A Resounding Success for the ‘Four Cities Joint Universities Academic Conference: Urban Spaces, Ecology, and Literature’

The ‘Four Cities Joint Universities Academic Conference: Urban Spaces, Ecology, and Literature’, hosted by the Research Centre for Chinese Literature & Literary Culture (RCCLLC), was successfully held from 27 to 28 April 2026. This highly anticipated event brought together established scholars and emerging researchers from different cities for engaging academic exchanges on literature, urbanity, and natural ecology.

Dynamic, interdisciplinary intellectual exchanges marked the conference. More than 50 scholars presented insightful research, tackling cutting-edge topics ranging from urban transformation and ecological writing to local memory and animal ethics. These presentations not only expanded the horizons of literary studies but also offered fresh perspectives for understanding contemporary relationships between space and ecology.

A central highlight was the exceptional lineup of keynote and plenary sessions. Nine distinguished guest scholars from the four participating cities delivered one keynote address and eight thematic speeches. Their presentations set a rigorous conceptual tone for the event, offering theoretical frameworks that grounded the subsequent discussions.

Furthermore, the conference served as a vital platform for inter-generational academic dialogue. The vibrant exchanges between established scholars and emerging researchers sparked intellectual insights, illuminating new directions for future research in the field.

Ultimately, the event demonstrated the humanities' strong engagement with real-world concerns. Discussions extended far beyond textual analysis, directly confronting pressing global issues such as rapid urbanisation and climate change. This was not merely an academic discussion but an active response by the humanities to contemporary societal challenges, showcasing the unique social agency and humanistic care of humanities scholars.

 

‘Four Cities Joint Universities Academic Conference: Urban Spaces, Ecology, and Literature’

 

Closing ceremony of ‘Four Cities Joint Universities Academic Conference: Urban Spaces, Ecology, and Literature’