Insularity Chair Promoting the UIB-GOIB Chair of Insularity Inaugural conference: ‘We Are All Islanders: Mainstreaming Island Studies for Education, Research and Policy.’
The University of the Balearic Islands and the Regional Department of Economy, Finance, Innovation and Statistics at the Balearic Islands Government promoted the UIB-GOIB Chair of Insularity with an inaugural conference: ‘We Are All Islanders: Mainstreaming Island Studies for Education, Research and Policy.'
The initial seeds of the initiative were sown in May 2023 by the co-directors, Dr Joana M. Seguí and Dr Maurici Ruiz, both leading lights in the Department of Geography at the UIB. They aimed to generate, compile and analyse insights and information on the specificities of insularity in the Balearic Islands with a clear goal to mainstream advice and guidance for public policies, promote sustainable development and improve quality of life for local residents.
The hugely successful inaugural conference was held on 21st February 2024 in the conference hall at Sa Riera Building, Palma. The event welcomed Dr Godfrey Baldacchino, a renowned professor in sociology at the University of Malta and founding editor of the Island Studies Journal. Dr Baldacchino is also the former chair of the International Small Islands Studies Association (ISISA), former incumbent of the Canada Research Chair and UNESCO Co-Chair in Island Studies at the University of Prince Edward Island (Canada) and the current Malta Ambassador-at-Large for Islands and Small States.
During his presentation, he stated: ‘We are all islanders, not only as we live on a unique planet isolated in space, but also as over 10% of the world's population lives on islands and most others live near the coast, and as there are no better places to capture, illustrate and exemplify humanity's fight for sustainability and the ideal modus vivendi in how nature and culture interact.’
The event also welcomed Dr Jaume Carot, President and Vice Chancellor of the UIB, and Dr Antoni Costa, Deputy President and Minister for economy, finance and innovation, as well as the two co-directors.
In addition to the inaugural conference, the Chair has planned other activities throughout the year, such as a seminar on insularity, transport and costs in the last week of April 2024, and a second seminar on insularity and land use at the end of June.