The Indian Ocean World Centre (IOWC) seeks to build a free interdisciplinary network of scholars working on topics related to slavery, bondage, and the environment with a focus on the Indian Ocean World (IOW) and its constituent parts (eastern Africa to eastern and southeastern Asia). It intends to build a forum for scholars to connect, exchange ideas, build bibliographies, circulate conference calls, and organise panels/conferences, etc. The IOWC intends to build a mailing group and host a page on our website (www.indianoceanworldcentre.com) with news of relevant works, events, and opportunities.

All scholars with interests in slavery, bondage, and/or the environment in the IOW, past, present, and future, are encouraged to participate. A publication record on the network’s themes is not a precursor to inclusion. Emerging scholars (including (post-)graduate students/candidates), women, indigenous, and scholars from or based in the Indian Ocean World are particularly encouraged sign up. We hope to use this network as the starting point for important research into the linkages between environmental conditions and slavery/bondage in the future.