Upcoming Conferences

12th Annual Meeting of the African Language Teachers Association (ALTA)
April 24-27, 2008
Univeristy of Wisconsin-Madison
“Challenges, Expectations, and Possibilities”

CALL FOR PAPERS (Deadline extended)

The Twelfth Annual Meeting of the African Language Teachers Association (ALTA) is scheduled for April 24-27, 2008, in Madison, WI (with a pre-conference workshop scheduled for Thursday, April 24th). General Proposals are solicited for individual papers and poster sessions. Proposals should fall broadly within the conference theme, "African Languages and Globalization: Challenges, Expectations, and Possibilities." Although proposed presentations may focus on individual languages, they should address issues that clearly relate to more than just one African language. Presentations may address the linkage between language study and globalization, curriculum and material development, methodology, bilingual education, heritage language learners, autonomous and self-instructional settings, outreach and advocacy, and the use of technology in teaching African languages. Other topics such as teacher training, professionalization, research, and assessment are also welcome. Papers are to be 20 minutes long and should focus clearly on issues related to the main conference theme. Poster Session proposals should give a detailed explanation of the research or development that will be displayed.  Both may be based on rigorous research or practical experience. This year's conference will also include language-specific panels, which will be organized seperately from other general sessions. For more information about submitting a proposal for a language-specific panel, click here.

General Proposals may ONLY be submitted in electronic format using the 2008 ALTA Session Proposal Submission Form. The Proposal Submission Form is a "fillable" PDF file that can be completed with Adobe® Acrobat® or Reader® and then submitted to ALTA via e-mail. This is the only format in which Proposals may be submitted.  The form contains detailed instructions for its use. Please contact the ALTA Secretariat (alta@mailplus.wisc.edu) with any questions. For a proposal to be considered, all fields of the form, including, title, abstract, proposal, session type, technology needs, and contact information must be completed in full. Incomplete proposals may be disqualified.

The deadline for receipt of proposals is Monday, December 17, 2007. Applicants will be notified by the Program Committee by Monday, January 21st, 2008 whether or not their proposal has been accepted. At least one presenter from an accepted presentation will be required to pre-register. Details about pre-registration will be provided in the acceptance notification.

If you have any questions regarding proposal submission, please contact the ALTA Secretariat at:

ALTA
University of Wisconsin-Madison
4231 Humanities Bldg
455 N. Park St.Madison, WI 53706

alta@mailplus.wisc.edu

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California State University, Sacramento
17th Annual African/Diaspora Conference
“African Youth in America & Africa: Bridging the Gaps
May 1-3, 2008   CALL FOR PAPERS

This conference examines the state of African youth in the USA and Africa, with a focus on discussing inter- and intracultural group challenges, including crime and other conflicts. Together, the meeting will examine the prospects for bridging the gaps among African youth, as well as identify best practices and models for youth empowerment, leadership development, crime prevention, networking, and family stability.
Paper proposals are solicited that are based on case studies and best practices on domestic and international youth issues: e.g. youth development and leadership, peer relations, US-African youth study abroad exchanges, community outreach, crime prevention and peace building/peacemaking, peace education, African youth parenting, family, art expression, media and value formation, African-African American relations, girl-child education, child soldiers, youth gangs/cults, etc.

Please include the following with your proposal:  name, current position and institutional affiliation, paper title, abstract (75 words maximum), your mailing address, email, phone and fax number.
Notification of acceptance will be sent by email, plus any publication guidelines. Selected papers will be considered for publication in the conference proceedings. Presentations in English are preferred, but French can be accommodated.

Participants are responsible for conference fee of $50 US, plus their travel costs.  Fee waiver for students. E-mail or fax your proposal to:  Ernest Uwazie, Director, Center for African Peace and Conflict Resolution, California State University, Sacramento, 6000 J St., Sacramento, CA  95819-6085  Phone: 916-278-6282, FAX: 916-278-3429; email:  uwazieee@csus.edu  DEADLINE:  November 29, 2007.

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Global Studies Conference
University of Illinois – Chicago
“African Youth in America & Africa: Bridging the Gaps"
May 16-18, 2008   CALL FOR PAPERS

The Global Studies Conference and Global Studies Journal work toward mapping and interpreting new trends and patterns in globalization. This journal and the conference attempt to do this from many points of view, from many locations in the world, and in a wide-angle kaleidoscopic fashion.
The conference will include a line-up of international main speakers, as well as numerous paper, workshop and colloquium presentations by practitioners, teachers and researchers.

Presenters may choose to submit written papers for publication in the fully refereed Global Studies Journal. Virtual registrations are available for those who cannot attend in person, to allow submission of a paper for refereeing and possible publication, as well as access to the electronic version of the conference proceedings.

The deadline for papers (title and abstract) is February 14, 2008. Proposals are reviewed within four weeks of submission. For details on the conference, online proposal submission form, etc. are on the website (see above).

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Folklore and Ethnomusicology Student Association Conference
The Ohio State University
"Translation/Transformation"
May 17-18, 2008   CALL FOR PAPERS

The Ohio State University Folklore Student Association and the IU Folklore & Ethnomusicology Student Association are collaborating to present a conference on “Translation/Transformation.”
The conference aims to create a space for graduate and undergraduate students to share their research within their respective fields as it relates to the study of academic and vernacular interpretation of everyday life. 

There are three opportunities for participation: paper presentations, poster sessions, and a discussion forum for all attendees.  Abstracts of 250 words (for 15 minute presentations) are welcomed, on topics relevant to the following fields:  folklore, ethnomusicology, cultural studies, material culture, storytelling, performance studies, other related disciplines.

Poster submissions are highly encouraged, particularly for research projects in progress, as there will be opportunities for active dialogue.  Please see the website for details:  www.indiana.edu/~folksa

The discussion forum will allow all attendees to engage with enduring issues in our fields and to consider how those issues have emerged in their own research. Potential attendees are encouraged to submit three issues that have emerged in their own research for inclusion in developing this forum.

The conference will be hosted by the Ohio State University May 17-18. The Plenary speaker is Dr. Alan Govenor, a scholar, filmmaker, and playwright whose work particularly focuses on African-American music.  Deadline for submissions is February 19.  Please e-mail submissions to folksa@indiana.edu  For more information on details of the conference and Dr. Govenor, visit www.iub.edu/~folksa.

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4th Conference on Intercultural Rhetoric and Discourse
June 3-5, 2008
IUPUI
Sponsored by the Indiana Center for Intercultural Communication
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS

Papers are invited on topics including (but not limited to):  Theoretical and empirical investigations; language-and culture-specific studies; changing methodologies for research; practical applications; teaching and classroom practices; writing in school and college; writing in business and professional settings; orality and literacy connections and critical approaches to contrastive rhetoric
Deadline for submissions: May 1, 2008

Papers should be 20 minutes long with an additional 10 minutes for discussion.  Abstracts should be no more than 250 words typed on a single page. In the upper left-hand corner place the submitter’s name, address, institutional affiliation, phone and fax numbers, and e-mail address.  Send submissions to:  IR Conference Planning Committee, Indiana Center for Intercultural Communication, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, 620 Union Drive, Rm. 407, Indianapolis, IN 46202.  For more information phone: 317-274-2555; e-mail:  icic@iupui.edu  http://www.iupui.edu/~icic/IRconference.htm 

Conference Registration:  $100 early registration, $115 on-site; $50 student advance registration; $65 student on-site.

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Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities and Nations
Montreal, Canada
June 17-20
CALL FOR PAPERS

The 8th International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities and Nations will bring together scholarly, government and practice-based participants with an interest in the issues of diversity and community. The Conference examines the concept of diversity as a positive aspect of a global world and globalized society.  In addition to a line-up of international main speakers, the Conference will include numerous paper, workshop and colloquium presentations by practitioners, teachers and researchers.  Presenters may choose to submit written papers for publication in the fully refereed International Journal of Diversity in Organizations, Communities and Nations.

The deadline for proposals is November 8.  Full details of the conference, including the online proposal submission form, are at the conference website:  http://www.Diversity-Conference.com

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“New Media and Religious Transformations in Africa”
July 10-12, 2008
Abuja, Nigeria
CALL FOR PAPERS

Hosted by the Centre for the Study of African Culture and Communication, Catholic Institute of West Africa, Port Harcourt, the goal of the conference is to take a critical look at Africa’s rapidly evolving religious media scene. It is particularly interested in the challenges of balancing freedom of expression and freedom of religion and belief in Africa’s fast-growing media sector.

The conference will be divided into two parts: academic  (July 10-July 11) and public part (July 12).  It is anticipated accommodating 50-75 papers in the academic section, along with some plenary papers.  A pre-conference workshop on research methodology and work in progress is planned for the afternoon of July 10.

Questions to consider include:  How is Africa’s religious landscape being changed by the new religious media? In what ways are newer religious organizations, such as the Pentecostals, using the  media to advance political and economic agendas? Are we witnessing the development of new forms of religious activism and proselytism in Africa today due to the upsurge in media growth and diversifications? Which religious groups benefit most or least from Africa’s more liberalized and mass-mediatized public spheres?  How have traditional forms of communication or notions of power been incorporated into the new religious media? What is the impact of the new religious media on popular culture and the entertainment industry, and vice versa? Can we now talk about manifestations of religion as media, and media as religion? How might the conventional divisions and differences between state-run and independent media be reconfigured by new religious media?

Abstracts for paper and panel submissions of between 250-500 should be submitted to BOTH conference directors:  Prof. Rosalind I.J. Hackett, University of Tennessee rhackett@utk.edu and Dr. Benjamin Soares, African Studies Center, Leiden, the Netherlands mediaAndReligion@fsw.leidenuniv.nl ; AND TO Dr. Walter Ihejirika, Center for the Study of African Culture and Communications  WIhejirika@yahoo.com
DEADLINE FOR ABSTRACTS:  MARCH 31, 2008 (notification of inclusion during April)
DEADLINE FOR FULL PAPERS: JUNE 30, 2008

All participants will be expected to pay a conference registration fee of $40 or 5000 Nigerian naira. Some funding may be available to help defray travel and accommodation costs of participants. However, participants are encouraged to obtain financial support from their home institutions.

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New Directions in the Humanities
July 15-18, 2008
Fatih University, Istanbul, Turkey
CALL FOR PAPERS
http://www.HumanitiesConference.com

The 6th International conference on New Directions in the Humanities will take place at Fatih University, Istanbul, Turkey, July 15-18, 2008   Visit the website for detailed information: http://www.HumanitiesConference.com

The Humanities Conference and its associated Journal provides a space for dialogue and for the publication of new knowledge which builds on the past traditions of the humanities while setting a renewed agenda for their future.

A wide range of speakers will present lectures. Practitioners, teachers and researchers will present papers, workshops and colloquiums.  Presenters may choose to submit written papers for publication in the fully refereed International Journal of New Directions in the Humanities.  If you are unable to attend the conference in person, virtual registration is available, which allows you to submit a paper for refereeing and possible publication in the Journal, as well as access to the electronic version of the conference proceedings.

The deadline for papers (title and short abstract) is March 31, 2008.  Proposals are reviewed within four weeks of submission. Full details, including an online submission form are at the conference website.

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Monash University Centre, Prato, Tuscany, Italy
3rd International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences
July 22-25, 2008

Website:  http://www.SocialSciencesConfreence.com
CALL FOR PAPERS

The conference examines the nature of disciplinary practices, and the interdisciplinary practices that arise in the context of ‘real world’ applications. It also interrogates what constitutes ‘science’ in a social context, and the connections between the social and other sciences.  Visit the website for information on submitting paper proposals.

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International Conference on the Arts in Society
Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, UK
July 28-31, 2008
CALL FOR PAPERS

The conference will feature arts educators, artists, practitioners, researchers and theorists in all forms of disciplinary practice through paper presentations, workshops and colloquia. Submissions are invited for papers, workshops and alternative presentation formats for consideration in the Conference program. Presenters may choose to submit written papers for publication in the fully refereed International Journal of the Arts in Society. If you are unable to attend the conference in person, virtual registration is available which allow submission of a paper for refereeing and possible publication in the journal, as well as access to the electronic version of the journal. Submission in all areas of the arts will be considered, but especially welcome are presentations in keeping with the conference theme:  “Art and Communication”.

Details of the conference,  including online proposal submission forms are on the conference website:  http://www.Arts-Conference.com

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Zanzibar Indian Ocean Research Institute (ZIORI)
Conference on:  “The Indian Ocean: The Largest Cultural Continuum in the World”
August 29-31, 2008
CALL FOR PAPERS

For details see:  http://geschichte-transnational.clio-online.net/termine/id=865

 

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University of California, Berkeley’s Department of Theater, Dance and Performance Studies
Conference on African and Afro-Caribbean Performance
September 26-28, 2008

The University of California, Berkeley’s Department of Theater, Dance and Performance Studies is organizing this conference for September 26-28, 2008.  Co-sponsors include UCB’s Center for African Studies, the Consortium for the Arts, the Department of Music, and the Pacific Film Archive as well as two UC-wide Multi-campus Studies Research Groups in African Studies and International Studies.  The conference is intended to examine the diverse critical approaches currently being practiced within studies of African and Afro-Caribbean performance. How are these cultures being constructed, analyzed, and re-imagined by recent discussions about theatricality, transnationalism, Diaspora, translation, Circum-Atlantic exchanges, or cyberspaces? (Other topics are also welcome).  Papers should emphasize either Africa, the Caribbean, or the connections between both.

Please send a one-page abstract by February 15, 2008 to Leo Cabranes-Grant, Associate Professor, Department of Theatre and Dance, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA  93106-7060; or e-mail: cabranes@theatredance.ucsb.edu

 

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YALE CONFERENCE: Language in African Performing and Visual Arts: Global Trends, Issues and Perspectives
October 2-4, 2008

This conference will be hosted by the Yale Program in African Languages at the Yale Council on African Studies October 2-4, 2008.

As the world becomes more and more a global village through the internet and electronic media, transfer of cultural practices has become the norm.  However, the cultures of those with global economic and political power have tended to overshadow those of countries whose influence is local. This conference will bring together scholars across disciplines to discuss trends in African popular cultures and how these have impacted African languages.

The conference will investigate some of the developments in the performing and visual arts in Africa, with special focus on choice and forms of language used. It will ask how African languages have changed in this new environment and look at some of the reworking of oral tradition, and at works influenced by time spent outside Africa, and at new worldwide markets for products of popular African culture composed in African languages and argots.

Papers are invited addressing this theme or one of the following sub-themes:  Language and electronic and print media; Language and visual arts; Language and performing arts; Popular culture and technology; Popular culture and HIV/AIDS; Language in sports and leisure; Popular culture and urban language varieties; Fiction and publishing; Language and fashion and design.

Send abstracts to:  African.studies@yale.edu  or fax to:  203-432-5963.  Abstracts should be 300 words, and are due by May 31, 2008.  For information call African Studies:  203-432-3436

 

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