Grad Student Conference

ANNUAL CONNECTIONS CONFERENCE:
Connections beyond Humanities: Understanding Relatedness in a Changing World

CALL FOR PAPERS

Conference Date: March 20-21, 2025 
Where: in-person 
Submission Deadline:  January 19, 2025 at 23:59 (Mountain Time)

In the Anthropocene, the pace of human development outpaces that of natural evolution, disrupting ecological balance and transforming humans from a biological existence into a potent geological force. The superiority of humans often leads to simplifying and exploiting other forms of natural entities as mere resources, neglecting long-term impacts on our planet. This mindset further creates a divide between humans and non-humans. However, the advancements in science and technology have blurred the line between nature and culture. Nature is no longer an external backdrop but deeply intertwined with human activities. Scholars in fields like Literary Studies, Translation Studies, and Cultural Studies are rethinking human-nature relationships, giving voice to non-humans and exploring redefined identities.

In this year's conference, our aim is to delve into the ever-changing dynamic between humans and non-humans, encompassing the natural environment, animals, technologies, and even potential extraterrestrial life. Our focus will be on comprehending the changing faces and challenges inherent in this complex relationship between humans and non-humans. Why is it important for us to re-consider the relationship between humans and non-humans? Where do humans stand in relation to non-humans? How can humanities and social sciences subjects contribute to addressing the current crisis concerning the long- term survival of both humans and non-humans? What approaches can be employed to tackle the related issues?

The 2024 Modern Languages and Cultural Studies Graduate Student Conference invites proposals for conference papers from a variety of fields and perspectives that engage with subtopics including, but not limited to the following sub-topics:

  • Methodologies and theories of posthumanism; post-anthropocentrism
  • Ecological translation; eco-criticism; eco-linguistics
  • Biosemiotics
  • The identity of humans
  • Indigenous peoples and nature
  • Eco-philosophy
  • Eco-tourism; ecological travelogue
  • Animal, nature, and ecology in literature and media
  • Affections of animals
  • Technology and humans; technology and environment
  • Posthumanist ethics
  • Political ecology and nature

Submission Guidelines:

Those interested are invited to submit an abstract of 250 words maximum in English or French and a biography of 100 words by January 19, 2025, at 23:59 (Mountain Time), to modlang@ualberta.ca. Acceptance will be based on content quality, originality, and academic significance. Submissions should include the title of the paper and the author’s name, affiliations, and contact information. Academic presentations will be 15 minutes in length, followed by a 5-minute Q&A session. 

If you have any questions, please contact the organizer, Hongyang Ji, hji4@ualberta.ca.