Call for Papers | Call for Posters

Transcending Borders – Redrawing Perspectives

International & Interdisciplinary Student Conference
May 4-6, 2018, University of Graz

Call for Papers – Call for Posters (pdf)

On May 4-6, 2018, the Center for Inter-American Studies at the University of Graz is hosting a student conference with the aim of gathering students from different disciplines and backgrounds to exchange their research from an interdisciplinary, interregional and transnational perspective. Due to contemporary developments, such as migration and flight movements as well as ensuing political debates that demand stricter border policies and surveillance, the topic of borders has recently (re-)gained political momentum.

We, however, want to transcend these narrow political definitions associated with the term and understand ‘borders’ in a broader sense as encompassing several meanings or layers of meaning. Thus, we encourage participants to develop new associations with and understandings of the term. ‘Borders’ can refer to any dividing line, including national, political, and geographical borders as well as boundaries between ethnic, gender, national, class, or age identities. In order to transcend these borders, possible topics may address, but are not limited to the following questions:

• Why do borders exist?
• Why and how are they drawn?
• How do they manifest themselves?
• What are their meanings for different societal actors?
• How are they perceived, portrayed, and represented?
• Who do they include and exclude?
• When, how, and why are borders transgressed, dissolved, or transformed?
• What are consequences of the construction, transgression, or dissolution of borders?
• Are borders absolute or permeable? Do they draw a clear line or do they feature grey areas?

Additionally, our focus lies on the human actors involved, drawing attention to those who are affected by these processes as well as to those who have initiated them. We invite participants to transcend disciplinary borders, taking into consideration methods and approaches of other disciplines in order to question and re-define assumptions, definitions, and categories of their own discipline and research.

Internationality and interdisciplinarity are competences that are currently in high demand in academia. This conference will, therefore, provide opportunities for students to develop their presentation skills, discuss their research, and to experience an essential aspect of academic work. Academia continues to be an exclusive field, oftentimes discouraging students from participating actively in research, particularly those from a non-academic background. Therefore, this conference aims specifically at providing an inclusive, welcoming, and supportive environment for all students, in which they can prosper and evolve. If you have an interesting idea for a presentation or a poster, don’t doubt yourself and apply!

Application

Participation will be open to bachelor and master students from all backgrounds. PhD students are also invited to participate and will present on an extra panel. Possible fields of study may include, but are not limited to the humanities and social studies (e.g. cultural studies, history, sociology, political sciences, ethnology, cultural anthropology, linguistics, literary studies, archaeology, and art history). The working language at the conference will be English.

The deadline for submission is 4 February 2018 at 23:59. Applicants will be notified about the acceptance of their proposals by 18 February 2018.

Call for Papers:

• Presentations: 20 minutes,
  followed by 10 minutes of discussion
• We strongly encourage the use of visual aids, alternative presentation formats and creative presentation methods.
• Proposals (3,000-4,000 characters) should include research questions, thesis, main points, and conclusions. Additionally, an overview of the sources that will be used and a bibliography should be provided.

Call for Posters:

• Posters should clearly depict the most important aspects of your research, including your thesis. Presenters must be present during the conference to explain their posters.
• Format: DIN A0 (841mm wide x 1189mm high)
  The organizers will print the submitted posters collectively.
• Proposals (3,000-4,000 characters) should include research questions, thesis, main points, and conclusions. Additionally, an overview of the sources that will be used and a bibliography should be provided. You may also include a first draft of your poster.

Additionally, a short curriculum vitae is to be included in the application. It should briefly – in one paragraph – introduce the applicant and their background, their field of study, level of study as well as their research interests.

Support

The conference fee is 20€, which may be covered by your university. In exceptional cases, we can waive this fee, as we do not wish to deter anyone from participating in the conference due to financial reasons. If possible, we will also provide financial support for accommodation and travel costs. However, we strongly advise to ask at your university for additional funding.

Contact 

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. All correspondence, including your proposals for papers or posters and your CV as well as further questions, should be addressed to

Marlene Fößl ([log in to unmask])
University of Graz
Department of History
Heinrichstraße 26
8010 Graz
Austria