Nottingham Contemporary

How do local histories of industrialisation register in local geology? These sessions explore how we account for and act upon the relationship between humans and other-than-human things.

The term 'Anthropocene' was introduced into the lexicon in 2000 by Paul Crutzen and Eugene Stoermer, however it is still not a formally defined geological unit within the Geological Time Scale. It is used to denote the present time interval, in which the impact of human activity has profoundly affected the many significant geological conditions and processes that have been intrinsic to planet Earth over the 4 billion years of its evolution.

The Anthropocene is generally considered to begin c. 1800 CE, with the birth of the Industrial Revolution in Europe (Paul Crutzen's original suggestion). However, reaching consensus over the date remains a contentious issue and differing schools of thought continue to debate over a definitive date. A formal definition could be established through reference to a particular point within a stratal section, that is, a Global Stratigraphic Section and Point (GSSP), colloquially known as a 'golden spike’.

The study sessions at Nottingham Contemporary provided an arena for the public and academics to engage with these issues, particularly surrounding the creation of a general narrative, and the significance of the nuclear age.

Thu 7 April, 6.30-8.30pm

Introducing the Anthropocene with Alex Vasudevan and Andrew Goffey, University of Nottingham

Thu 21 April, 6.30-8.30pm

Narrating the Anthropocene with Georgina Endfield and Martin Mahoney, University of Nottingham

Thu 5 May, 6.30-8.30pm

Art & Literature in the Nuclear Anthropocene' with Ele Carpenter, Goldsmiths and Daniel Cordle, NTU

Thu 2 June, 6.30-8.30pm

How Many Natures Can Nature Nurture? With artist Pedro Neves Marques

Thu 9 June, 6.30-8.30pm

Written in Stone. Exploring the Anthropocene thesis with members of the Athropocene Working Group

Thu 16 June, 6.30-8.30pm

Study Trip to the British Geological Survey and a fracking exploration area led by Frack Free Notts.