Association for Asian Studies
Location: Toronto, Canada
Conference dates: 15 – 18 March 2012
Deadline for proposals: 4 August 2011
All proposals must be submitted electronically
On behalf of the Program Committee for the Association for Asian Studies (AAS) 2012 Conference to be held at the Sheraton Centre in Toronto, Canada, we are pleased to invite colleagues in Asian studies to submit proposals for organized panels, roundtables, workshops, and individual papers for sessions to be created by the Committee.
The Committee seeks sessions that will engage panelists and audiences in the consideration of ideas, information, and interpretations that will advance knowledge about Asian regions and, by extension, will enrich teaching about Asia at all levels.
We look forward to your colleagueship at our Toronto conference and to a program that reflects the dynamism Asian studies and the AAS.
QUESTIONS? Please contact a member of the Program Committee or the AAS Conference Manager, Robyn Jones, rjones@asian-studies.org.
IMPORTANT SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Consistency between accepted panels and delivered panels is an ongoing concern of the Program Committee, and we urge your attention to some long-established principles:
* No individual is to be on the formal program in more than one session
This rule applies to ALL PANEL PARTICIPANTS: Chairs, Paper Presenters and Discussants.
Panel organizers must confirm that the proposed panelists are listed on their proposal only.The name of a single individual on more than one proposal could threaten the chance of acceptance of every proposal involved.
* A proposal should be a commitment in the sense that its original configuration, its appearance in the printed Program, and its delivery at the conference all should match. Toward this end, the Program Committee will expect strict compliance with the December 1 deadline for participant registration which assures inclusion in the printed Program, and will expect the in-person participation of all those named in successful proposals.
* Habits of collegiality and professional courtesy are both the pattern and the continued expectation at the AAS conference. Most fundamental are the honoring of commitments to present papers and the provision of papers to discussants in a timely fashion. The Program Committee assumes and celebrates an interactive style and effective communication in the evolution and delivery of a well-coordinated panel session. Individual paper sessions also benefit from the best implementation of professional style.
* No-Shows: the program committee has noted a growing number of “no-shows” among panel participants which is disrespectful toward fellow panelists and audiences, and unfair to those applicants who were not selected for inclusion on the program. Therefore, sessions will be closely monitored at the Toronto conference to note all no-shows. Participants who fail to notify the AAS secretariat in advance that they will not be able to attend the conference and participate in their panel session will not be allowed to submit a proposal for the following year’s conference.
Panel Selection Criteria
The Program Committee considers the annual conference program to be primarily a collection of Organized Panels. For that reason, it accepts a far higher percentage of panel proposals than individual paper submissions. The Committee will look favorably on imaginative panels that address issues of interest to a wide constituency, incorporate comparative perspectives, or cross disciplinary boundaries. The criteria on which the Committee focuses are:
* Intellectual quality of the research (originality of material or interpretations, soundness of methodology, knowledge of the field, etc.).
* Coherence of the papers proposed for a given panel.
* Quality of the written abstracts, the overall panel abstract being of greatest importance (clear, jargon-free prose is especially valued).
* Indication of a commitment to stimulating active discussion at panel sessions.
* Gender, ethnic, and institutional balance with combinations of junior and senior scholars.
* Attention to AAS guidelines (deadline, prohibition on more than one appearance, limits on number of presenters, etc.).
Creative Panel Formats
The Program Committee supports innovative formats that will encourage bold thinking, lively dialogue, and audience involvement. We urge panel organizers to explore ways in which ideas can be communicated most effectively, and ways in which the audience can contribute to the liveliness of the dialogue.
In addition we encourage variety in the presentational format of sessions, perhaps by starting with discussants and then proceeding to papers delivered but not necessarily read aloud. Posting full texts of papers online would be a way of enlivening the session, in this instance by giving the audience a prior opportunity to approach the work of the panelists. Presentation by way of well-crafted remarks, rather than by reading an entire paper, might well suit these objectives. The following list of potential formats for the panel illustrates a range of styles but is not meant to confine your options:
* Formats that introduce, at the outset, a clash of perspectives, interpretations, or methodologies.
* Formats that limit each paper writer to ten or fifteen minutes to explain the main idea of the paper.
* Formats permitting a joint panel discussion on a single theme or book as a part of the panel session.
* Formats in which commentators begin by summarizing and commenting on the papers and to which the paper writers then reply.
* Formats that allow sharply focused commentary from the audience early on.
* Formats in which knowledgeable members of the audience are encouraged to prepare comments of their own.
* Formats in which a single, major paper, film, or book launching is the subject of attention and on which other papers and all the commentary are focused.
Workshop Sessions
We are continuing Workshop sessions dedicated to teaching and professional development. This panel category should be particularly appropriate for sessions dealing with language pedagogy, the use of instructional technology in the classroom, new tools for research, tips on publishing a first book, etc. We encourage affiliated groups and committees that have previously conducted workshops or seminar-type presentations as “Meetings-in-Conjunction” to instead submit formal proposals within the Workshop category.
“Border-Crossing” Panels
To encourage wide and innovative intellectual exchange, the Program Committee invites applications for sessions that cross borders—disciplinary, national, regional, historical periods—in subject matter as well as participants. Border-Crossing panels should be thematically, disciplinarily, and geographically expansive. While the AAS is no longer able to provide funding for designated Border-Crossing Sessions, the special status of these panels will be indicated by highlighting in the conference program.
* Only Panels and Roundtables are eligible for this category. No individual papers will be considered.
* “Border-Crossing” panel organizers should use the Organized Panel or Roundtable forms, and indicate in the panel abstract how the topic fits within the “Border-Crossing” structure and spirit. Proposals must also include individual abstracts from all paper-givers. The deadline is the same as for regular proposals.
* Proposals that are not selected as Border-Crossing sessions will be considered in the Interarea category.
“Directions in the Social Sciences”
To encourage the presentation of new scholarship in social science disciplines under-represented at AAS conferences (e.g., Political Science, Sociology, Economics, Psychology, Law, Public Health, and Social Work), the Board of Directors has created an initiative “Directions in the Social Sciences.” Under this initiative, a select number of panels in the social sciences will be highlighted in the conference program and scheduled at different times. The Board welcomes wide and innovative submissions in the social science initiative, particularly those including younger scholars and interdisciplinary approaches.
This initiative is meant to expand social science representation at AAS annual conferences. If your panel falls within one or more of these categories, please CHECK THE RELEVANT BOX on the online Organized Panel or Roundtable form (individual papers are not eligible). Checking the box will NOT affect the regular competitive review of your panel proposal—it will simply assist the Committee in selecting the highlighted panels and in keeping track of the number of proposals in the social sciences, which we hope will mount steadily.
Scheduling
Panel sessions will begin late Thursday afternoon and end on Sunday.
Since the scheduling is done at the time of panel selection in September, proposers should indicate any potential scheduling conflicts—along with a specific reason—on their proposal. The committee will attempt to accommodate conflicts, but cannot guarantee a particular time slot, and no changes can be made once the schedule has been determined.
Preregistration Requirements
PRE-REGISTRATION is required of ALL PARTICIPANTS on accepted panels, including those composed of individual papers.
Participant names WILL NOT appear in the printed Program unless participants are pre-registered by the December 1, 2011 deadline. No refunds will be given for participants withdrawing after December 1, 2011. Pre-registration information will be sent to all participants at the time they are notified of their acceptance to the program. Participant members must pre-register at the member rate. Participant non-members must pre-register at the slightly higher non-member rate.
THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS IN REGARD TO THE PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT FOR PARTICIPANTS.
Travel Assistance
(1) Late Developing Countries (LDC) Program
We are pleased to continue the availability of travel grants for scholars who are citizens of and work in the less economically advanced nations of Asia. This support is limited to those scholars who are active participants on regular panels, roundtables, or workshops that have been accepted for the formal program. Individual paper presenters are not eligible for support through this program.
Applications for scholars from the following countries will NOT be accepted: Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of China (Taiwan), Republic of Korea (South Korea), and Singapore. Scholars who normally work in an eligible country but will be residing in an ineligible country at the time of the conference may be considered on a case-by-case basis, but requests from scholars traveling from LDC countries in Asia will be given priority. All applicants must indicate from which city/country they will be traveling to the conference site.
Unfortunately, we do not have sufficient funds to cover all the related costs of attending the conference. Costs covered will be limited to international round-trip discounted airfare, up to three nights hotel accommodations at the conference rate, and meeting registration. The maximum amount available is $2,000 but due to the anticipated large number of applications, individual grants will likely be much lower. Therefore panel organizers or applicants should seek outside funding to supplement LDC grants. Grant funds may be wired in advance either directly to the scholar or to his/her travel agency, but proof of actual airline ticket purchase price will be required. Otherwise, awarded grants should be picked up on-site at the AAS Conference registration area once original travel receipts are provided. Individual scholars or their respective panel organizers are responsible for arranging purchase of tickets, hotel accommodations, registration, etc.
Panel organizers should submit their request as part of the online panel proposal by the August 4 deadline. Only one participant per panel will be considered for funding. Awards will be made by a special selection committee after the formal program has been decided by the Program Committee. Attempts will be made to maintain fairness across countries, specializations, disciplines, etc.
(2) Student Travel Stipends
The AAS routinely provides partial travel stipends to all students participating on the formal program, and this will be continued for the 2011 conference. To be eligible, students must be presenting a paper on the formal program, and have registered by the pre-registration deadline (1 December 2011) using a valid student ID, an enrollment form, or other proof of current student status. Students living within a 100 mile radius of the conference site are considered “local” and are NOT eligible for the stipend. There are no application procedures. Individual award checks will be prepared in advance and be available for pick-up at the conference registration desk. Grant amounts vary each year and are dependent on the number of eligible students, but in recent years have averaged around $250.
LCD (PowerPoint) Projectors
The AAS will provide LCD Projectors for all panel sessions. LCD projectors are generally used and needed for PowerPoint presentations.
To maximize efficiency and minimize set-up costs, A/V equipment provided by the AAS is limited to LCD Projectors, screens and necessary cabling.
The AAS DOES NOT PROVIDE computers, TV/DVD equipment, overhead projectors, slide projectors, or internet connections.
It is the responsibility of panel participants to bring their own computers and/or arrange and pay for additional equipment and services needed from the hotel. The AAS cannot assist in these preparations.
Looking for Panel Participants or to Join a Panel?
If you wish to contact colleagues to collaborate on a panel proposal, you may post a short announcement (up to 200 words) on the AAS website, at www.asian-studies.org/panel-links.htm. Please send an e-mail to Jon Wilson at jwilson@asian-studies.org to have your announcement included (or removed).
We also recommend posting similar annoucements on listservs such as H-ASIA, http://www.h-net.org/~asia/
TYPES OF PROPOSALS
Organized Panels
Organized Panels are proposed by individual scholars around a common subject or theme. Formal papers are presented, often followed by discussion. A 250-word (maximum) abstract is required from each participant, in addition to the 250-word (maximum) abstract for the panel itself. The abstracts provided by the prospective paper-givers are very important, but the overall panel abstract is of greatest importance. Organized panels last for two hours and must include ample time for audience participation. They should include a maximum of seven active participants (including the Chair, paper presenters, and discussants).
The exact configuration of paper presenters and discussants is left to your discretion. One option would be to have a panel chair, four short paper presentations designed to stimulate discussion, and two discussants. Alternatively, a panel might have just two paper presentations and several discussants.
For the 2012 conference we are unable to accommodate “back-to-back” panel proposals. Organizers may submit separate panel proposals on related themes or topics but each proposal will be reviewed on its own merits. The Program Committee cannot guarantee acceptance of a series of panels, nor can it guarantee specific scheduling requests.
*** Continue to Organized Panel Checklist and Proposal Forms ***
Roundtables
Roundtables are events at which no formal paper titles are listed. This format provides opportunies for participants with specific expertise to discuss with each other, and with members of the audience, issues or themes concerning a discipline or an Asian regional area. A roundtable lasts for two hours. While a roundtable proposal need not have the detail required of a panel proposal, the abstract must fully explain its purpose, its issue(s)/theme(s), and scope. Roundtables should not exceed SEVEN (7) participants, including the Chair.
*** Continue to Roundtable Checklist and Proposal Forms ***
Workshops
Workshops are sessions relating to teaching and professional development, with a special emphasis on the learning or development of new skills. Workshops might concern language pedagogy, the use of instructional technology in the classroom, new tools for research, tips on publishing a first book, the exchange of syllabi, and the like. They may contain paper presentations or follow a more informal roundtable format, but in all cases should allow considerable time for discussion and exchange of ideas. We particularly encourage affiliated groups and committees that have previously conducted workshops or seminar-type presentations as Meetings-in-Conjunction to instead submit formal proposals within the Workshop category. Workshops should not exceed SEVEN (7) participants, including the Chair.
*** Continue to Workshop Checklist and Proposal Forms ***
Individual Papers
The committee considers the annual conference to be primarily a panel-based conference. Therefore, the acceptance rate for individual paper proposals is much lower than that for organized panels. The AAS website offers a means for scholars to announce their interests and paper topics to other potentially interested scholars via e-mail, in the hopes that panels can be formed from individual-paper proposals— www.asian-studies.org/panel-links.htm. Send an e-mail to Jon Wilson (jwilson@asian-studies.org) to have your announcement included. The committee would like to remind junior scholars that AAS Regional Conferences are the ideal place to submit individual paper proposals and to meet like-minded scholars who might be interested in collaborating on organized panel proposals for the following year’s national AAS meeting. For a list of AAS Regional Conferences, please visit www.asian-studies.org/conferences/regionals.htm
In order to make the individual-paper presentations more coherent and useful to the scholars presenting papers, the committee will organize the individual paper proposals into panels centered around specific topics (these may be cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural). The panel chair, appointed by the program committee, will request copies of the papers in advance of the conference and act as discussant for the panel. Panel members will also be required to exchange papers ahead of time, so that they can read and develop linking comments on or questions about one another’s work.
While any person may submit a proposal for an individual paper presentation, strong preference is given to those submitted by advanced graduate students or by people who have completed their PhDs in the last two or three years. The intellectual quality of the abstract is the prime selection criterion for proposals. Those who present an individual paper one year are not accepted in the subsequent year. Once assigned to a session, individual paper presenters may not change to another panel.
*** Continue to Individual Paper Proposal Checklist and Form ***
2012 Program Committee
Panel organizers may contact members of the 2012 Program Committee for questions concerning, e.g., format, possible participants, or to which category a submission should be made.
Interarea/Border-Crossing
* Martin Whyte, China, Harvard University, mwhyte@wjh.harvard.edu
* Arjun Guneratne, South Asia, Macalester College, guneratne@macalester.edu
South/Southeast Asia
* Durba Ghosh, South Asia, Cornell University, dg256@cornell.edu
* Mike Malley, Southeast Asia, , Naval Post-graduate School, msmalley@nps.edu
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