Sinking Suburbs and Waters Rising

In this talk, led by Alison Phipps, we are invited to have an intimate glimpse into the lives of the Ōtepoti, a South Dunedin community where Alison has spent time over the past five years as a companion and resident. South Dunedin, a low-lying suburb in New Zealand, is home to nearly 3,000 houses and lies 50cm above sea level, with rising waters being the first of many obstacles.

We’ll find out how a mix of runoff, seawater erosion, inadequate drainage, and economic hardship threaten the community.  And discover the actions that residents are taking to safeguard their homes and their futures, and learn about the efforts of The Seedling, a grassroots community initiative, whose small but powerful acts of resilience offer hope and a model of collective response to an uncertain future.

Alison Phipps is the UNESCO Chair in Refugee Integration through Education, Languages, and the Arts at the University of Glasgow, as well as a Professor of Languages and Intercultural Studies. She has co-directed the Global Challenge Research Fund South-South Migration Hub (2019–2024) and is an Ambassador for the Scottish Refugee Council.

Alison was awarded an OBE in 2012 and received Honorary Doctorates from the University of Edinburgh and the University of Waterloo, Canada, in 2023. Beyond academia, she is an activist, educator, published poet, and member of the Iona Community.

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