Author Archives: Selena Ahmed

JOIN US AT THE SEATTLE ART MUSEUM – SATURDAY UNIVERSITY LECTURE SERIES TEA TIMES

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SEATTLE ART MUSEUM SATURDAY UNIVERSITY: TEA HORSE ROAD

SAT OCT 22 2016

ASIAN ART MUSEUM

EMMA BAILLARGEON STIMSON AUDITORIUM

9:30 AM – 11 AM

SATURDAY UNIVERSITY LECTURE SERIES
TEA TIMES: CULTURES, COMMERCE, AND CONFLICT

The history of tea is steeped in philosophy, literature, art, and world trade. Take an in-depth look at wild plants, distinct pleasures, and imperial exploitation as eight scholars present a few remarkable moments from the long story of tea.

Tea Horse Road: China’s Ancient Trade Route to Tibet
Pu’er tea and cultural exchange
Speaker: Selena Ahmed, Montana State University

Journey to Yunnan, the motherland of the tea plant and producer of pu’er tea, and along the world’s oldest and highest tea trade route, with photography by Michael Freeman. Dr. Ahmed will explore the rich cultural practices and biological diversity of the lives and landscapes touched by the exchange of tea, along with issues related to sustainable farming, human wellbeing, and global climate change.

OTHER LECTURES IN THIS SERIES

OCT 1

The Origins and Spread of Tea-drinking in China and the World

OCT 8

Buddhism and the Invention of Tea Culture in Medieval China

OCT 15

Engaging the Object: The Art of Tea in Sixteenth Century Japan

OCT 22

Tea Horse Road: China’s Ancient Trade Route to Tibet

OCT 29

No Lecture

NOV 5

Consuming Empires, Consuming Desires: Images of Tea Times and Tea Labors

NOV 12

The Power and Pleasure of Tea Bowls in Japan

NOV 19

Tea Revives the World: Advertising a Global Commodity during the Great Depression

NOV 26

No Lecture

DEC 3

Can a Plantation Be Fair? Paradoxes and Promises of Fair Trade in Darjeeling, India

Saturday University is presented in partnership with the University of Washington Jackson School of International Studies and the Elliott Bay Book Company.

Series tickets are no longer available.
Individual lecture tickets at the door as available: $10, SAM members $5
Please arrive to your seat 10 minutes before the program starts or your seat may be released.

Tea + Climate Seminar at the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies University of Washington

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Seminar Title: Tea and the taste of climate change

Speaker: Selena Ahmed

Seminar Link: https://jsis.washington.edu/china/news/tea-and-the-taste-of-climate-change/

Seminar Location: Room 301 Thomson Hall, University of Washington

Seminar Sponsor: China Studies Program

What is the impact of climate change on specialty crop quality? How can agroecological management practices mitigate climatic risk in food system? In this seminar, Dr. Selena Ahmed, explores these questions using tea as a case study. Climate change is impacting agro-ecosystems, crops, and farmer livelihoods in communities worldwide. While it is well understood that more frequent and intense climate events in many areas are resulting in a decline in crop yields, the impact on crop quality is less acknowledged, yet it is critical for food systems that benefit both farmers and consumers through high quality products. This study examines tea (Camellia sinensis; Theaceae), the world’s most widely consumed beverage after water, as a study system to measure effects of climate variability on crop quality and associated farmer knowledge, preferences, and livelihoods. The ultimate goal of this work is to facilitate societal actions towards enhanced sustainability of food systems. This project is supported by the NSF Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems (CNH) Program.

Seminar on Climate-Smart Tea Systems at the World Tea Expo 2016

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Seminar Title: Climate-Smart Tea Systems
Date: Thursday, June 16, 2016: 9:45 am – 10:45 am

Speakers: Selena Ahmed, Kevin Gascoyne, and Michael Harney

What are climate change issues for tea systems? What role should industry take? This panel session will discuss these questions from multiple perspectives. Climate change trends and adaptation strategies will be presented from diverse regions. We will taste teas to demonstrate how quality varies with climate factors.

Talking Tea and Climate at the Ethical Tea Partnership Meeting

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Co-PI Selena Ahmed met up with Dr. Ellie Biggs of the UK / India tea and climate project for a joint talk, Towards Climate Smart Tea Systems, at the Ethical Tea Partnership Meeting TEAM UP 2015 in London. While in the UK, Selena was invited by Ellie to give a presentation on Tea and the Taste of Climate Change as part of the Geography and Environment Seminar Program at the University of Southampton.

Slides for the interactive presentation at TEAM UP 2015 can be viewed at the following link:

http://www.ethicalteapartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/Interactive-Session-Towards-Climate-Smart-Tea-Systems.pdf