Alicia Ng (University of Helsinki), Eero Suoranta (University of Helsinki), Dušica Ristivojević (University of Helsinki), Anna Lora-Wainwright (Oxford University), Erik Mo Welin (Uppsala University), Richard Q. Turcsanyi (Palacky University Olomouc)

In this seminar, we seek to examine China’s environmental challenges from new perspectives. Alicia Ng will delve into China’s soil pollution regulations and circular economy efforts through the bioremediation of electronic waste pollution. Eero Suoranta will explore how Han Song’s short story Submarines (2014) uses science fictional estrangement to ask questions related to the Anthropocene and alienation from nature in a contemporary Chinese context. Lastly, Dušica Ristivojević will turn to China’s presence in Serbia, a country in Europe’s periphery, looking at Chinese investments in dirty industries and the numerous local responses to them.