Dear colleagues,
it is very interesting to read your comments here regarding this question. If I may add a thought as an anthropologist due to attend two international conferences in my field in New Orleans this April, I faced a similar decision as Rick. However, I will be travelling to the US as there is another side to this darkened medal: Our colleagues, in any discipline, need our support when it comes to defending the principles of science and its effective, critical and successful communication. Perhaps of particular significance to anthropology (but I know of other Associations which have issued similar statements), major Associations in the field have issued strong statements, for instance:
http://www.americananthro.org/ParticipateAndAdvocate/AdvocacyDetail.aspx?ItemNumber=21061
http://www.physanth.org/news/1066/
https://paleopathology-association.wildapricot.org
The AAPA has made room in their conference program for delegates to attend the March for Science which coincides with the Meetings in New Orleans, headed by the Association President, and thus boosts the power of this march by hundreds of like-minded people, me being one of them. I find that it is part of my effort to advocate and promote science, it is outreach understood in a somewhat different way.
Attending the CSA conference may be especially important at times like these, as the effort to engage the public with science that may or may not support such governmental edicts in various countries needs our joint support - especially in the light of Trump's remarks and threats to cuts in arts, humanities and STEM sciences. It is the only way to counter the mindsets that attempt to weaken what we all try to relate and strengthen on a daily basis. It will not bring such administration to its knees, but it may, with constancy, show such governments that the heart beats (and brain works) way above them.
Best,
Nivien
Dr Nivien Speith MA, MSc, PhD, PGCE, FHEA, FRAI
Demonstrator and Lecturer in Anthropology
Curator, Human Remains Collection
Women's Academic Network (WAN) Co-Convenor
Bournemouth University
Faculty of Science & Technology
Dorset, BH12 5BB, UK
Tel: +44 (0)1202 961669
________________________________
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science <[log in to unmask]> on behalf of Rick Hall <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 02 March 2017 14:52
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PSCI-COM] US CSA conference
thanks to Dom and Lynda for comment on the question of should I attend the CSA Conference in US in May in the light of travel bans and executive orders
Dom posed the useful question of would I travel to another country less in the public gaze at the moment but with equally unpleasant policies? And I think the answer is no, I wouldn't.
In 1993 I traveled to Cuba for an International Theatre for Young People's Conference - and whilst I could see the oppression of the regime at first hand, there were many aspects of the Cuban education, health and cultural provision that I admired... and in the light of the US trade embargo in place at the time, I could also see the impact of isolation..
which doesn't mean that I would attend a conference in North Korea.
Now, my principles mean that I deny myself the pleasures of:
Tesco (employment practice, contracts with producers)
Starbucks, Amazon, Caffe Nero (tax)
Tate Galleries (use of zero hours contracts)
The CSA took the brave decision to move the conference from Raleigh N Carolina with the following statement:
http://citizenscience.org/2016/05/26/in-support-of-our-core-values-a-conference-decision/
So I guess that the same applies for delegates from 'proscribed' countries, of Muslim faith, or with Muslim names.
depressing - again as Dom says, my boycott is not going to bring Trump's administration to its knees - but I'll be interested to circulate the updated statement from CSA when it comes.
RH
On 1 March 2017 at 09:47, Dom McDonald <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
Hi Rick
this is tricky. Your non-attendance is hardly going to bring the Trump administration to its knees, and Citizen Science may be a valuable tool in slowing the sorts of social change that his administration appears to be pushing for. But you dont want to implicitly support policies that you disagree with.
I would answer it by analogy: how would you feel if you had been invited to speak at a conference in a different country that isnt in the news so much, but which has equally unpleasant policies? I'm sure you can think of a few... if you can answer that question, you can maybe put this dilemma into context.
Dom
[who still boycotts Nestle)
-----Original Message-----
From: psci-com: on public engagement with science [mailto:[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>] On Behalf Of Rick Hall
Sent: 01 March 2017 08:28
To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Subject: [PSCI-COM] US CSA conference
Dear Hive Mind colleagues
Could I seek your thoughts on attending conferences in US during the time of entry restrictions for Muslim delegates?
I have had a session proposal accepted for the Citizen Science Association conference in Minneapolis in May.
In the light of changes to US border controls and the removal from a flight to US of a teacher from Wales, traveling with a group of school students, I am inclined not to attend conferences in US until there is a clarification of the policy banning people from certain countries, of different faiths, or with Muslim names
What do others think?
In particular are any other colleagues intending to attend the CSA conference?
Or having reservations?
Thoughts please, I've requested postponement of my registration, due today, and a statement from CSA..
thanks
Rick Hall
Sent from my iPad
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