- The symbolism of water in religion is one of the subjects of debate at the Water and Civilisation conference, organised by the Water History Association. Academics will discuss how particular water landscapes have shaped religious beliefs and practices, how different religions have described and perceived water and how the faithful have expressed their beliefs in rituals connected to purity and water. The conference is in Paris, France, December 1-4.
- Water and its impact on history features in another December conference. The French Atlantic will focus on France's relationship with its American colonies. The conference is organised by the Society for Francophone Postcolonial Studies and coincides with the publication of Glasgow University professor Bill Murray's encyclopedia of France and the Americas, which studies the links between France, Africa, the Caribbean, North America and South America. It will be held at the French Institute, 17 Queensberry Place, London SW7, December 1-3.
- Continuing the French theme, nuclear power for the 21st century, a subject close to Tony Blair's heart, will be debated at the European Nuclear Conference on December 11-14 in Versailles, France.
- The rat and urban folklore is just one of the papers being discussed at the Theoretical Archaeology Group 's annual conference. Other papers include the social implications of decorating pre-history pottery and writing on trees. The conference takes place December 19-21 at the Department of Archaeology, Sheffield University.