Keynote Speakers
Prof ERNI John
Chair Professor of Cultural Studies
The Education University of Hong Kong, China
Biography
John Nguyet Erni is Dean of Humanities and Chair Professor of Cultural Studies at The Education University of Hong Kong. He is also Director of the International Research Centre for Cultural Studies. Until 2022, he was Fung Hon Chu Endowed Chair of Humanics at Hong Kong Baptist University. In 2017 and 2019, he was elected President of the Hong Kong Academy of the Humanities and Corresponding Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities respectively. Erni has published widely on international and Asia-based cultural studies; human rights legal criticism; Chinese consumption of transnational culture; youth popular consumption in Hong Kong and Asia; gender and sexuality in media culture; cultural politics of race/ethnicity/migration; and critical public health. His most recent books are The Cultural Politics of COVID-19 (with Ted Striphas, 2022) and Law and Cultural Studies: A Critical Rearticulation of Human Rights (2019). He has been listed among Stanford University’s World Top 2% Scientists.
“What is Care Humanities?: Ethics, Cases, Cultural Practices”
Abstract:
In the contemporary landscape marked by socioeconomic turbulence and environmental crises, the ethos of care has ascended to a pivotal role in shaping educational paradigms and societal structures. In this keynote speech, I shall explore the multifaceted dimensions of care as both a philosophical and practical framework. Drawing from the insights of Maurice Hamington’s concept of a “care ethics moment,” the discourse will illuminate the imperative of nurturing compassionate relationships across diverse contexts—including education, community engagement, and environmental stewardship. The presentation will delve into various initiatives at EduHK that exemplify a commitment to elevating care as a central tenet of humanistic inquiry. Ultimately, this address aspires to catalyze a movement towards creating a sustainable culture of care, empowering educators and learners alike to become ethical agents of change. By fostering an intellectual community dedicated to the exploration of care humanities, we aim to cultivate not only knowledge but also the character and competencies necessary for navigating the challenges of our time.
