical profession in New Zealand sought to make sense of the impacts of political and economic restructuring, and chairing the Advisory Committee of the New Zealand Historical Atlas (1997). More recently, he has turned his attention to environmental history, co-editing Environmental Histories of New Zealand (2002), and co-leading the ‘Empires of Grass’ team. He received the Distinguished New Zealand Geographer medal in 2007, and a National Teaching Award for Sustained Excellence in Tertiary Teaching in 2009. In 2010 he has published a co-authored book Seeds of Empire, The Environmental Transformation of New Zealand (IB Tauris, London) and a co-edited volume, Active Learning and Student Engagement (Routledge, London).

The lecture is part of the 2010 UC in the City lecture series which showcases research coming out of the University's colleges, schools and research centres. Entry is free. As seating is limited, please arrive early to ensure your seat in the Philip Carter Family Auditorium.

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