Abstract:

This roundtable was presented as a shared space for environmental scientists and engineers to engage with humanities and social science scholars to explore a range of questions on riverine ecologies with a special focus on connections, comparisons, and collaborations along the Africa-Asia axis of knowledge. 

During the discussion, the roundtable panellists were asked to consider a series of overarching and sub-questions (see Attachments for question sheet) along their research sites and disciplinary perspectives. Questions raised as part of the roundtable included: 

What does it mean to live with the river? 

• How are rivers seen, imagined, and used?
• Who lives with the river? (Human and nonhuman; current and ideal scenarios)
• What is the significance of “living with the river”, and for whom? (Current and ideal scenarios: how do we co-exist with the river: links with livelihoods, economy, transport, culture, worship, etc.)
• In what ways can we tell/collect multiple stories around the river? 

As part of the roundtable's preparation, panellists produced short (3 to 5 min) videos that communicated their respective (personal, research and/or professional) contexts of “living with the river”. The videos were shared amongst the participants before the conference and made available to the audience after the roundtable.
 

Convenors:

• Aarti Kawlra, Humanities Across Borders (HAB), International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS), Netherlands
• Paul Rabé, River Cities Network (RCN), International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS), Netherlands

Participants:

• Xiaomei Zhao, Department of Cultural Heritage and Museology, Fudan University, China
• Mohomodou Houssouba, Malian Society of Applied Sciences, Switzerland
• Jama Musse Jama, Hargeysa Cultural Centre, Italy
• Rita Padawangi, Singapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore
• Satya Maia Patchitneelam, International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS), Netherlands
• Fad Seydou, Institute of Human Sciences (ISH), Mali
• Sidy Ba, National School of Engineers Abderhamane Baba Touré, Mali
• Ademide Adelusi-Adeluyi, Howard University, United States
• Jane Weru, Akiba Mashinani Trust, Kenya
• Corbin Raymond, Oslo School of Architecture and Design, Norway
• Alexandra Forman, URCA Institute, Brazil