4th Oxford Interdisciplinary Desert Conference

8-9 June 2017, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford

Deserts and drylands encompass 40% of the globe and shelter two billion people. Arid regions are home to the major religions, valued natural resources, scarcity, wealth and poverty, and face issues that dominate our time. Geopolitics, climate change, development, land degradation, population growth and conflict are issues that have relevance beyond any singular department or perspective. The 4th Oxford Interdisciplinary Desert Conference, from 8-9 June 2017, provided a forum for researchers and those interested in desert and dryland environments and societies to present, discuss and debate dryland themes and research.

The Oxford Desert Conference brought together academics and non-academics who research, work and live across the world's desert and semi-desert regions for two days of vibrant talks, presentations, panels and networking opportunities.

For 2017, we encouraged presentations on issues related to health, mobility and forced displacement, and environmental governance. We also encouraged participants from the Humanities to join us. The combination of research presentations, open engagement and working group panels encouraged debate, conversation and exchange of ideas.

View the 2017 Conference Programme [PDF: 2MB]

Back to the Oxford Interdisciplinary Desert Conference