By Helen G | 4 January 2010, 15:16

The first ESRC-funded Fat Studies and Health At Every Size seminar takes place next week at Durham Uni. It’s free and there are bursaries available for people on low incomes.

ESRC Seminar Series: Fat Studies and Health At Every Size - Bigness Beyond Obesity

Seminar 1: Abject embodiment: Uneven targets of fat discrimination

14-15 January 2010, Durham University

This is the first in a series of four seminars taking place over the course of 2010-2012, funded by the ESRC.

In recent years there has been significant concern about the impact of fatness on the UK’s health. Numerous policy interventions have attempted to tackle the so-called ‘obesity epidemic’ in ways which treat or prevent the incidence of such fat bodies. However, within the inter-disciplinary field of Fat Studies and the Health at Every Size (HAES) movement, researchers, practitioners and activists are challenging the limited and problematic ways in which dominant obesity knowledges produce and problematise the fat body.

This seminar series is grounded in the ethos and politics of size acceptance. Each of the seminars will critically question the ways in which fatness is constructed and experienced as a ‘problem’ whilst also exploring alternative understandings, theorisations and experiences of fatness. The series aims to provide a supportive space for interdisciplinary researchers, activists, practitioners and interested others to question the politics surrounding fatness and health, away from the limitations of the medical model.

The seminar will combine formal presentations with informal discussion groups and will run from 1pm on Thursday 14 January until 2.30pm on Friday 15 January 2010 in the Earth Sciences Building at Durham University.

The keynote will be by Charlotte Cooper (University of Limerick) and other speakers include Emma Rich and John Evans (Loughborough University), Corinna Tomrley (University of York), Lee Monaghan (University of Limerick), Jo Pike (University of Hull), Emma Rawlins (Medical Research Council), Peter Hopkins (Newcastle University) and Kirsty Fife (University of Leeds).

The seminar is free to attend (including refreshments and lunch on 15 January) but participants must meet their own travel/accommodation costs. There will be an optional seminar dinner (cost not covered) on the evening of Thursday 14 January.

If you are interested in attending, please send an email to both Rachel Colls (rachel.colls[at]durham.ac.uk) and Bethan Evans (mmu.bevans[at]gmail.com) to register. If you have any dietary requirements please let us know and we will do our best to cater for you. Please also indicate whether you are interested in attending the seminar dinner.

There are a limited number of bursaries available to contribute to travel/ accommodation costs for students/unwaged participants. To request a bursary, please contact Rachel Colls (rachel.colls[at]durham.ac.uk) and Bethan Evans (mmu.bevans[at]gmail.com) and briefly explain why you need a bursary (i.e. unwaged/student etc).

Travel and accommodation:

Some college accommodation may be available - this is searchable via the University accommodation site: http://bookings.travelstay.com/DurhamUniversityBooking.htm

Alternatively there are numerous hotels and B&Bs available in Durham: http://www.visitcountydurham.com/site/accommodation

Getting to Durham University: http://www.dur.ac.uk/travel/todurham