Living with the Sea : Knowledge, Awareness and Action

An ‘oceanic turn’ is now taking place across the humanities and social sciences, with a burgeoning of academic work emerging which takes seriously the place of seas and oceans in understanding socio-cultural and political life, past and present. This book asks how a range of engagements with the sea – from spatial planning, architectural design, seascape classification, to educational initiatives and proactive efforts to engage marginalised groups, can help us to better understand human relationships with the seas and oceans, and promote an ethic of care for the future. It brings together an interdisciplinary and international cohort of contributors from within and beyond academia.

The seas and oceans are currently taking centre stage in academic study and public consciousness. From the plastics littering our seas, to the role of climate change on ocean currents from unequal access of marine resources to the treacherous experiences of seafarers who keep our global economy afloat; now is a crucial time to examine how we live with the sea.

This ambitious book brings together an interdisciplinary and international cohort of contributors from within and beyond academia. It offers a range and diversity of insights unlike previous collections. An ‘oceanic turn’ is taking place, with a burgeoning of academic work that takes seriously the place of seas and oceans in understanding socio-cultural and political life, past and present. Yet, there is a significant gap concerning the ways in which we engage with seas and oceans, with a will to enliven action and evoke change. This book explores these challenges, offering insights from spatial planning, architectural design, geography, educational studies, anthropology and cultural studies. An examination through these lenses can help us to better understand human relationships with the seas and oceans, and promote an ethic of care for the future.