Summer Institute 2025
Mess and Methods: Experiments in Environmental Ethnography
Graduate Summer Institute at Concordia University, August 11-22
Instructor: Kregg Hetherington
Concordia University Research Chair in Environmental Ethnography
This two-week course explores the experimental edges of environmental ethnographic practice through a creative, multi-modal exploration of Montreal’s waterways. Participants spend the first week in online discussions of environmental ethnography with visiting lectures from leading figures in the field. In the second week, we gather on the shores of the St Lawrence river for a series of practical workshops on techniques of observing, collaborating and storytelling the urban environment.
The final project of the course is to construct collaborative exhibition of the shoreline using a wide variety of ethnographic and artistic techniques.
The course includes an introductory grounding in anthropological theory and method, but is open to students with interdisciplinary backgrounds.
Course instructor is KREGG HETHERINGTON, with interventions from
ANDREA MUEHLEBACH. Vital Frontiers: Online conversation about international water rights activism
ZOE TODD. Every Part of Canada is a Fish Place: Online conversation about water relations
LAURA OGDEN. Writing in Place: a workshop on place-based observation and writing on the shores of the St. Laurence
STEVEN HIGH. Walking the Postindustrial Canal: an oral history walking tour of Montreal’s south-west borough
KATHLEEN VAUGHAN. Species as Collaborators: print-making workshop using plant materials from the shoreline
MONTREAL WATERWAYS COLLECTIVE. Composite Ethnography: a collaborative, multimodal project facilitated by members of the Ethnography Lab
Course schedule
WEEK 1: Aug 11-15
The class meets every morning on Zoom from 10-12 to discuss that day’s readings, then again from 1-3 to hear from guest speakers (Muehlebach and Todd) and to group assignments.
WEEK 2: Aug 18-22
Monday to Wednesday take place outside at different sites in Montreal. Participants are responsible for bringing food, good footwear and to be prepared for whatever the weather throws at us.
Thursday and Friday takes place at the Milieux Institute at Concordia’s downtown campus. Most days run from 10am to 4pm.
Course Requirements
Students do not have to have any specific ethnographic, artistic or technical experience to take the course, but any of these skills are an asset. The course itself is intensive: students need to be present for all aspects of the course, read all required readings, and be prepared to work intensively on a collaborative group project. Graded components of the course include short online presentations, a personal reflection essay, a collaborative multimodal exhibition, and a final paper.
Supported by
Department of Sociology and Anthropology; Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Concordia Ethnography Lab; and Milieux Institute for Arts, Culture and Technology