3rd Oxford Interdisciplinary Desert Conference

16-17 April 2015, 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 3rd Oxford Interdisciplinary Desert Conference, from 16-17 April 2015, provided a forum for researchers and those interested in desert and dryland environments and societies to present, discuss and debate dryland themes and research. Currently desert issues are atomized in universities, international and governmental organizations and local settings; the conference brought together people researching, working and living across the world's desert and semi-desert regions. The conference focused on exchanging ideas through talks, discussion sessions and working groups.

The conference stressed discussion and interaction amongst participants and opportunities for this included talks, discussion sessions and working groups. The combination of research presentations, open engagement and working group panels encouraged debate, conversation and exchange of ideas. Organisers received a grant from the Wenner-Gren Foundation bringing 10 Asian desert researchers to conference, expanding perspectives, knowledge and participation at the event.

Opening Keynote: Lord Deben, Chairman - UK Committee on Climate Change; former Secretary of State for the Environment and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

View the 2015 Conference Programme [PDF: 912KB]

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