Join Us For Eco-Emancipation Conference!
Hosted at Duke Kunshan University, this three-day event will bring together scholars to examine pressing issues surrounding environmental justice, biocultural rights, and post-growth futures. Through keynote talks, panel discussions, and workshops, participants will explore the complexities of eco-emancipation and the evolving relationships between humans and the natural world.
We welcome all those interested in these critical discussions to join us in exploring new perspectives and solutions. By challenging dominant frameworks and fostering interdisciplinary dialogue, this conference aims to inspire bold ideas and concrete actions toward a more just and ecologically responsible future.
Conference Schedule
April 10, 2025
| Time | Theme | Speaker/Activity | Duration |
| 15:00-16:30 | Purposes beyond ourselves: the past, present and future of nonanthropocentric environmental political theory | Robyn Eckersley University of Melbourne | 90min (incl. Q&A) |
| 16:30-17:30 | Reception Dinner | 60min | |
| 17:30-19:00 | Student Panel | Student Presentations | 90min |
April 11, 2025
| Time | Speaker | Duration |
| Morning Session:
9:00-11:30 |
Sharon Krause (Zoom)
Brown University – [TBD] |
30min + 30min Q&A |
| Marion Hourdequin (Zoom)
Colorado College – Eco-Emancipation from the Ground Up: Rekindling Responsible Relations |
20min + 20min Q&A | |
| Robyn Eckersley
University of Melbourne – Purposes beyond ourselves: the past, present and future of nonanthropocentric environmental political theory |
20min + 20min Q&A | |
| Afternoon Session:
15:00-17:30 |
Alf Hornborg (Zoom)
Lund University – Thinking with the world: The challenge of adapting human agency to the remainder of the biosphere |
20min + 20min Q&A |
| Lisa Ellis (Zoom)
University of Otago – Beyond Extractivism in Theory and Practice |
20min + 20min Q&A | |
| Renee Richer
Duke Kunshan University – White Man’s Footprints |
20min + 20min Q&A |
April 12, 2025
| Time | Speaker | Duration |
| Morning Session:
9:00-11:45 |
T. J. Demos (Zoom)
UC Santa Cruz – Gaza’s Genocide/Ecocide, Technolibertarian Warfare, and the Seeds of Survival |
20min + 20min Q&A |
| Isabel Altamirano-Jimenez
University of Alberta – Towards an Indigenous Understanding of Life Making Relationships |
20min + 20min Q&A | |
| Miguel Rojas-Sotelo
Duke University – At the Center of the World: Tombs, Weed, Coca, War, and Peace. |
20min + 20min Q&A | |
| Robin Rodd
Duke Kunshan University – Biocultural rights as emancipatory vector |
20min + 20min Q&A | |
| Afternoon Session:
15:00-17:30 |
Rowan Alcock
Tsinghua University – Postfiguring and Prefiguring Post-Growth China? Reclaiming the Commons Through Radical Care. |
20min + 20min Q&A |
| Eben Kirksey
University of Oxford – Big Sugar Made Big COVID: How Metabolic Rifts Made Us Vulnerable to a Virus |
20min + 20min Q&A | |
| Quinlan Bowman
Duke Kunshan University – [TBD] |
20min + 20min Q&A |
Speaker List
Student Report: Gender + Pain
Nathan Franco, Class of 2028
On Wednesday, March 19th, 2025, DKU faculty, staff, and students gathered for a discussion on Gender and Pain. The guest speakers were none other than Shan Wang, an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Duke Kunshan University with research interests in cognitive psychology and pain related issues, and Wenting Ji, an Assistant Professor of Chinese Language at Duke Kunshan University, who researches on female authors and protagonists from late imperial/early modern (16th to 19th century) Chinese literature. Together, these two professors discussed their research on pain and gendered pain. Nineteen students and four DKU faculty members were present during the discussion.
The insightful conversation began with Professor Wang asking, “Who do you think is more resistant to pain, men or woman” to which all those present raised their hands for women. This was followed by another question, “Who experiences more pain, man or women?” to which the majority of people present raised their hands in agreeance with women experiencing more pain. Professor Wang went on to explain that it is true women experience more pain than men. She explained that while there are clear biological distinctions—such as men using glycolic cells to combat pain while women rely on P cells—these differences are biological rather than a gender gap that needs to be closed. More specifically, Professor Shan mentioned that chronic pain is scientifically proven to affect women more than men, even sharing that she herself is a chronic pain patient suffering from migraines. Professor Shan also notes that rather than trying to close the fundamental gaps between men and women, we should instead accept that there are biological differences and that these differences should be accounted for. For example, many pain medications are developed primarily based on male physiology, rendering them less effective for women. Addressing this discrepancy requires sex-specific treatments that account for biological differences rather than attempting to equalize pain responses between men and women.
On the other hand, Professor Wenting’s research examines how historical literature provides insight into women’s pain, particularly in Qing Dynasty China—using the common literary theme of foot binding, which is a painful, socially-driven practice and the best representation of gender-specific pain in ancient China. Males have never experienced foot binding (which was a choice women had to make to be attractive to potential suitors because to endure pain means you are determined, virtuous, and you are a good representation of your family) compared to the biological pain caused by menstruation. Professor Ji noted that she unexpectedly uncovered that women who bound their feet often bonded over how tiny and petite each other’s feet were rather than foot binding being a taboo topic. Instead, those with bound feet knew they were of similar status and the difficulties each other had to go through. That being said, historical texts tend to focus more on the psychological rather than physical aspects of pain, highlighting the emotional weight of such experiences. This distinction underscores how culture shapes not only the experience of pain but also how it is documented and remembered.
Professor Shan went on to explain that while men and women process pain differently, these distinctions are likely adaptive rather than problematic (because evolution doesn’t care about pain, but rather, evolution cares about survival). The heightened sensitivity to pain in women, for instance, can serve protective and caretaking functions. Additionally, cultural factors influence how pain is expressed, with men more likely to describe pain functionally, while women tend to articulate their pain in emotional and psychological terms. Professor Ji also mentions that through the use of language, there is no actual way to describe one’s pain without using metaphors, hence the emphasis on psychological pain rather than physical pain. However, religious texts tend to emphasize physical suffering more explicitly.
Both professors agreed that it is difficult to measure pain objectively. Pain scales rely on subjective self-reporting, making it difficult to standardize results. Additionally, much research is being conducted on those suffering from pain. Professor Shan suggests that studying individuals who have recovered from pain could offer valuable insights.
Professors Ji and Shan’s conversation emphasized the complexities of gendered pain, with biological, cultural, and historical factors all shaping how pain is perceived and managed.
The discussion finished up with a Q&A session.
Q: When you’re studying pain, do your results differ from those that have chronic pain compared to those with temporary pain due to injury?
A: People with chronic pain tend to build a tolerance to pain. But pain also differs based on context. But the short answer is that most of the time, it will differ.
Q: This reminds me of The Legend of Zhen Huan. In the show, many females describe their life in the forbidden city as psychologically and physically painful, but their families praise them for being selected. However, I wanted to know if there is an imbalance in the literature that portrays women’s pain.
A: Psychological pain is a topic in any piece of literature because it’s easy to write and relate to. But physical pain is a bit harder to come upon. But religious text tends to write about physical pain quite a bit.
Call for Student Helpers! Humanities Research Center Spring 2025 Conference
The Humanities Research Center is currently seeking student helpers for the HRC Spring 2025 Conference which will be held in AB from Friday April 18 until Saturday April 19. There will be three keynote speakers from Stanford, Duke, and Australia National University as well as student sessions throughout the conference. Work shifts are available from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM on both days with flexible scheduling options, so you can choose shifts that best fit your availability. Any support would be greatly appreciated.
Each helper gets a free t-shirt and a free invite to the Gala Dinner 🙂
Interested?
Reach out to Faye Xu (fx20@duke.edu) for application details.
Register Now for the 2025 Undergraduate Humanities Research Conference: Gender and Sexuality, April 18-19
The Humanities Research Center is thrilled to announce the Spring 2025 Undergraduate Humanities Research Conference, centered on the theme of “Gender and Sexuality.” This event will showcase three keynote lectures and a range of undergraduate research presentations, offering a dynamic platform for critical discussions and fresh insights into these important topics.
Conference Details:
- Dates: April 18-19, 2025
- Venue: AB2103, Duke Kunshan University
Students who register for the conference are invited to attend a gala dinner with all presenters, offering an excellent opportunity for networking and community building.
Register Here
Timeline
- Friday, March 14, or before: Submit application form with paper title and 300-word abstract.
- Monday, March 24: Acceptance decisions announced.
- Sunday, April 13: Final papers (max 10 pages double-spaced, excluding notes and bibliography) must be submitted to organizers to be considered for a prize.
- Friday, April 18, and Saturday, April 19: Conference takes place on campus.
Keynote Speakers
Yujie Zhu is Associate Professor at the Centre for Heritage and Museum Studies at the Australian National University. With a background in anthropology and a focus on critical heritage studies, his research examines the cultural politics of the past across diverse heritage and memory spaces. He is the author and editor of 9 books including Making Places Sacred (2025, co-authored with Matt Tomlinson), China’s Heritage through History (2024), Heritage Tourism (2021), Heritage Politics in China (2020, co-authored with Christina Maags), and Heritage and Romantic Consumption in China (2018). He served as the vice-president of the International Association of Critical Heritage Studies (2014-2020) and deputy-chair of Anthropology Tourism Committee of the IUAES (2013-2021).
Usha Iyer is Associate Professor of Film and Media Studies in the Department of Art and Art History at Stanford University. They are the author of Dancing Women: Choreographing Corporeal Histories of Hindi Cinema (Oxford University Press, 2020). Their current book project, Jammin’: Black and Brown Media Intimacies between India and the Caribbean, studies the affective engagements of Caribbean spectators with Indian cinema and the impact of Caribbean performance cultures on Indian film industries. They are co-editing the volume, Shift Focus: Reframing the Indian New Waves, with Manishita Dass.
Gabriel N. Rosenberg is Associate Professor of Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist Studies and History at Duke University. He earned his Ph.D. from Brown University in History. He was the recipient of the Gilbert C. Fite Award from the Agricultural History Society, the K. Austin Kerr Prize from the Business History Conference, and a François André Michaux Fund Fellowship from the American Philosophical Society. He was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Yale University’s Program in Agrarian Studies, an Early Career Fellow at the University of Pittsburgh’s Humanities Center, and a Visiting Scholar at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science in Berlin. His writing has appeared in journals such as the Journal of American History, American Quarterly, GLQ: A Journal of Gay and Lesbian Studies, TSQ: Transgender Studies Quarterly, Agricultural History, and Diplomatic History.
The program details will be announced soon!
Reading Group for “Embracing Diversity: Developing Cultural Competence for Inclusive Education”
Diversity, Equity, Inclusiveness, and Justice is an essential topic in academia. Despite its wide discussion in academia, at the practical level, it still poses a challenge for educators seeking to enhance their teaching practices. It is crucial to ensure that educational materials and curricula are inclusive, relevant, and engaging for all students while creating safe and inclusive learning environments.
Location: AB3107(3C)
Date & Time: March 28, 12pm-1pm
Lunch will be provided!
Scan below to sign up:
Scan below to get the reading:
For questions, please email Prof. Weng (zhenjie.weng@dukekunshan.edu.cn) or Prof. Zhao(yanan.zhao@dukekunshan.edu.cn).
Student Report on Exploring Anne Conway’s Spiritual Philosophy: A Lecture by Yining Wu
Written by Nathan Franco, Class of 2028
On Thursday, March 6, 2025, DKU faculty, staff, and students gathered for an interesting discussion on the political theorist Anne Conway, titled “Anne Conway: What Does It Mean to Be Spiritual?” by Yining Wu, a Ph.D. candidate at Temple University specializing in early modern philosophy. Present during the discussion were many upperclass students and DKU professors eager to learn more about Conway’s thought.
The discussion began with a brief introduction to Anne Conway (1631-1679). Before taking the last name Conway, her maiden name was Finch. As a noblewoman, one would assume Conway lived a life of luxury, but in contrast, Conway suffered from lifelong headaches, making pain and suffering a big theme in her work. Speaking of her work, Conway’s papers were first published in a Latin translation in 1690, followed by an English translation by Dr. Clark. Much of Conway’s work was also influenced by Thomas Hobbes, Rene Descartes, Henry More, and F.M. van Helmont.
In her presentation, Yining Wu highlighted three puzzles (which are answered at the end) and three topics that are major themes in Conway’s works.
Conway’s Principles:
God – the creator of all creatures and Middle Nature. God doesn’t directly interact with creatures. God is beyond time and space. God is a pure spirit.
Middle Nature (Jesus) – serves as the mediator between God and creatures.
Creatures – lowest beings; mutable (either move in the direction of goodness or evilness); the world of creation is one substance, being corporeal and spiritual at the same time. Creatures exist in time and space. Creatures are not a part of God, as God is indivisible.
The God referenced above has no connection to any religion but is the general, philosophical God. Creatures refer to humankind, and the Middle Nature is Jesus, as Conway commonly refers to it.
Conway’s Puzzles:
What are the differences between fallen spirits and God the Spirit if the former is still called “spirit” after all?
How is it possible that the substance of the created world is spiritual and corporeal at the same time, given that corporeality is in opposition to God the Spirit?
What does it mean when Conway uses certain adjectives to refer to spirit (e.g., light, subtle, thin, etc.)?
After laying the foundation of her discussion, Wu began to discuss Spirit, Life, Sensitivity, and Activity in Conway’s work.
Spirit simply means having life or certain life functions. In Conway’s work, “life” is the basic explanatory unit in the cosmos. Wu argues that life is a more fundamental feature, of which sensitivity and activity are signs and expressions in Conway.
When God communicates His attributes to creatures, the attribute of life always comes first, followed by the attributes of senses and intelligence (or other mental-related functions). The aspect of sensitivity within the spirituality of the created world directly corresponds to Godly spirituality, while the aspect of activity is not straightforwardly shown in God the Spirit.
“Since life is the default setting for every created being, I contend that the attribute of life at least assumes a minimal degree of spirituality in a creature or a minimal similarity to God the Spirit.” – Yining Wu
Life and Spirit tend to be the easier concepts to understand in Conway’s work, while Sensitivity and Activity take a little more brain power to fully comprehend in Conway’s cosmos. Sensitivity is used to represent the signs of Life; for example, a common reflection of life is stones.
Stones and metals are perceptive, intelligent, and capable of love, even if this is not self-evident to human eyes. A stone can further improve itself, developing thoughts of its own and loving other creatures if its inner spiritual parts continue to wear and divide, allowing the spiritual parts to participate more in exchanges with other creatures. Similarly, the activity of creaturely spirits flowing in and out implies changes to their status or condition of life, including the “death” of one individual and the generation of a new one. This means there is no real death because no body parts or spirits can truly die. If people “die” or go into a coma, they become like a stone. Or, when people “die” and are left out in nature, animals will eat the body, and the soil will use the bones and other parts for nutrients. In this way, the creature has just taken a new form.
Before ending the discussion, Wu answered Conway’s puzzles:
“Why are the fallen spirits in the created world still called ‘spirit’ after all?”
The spirits of creatures, while entailing corporeality due to the Fall of the divine spirit, are still the products of God’s creation and inherit certain attributes from God.
“How is it possible that the substance of the created world is spiritual and corporeal at the same time, given that corporeality is in opposition to God the Spirit?”
The connotations of creaturely spirituality mainly refer to the sensitivity and activity of creatures. The aspect of activity implies the necessary existence of corporeality in the created world.
“What does it mean when Conway uses certain adjectives to refer to spirit (e.g., light, subtle, thin, etc.)?”
The spiritual parts of a creature are more fine-grained in the physical dimension, lighter in weight, and more capable of moving freely.
Q&A Session
Finally, the audience asked some insightful questions during the Q&A session.
Q: Is the “God” connected to a religion?
A: In this research, God is the philosophical God or the general God.
Q: How does God affect creatures?
A: Imagine if I draw myself on the whiteboard, but instead of physically writing it myself, I use my mind to wave at an AI robot to draw me on the whiteboard. In this case, I am not actually making physical contact with the robot, whiteboard, or marker.
Q: How does Conway justify that stones have sensitivity?
A: This is justified by the belief that everything has a soul. Conway believes that a stone can be broken down and made into something more advanced in the hierarchy of creation. And if it can be made into something more advanced, then it has a soul and hence sensitivity.
Overall, the event was an eye-opener into Conway’s mind and a great way to study women in philosophy.
Navigating China’s Archives: A Hands-On Guide for Emerging Researchers
We are excited to invite you to an upcoming event hosted by DKU HRC and the Archives and History Initiative, titled “Navigating Textual Sources and Digital Databases.”
As an emerging researcher, you are wondering: where can I find material in China? How do I begin my research? The presentation introduces samples of archives and hands-on exercise of exploring digital databases in China that help you navigate in the world of mass-produced data.
Date: March 19, 4pm-5:15pm
Location: DKU Library Teahouse
Mark your calendars and be part of this engaging discussion that promises to enrich your academic journey. We look forward to seeing you there!
Gender + Pain: Let’s discuss gendered psychological and physical pain
Date: March 19th, 6:00 PM
Location: Water Pavilion
HRC Student Worker Rebecca Combs Wins First Place at Stanford’s TreeHacks Hackathon
Rebecca Combs, a student worker at the Humanities Research Center (HRC) and a Computation and Design major from Duke Kunshan University’s Class of 2025, won a first-place award at Stanford University’s prestigious TreeHacks hackathon.
The event brought together over 1,000 students from universities worldwide to develop technology solutions for real-world challenges. Combs and her team developed EcoBite, a mobile app that helps users track and reduce food waste by uploading images of food, which the platform analyzes to estimate waste weight.
TreeHacks 2025 prize announcement: EcoBite wins first place in the Best Use of FlutterFlow category
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, food loss and waste account for 8 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Recognizing the urgency of the issue — and aligning with Stanford’s sustainability challenge — Combs and her teammates developed the app to raise awareness and promote sustainable habits.
Rebecca Combs (first from right) with her teammates during the judging phase at TreeHacks 2025.
Reflecting on her experience, Combs described the event as both intense and memorable.“TreeHacks was simultaneously unforgettable and a blur — 36 hours is an absolute time crunch when coding a mobile application, on top of trying to consistently make development choices that reinforce EcoBite’s impact,” she said.
“When surrounded by so many other brilliant university students pursuing or interested in computer science, you can truly feel the energy of everyone’s talent and bright ideas, keeping one motivated to get work done — even when running off no sleep.”
Rebecca Combs with her teammates at Stanfordduring TreeHacks 2025
Combs credited her success to the strong teamwork of her fellow participants — Pierre Harbin, Ali Fayed, and Russ Semsem— as well as support from FlutterFlow representatives such as Patricia Wei, Matthew Early, and Frank van Puffelen, and sustainability guidance from Stanford faculty member Keegan Cooke.
Combs said the achievement was particularly meaningful as she nears graduation. “As a last-time hackathon participant since I graduate in 12 weeks, this achievement will remain clear in my memory for quite a long time,” she said. Looking ahead, Combs and her team plan to prioritize user feedback to refine EcoBite’s features and usability.
Rebecca’s achievement highlights her innovation and dedication to using technology for social good. Congratulations to her on this well-deserved recognition!
Exploring Anne Conway’s Spiritual Philosophy: A Lecture by Yining Wu
Embark on a captivating journey into the depths of philosophy with Yining Wu’s upcoming lecture, “Anne Conway: What Does It Mean to Be Spiritual?”
Event Details:
- Date & Time: Thursday, March 6, 3:00–4:30 PM
- Location: IB 2050
Yining Wu, a Ph.D. candidate specializing in early modern philosophy, will delve into Anne Conway’s profound insights on spirituality.
It’s part of the Gender initiative because the renewed attention to Conway’s work is part of the movement to excavate the underappreciated role women have played in the history of philosophy
We look forward to your participation.
