Cultural, Social & Political Thought Graduate Student Conference 2024

The definitions of the words “tension” and “friction” are fundamentally rooted in opposition. Opposing forces within ourselves, our groups and communities, our nations, our world. Their meanings resonate in the back-and-forth motion of debate, of the positive energy produced in action, and in the fragile boundary of limitation. We encourage participants to test these boundaries and explore the interplay of social, cultural, and political forces present in the here and now.

The Cultural, Social & Political Thought (CSPT) program at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, is pleased to announce that our annual graduate student conference will be held on May 10-11, 2024. We would like to acknowledge that our conference will take place on the traditional territories of the Songhees, Esquimalt, and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples, whose relationships to the land continue to this day. This year’s conference will take on a hybrid format, accommodating both in-person and online presentations. 

Potential themes and topics may include (but are not limited to):

• Decolonizing ontology 
• Feminist and matrifocal perspectives 
• Holistic stewardship 
• Intersectional pedagogy
• Transformative politics
• Epistemological ruptures
• Cultural collisions
• Fluidity of spaces
• Embodied knowledge
• Unsettling narratives
• Multivocality
• Biocultural diversity conservation

We invite submissions from both the Humanities and Social Sciences, including but not limited to Indigenous studies, philosophy, theory, geography, anthropology, sociology, french and francophone studies, gender studies, cultural studies, literary studies, and history, in addition to visual artists who work within these topics.  In an interest to support senior undergrad students, exceptional undergraduate work is also welcom to support students on their way into higher academia.

In light of our theme, we seek to assemble a diverse group of scholars, artists, and activists, in order to foster interdisciplinary discussions through artworks and presentations that are approximately 15 to 18 minutes in length. 

Artists can indicate if they also want to give a 15 to 18 minutes talk on their work, though this is not mandatory for participation.

Submit your abstracts here: https://forms.gle/RZZPDEWSxT4Bx68B9

Submission Guidelines:

If you are interested in presenting at the 2024 CSPT Graduate Student Conference, please email the following information to csptgradcon@gmail.com by January 14, 2024 at 23:59 PST: 

● Your name, contact information, and affiliation (if any);

● An abstract of 250 words (maximum);

● A short biography of 50 words (maximum);

● A list of five relevant keywords to your abstract;

● Any technical requirements, including space, or other support your require while at the conference;

● Dietary requirements and food allergies.

Artist’s Submissions:

● The above criteria for the abstract, biography, and keywords;

● Indicate in your abstract if you would also like to be considered for a 15 to 18

minute “artist’s talk”;

● Indicate any space requirements for display (e.g., power supply, size, plinths or

tables, etc.).

If you have any questions, please reach out to the organising committee at: csptgradcon@gmail.com.