The Faculty of Social Sciences is pleased to highlight the latest publication by Professor David Jaclin of the School of Sociological and Anthropological Studies. His new book, O: Essai d’anthropologie élémentale, published by Les Presses de l’Université de Montréal, invites readers to reconsider water and its profound influence on human societies and the natural world.
Taking an interdisciplinary and ethnographic approach, Professor Jaclin explores water not simply as a natural resource, but as a fundamental element that shapes cultures, landscapes, political systems and the relationships between humans and their environments.
From melting glaciers and groundwater to atmospheric rivers and hydroelectric infrastructure, the book examines the many ways water circulates through our world and influences the systems that sustain life. It also explores contemporary practices and interventions, including iceberg trading, cloud seeding and underwater mining, highlighting the complex connections between environmental change, technology, economics and politics.
Blending critical analysis with ethnographic storytelling, O offers a fresh perspective on the role of water in an increasingly interconnected and environmentally challenged world. It encourages readers to think beyond conventional understandings of nature and consider water as a force that connects ecosystems, communities and cultures.
Professor Jaclin is an associate professor at the University of Ottawa, where he directs the HumAnimaLab. His research focuses on human-nature relationships, the domestication of living beings and the complex interactions between humans and their environments.
Congratulations to Professor Jaclin on this new publication!