WAAC-2023 Theme:
“Anthropological Perspectives on Contemporary Human Problems”
A Biennial AAfH Anthropology for Humankind Event
Anthropology as a discipline has emphasized the elaboration of understandings about humans across space and time, no matter the national or regional context of the scholar’s training. Whether to document people’s biocultural heritage (Anthropological Survey of India), to demonstrate how empirical data disproves ideologies of racial hierarchies (Antenor Firmin), or to make the strange familiar and the familiar strange (sociocultural anthropology), anthropological findings have explicated important elements of humans’ existence. Yet even within these three examples from different anthropological traditions, implicit in all of them is the transformative nature of such knowledge through its application.
As such, the organizers of the WAAC 2023 seek proposals for panels, papers, or posters based upon original and unpublished results that address the questions: what are the socially relevant findings from empirical research that address important problems of the contemporary moment, and how can they be, or have they been put to use for social change? The organizers invite submissions that address the conundrums of humans’ lives and offer ways of resolving them. Submissions may relate to any topic within biological anthropology, cultural or social anthropology, linguistic anthropology, archaeology, or cognate disciplines, may draw upon research from anywhere humans are, and may be historical or contemporary in chronological orientation. In addition, this Congress will celebrate the life and work of Prof. Michael H. Crawford. Given this celebration and the pressing issues of the current moment, the organizers are particularly (but not solely) interested in proposals on the following topics:
Sub-themes:
1. Anthropological Genetics
2. Biocultural Anthropology
3. Health, Disease, and Disparities
4. Anthropology of Migration or Mobility
5. Displacement and Resettlement
6. Anthropology and Education
7. COVID and other pandemics
8. Gender and Sexual Identities and Queerness
9. Religious Pluralism and Secularism
10. Racism, Casteism, and/or Heteronormative Patriarchy
11. Consequences of Environmental or Climate Changes
12. Food insecurity, Malnutrition, and Poverty
13. New Technologies and Consequences
14. Issues of Urban Space and Place
15. Unintended Consequences of Development and Public Policy
16. Universal Rights, Human Rights, and Sovereignty
17. Ethno-nationalist and other forms of Violence
18. Mental Health
19. Cultural Resource Management and Patrimony
20. Language Endangerment, Preservation, and Revitalization
21. Politics of Language
22. Repatriation of Human Remains or Material Culture
23. Contemporary Encounters with Historical Cemeteries
24. Bioarcheology
We are calling for submissions of full panels, individual (or co-authored) papers, posters, and sessions of “rapid-fire talks” focused on a theme. All presentations and papers must be given in English.To increase participation from around the world, presentations may be given virtually or in-person. For WAAC 2023, the general theme of conundrums of humans’ lives and offer ways of resolving them. In other words, we call for presentations of how findings from socially relevant empirical research address problems of the contemporary moment and how these findings might be or have been put to use for social change.
We are calling for submissions of full panels, individual (or co-authored) papers, posters, and sessions of “rapid-fire talks” focused on a theme. All presentations and papers must be given in English. To increase participation from around the world, presentations may be given virtually or in-person. Specifically, organizers are calling for submissions of proposals for one of four distinct type of submission types: full panels, individual (or co-authored) papers, posters, and sessions of “lightening” talks focused on a theme. All proposals, regardless of type, must be received by 31 January 2023.
1. Full Panels
2. Single Papers (Individual or Co-Authored)
3. Posters
4. Lightening Talks
Full Panels:
At the core, panels consist of groups of presentations, usually 12-20 minutes in length, that are organized around a common theme or topic. After the final presentation, a period of 12-20 minutes should remain either for a discussant (if included) to respond or for the Chair to facilitate questions from the audience. It is expected that these panels clearly indicate the joint intellectual merit and broader impact of the panel, while each individual presenter is responsible for demonstrating these dynamics.
The organizer (or co-organizers) will submit a session abstract (no more than 500 words) with a list of participants, titles for each presentation, and an abstract (no more than 250 words) for each presentation. The proposal may also include the name of the designated Chair. A Panel Organizer(s) may (but is not required to) name a Discussant. Discussants and Chairs need to register, but they do not need to submit an abstract.
[Roles: Organizer(s); Chair; Participants; Discussant]
Single Papers (Individual or Co-Authored):
These presentations showcase the findings of individual (or in the case of co-authored works, a group). The abstract should be no more than 250 words and include:
-The big picture problem or hotly debated topic in the field
-The gap in the scholarship that the research addresses
– How the research addresses the gap
-The specific data sets used
-The original thesis/argument
-A conclusion showing the significance of the work
For more guidance on writing conference abstracts, please consult this site
Posters
“Poster authors create, in advance, a graphic presentation which is then displayed during the session time in the poster room. These sessions provide the opportunity for more informal discussion and feedback about your work” (Miller and Trainor n.d.). See the linked document for more practical tips on creating a poster. These presentations are primarily based on text, posted images, and the author’s explanation. Though intellectual merit and broader impact still matter, the manner of preparation and presentation and the interaction with your “audience” differ from a traditional paper given on a panel.
Posters should be 36″ x 48″ (92 x 122 cm) or vice versa. Here is a template to consider using.
Lightening Talks
These presentations are engaging performances of current projects or concepts through a few slides with images or sound (accompanied by brief descriptions) and dynamic and reasonably-paced spoken content. Total presentation time is speedy (like like a flash of lightening), lasting no more than five minutes per presenter. Talks should present works in progress or upcoming projects. Though intellectual merit and broader impact still matter, the manner of preparation and presentation and the interaction with your “audience” differ from a traditional paper given on a panel.
Questions can be directed to [email protected]
