The Nobel Conference — The Mighty Mississippi

The 62nd Nobel Conference will take up the topic of the Mississippi River on October 6 & 7. On official maps, the Mississippi River is merely the water that lies between two banks; however, both cutting-edge science and ancient ways of knowing define the river as being much more expansive than that simple blue line on a page. Today, historians and social scientists are shedding new light on the myriad of ways the Mississippi shapes human communities and power structures.

This conference invites us to challenge conventional definitions by considering the dynamic intersections of geological forces, biological communities, human cultures and ecological systems. Leading experts from multiple disciplines will explore how the watershed has evolved, how the introduction of new fish and plant species has altered the river’s ecology, and how climate change, agricultural runoff, river engineering projects, and other human uses pose challenges to the future health of the river and those who depend on it. Indigenous perspectives will help us honor the river’s complex ecological, social, and spiritual contexts.