16th Annual Mini-Conference on Critical Geography

[i]Call for Papers[/i] The University of Georgia in Athens, October 23 and 24, 2009 This two day conference aims to provide an inclusive venue for the broad discussion of themes in critical geography. While the conference was borne of geography, we welcome all interdisciplinary work that examines the geographies of critical social theory and progressive political praxis. In recent years, papers and panels have been presented on a broad array of topics, and possible topics for presentation could include: Cities & Citizenship * Gentrification & Urban Struggles * Peace Studies * Political Ecology including the Social Production of the Environment * Contemporary Policy Studies * Interactions between Human and Physical Geographies * Critical Geopolitics * GIS and Society * Post-Colonial Issues * Cultural Politics * Globalization * Marxian Studies * Identity including Race, Class, Gender, Sexuality, (Dis)Ability, Age * CyberSpaces * Institutional Economics * Space, Place, and Power * Emotional Geographies * Local Politics and Geographies * Social Movements * Development * Sustainability * Extreme Geographies *Migration, Transnationalism, & Post-Nationalism * Terrorism * Urban Ecology * Neoliberalism * Counter-mapping This list of topics is not meant to be exhaustive. We encourage those interested in participating to explore any range of interests and to use the conference as an opportunity to expand their current research agenda, explore new theoretical landscapes, increase inter-disciplinary linkages, and/or receive feedback on works in progress. Organization and Format: The conference will commence the evening of Friday October 23rd, 2009, with a keynote address. The speaker will be announced shortly. These opening events will be followed by concurrent paper and panel sessions on Saturday. Paper Presentations Paper presenters should submit a paper title along with other required information (see Submission of Abstracts below). Paper sessions will include three to four papers and a discussant or four to five papers without a discussant (generally twelve to fifteen minutes per paper, withtime reserved at the end for discussion or after each paper per the chair'sdiscretion). In mid-August, sessions will be organized, anddiscussants and chairs will be identified. Paper presenters should forward their paper to their discussant if applicable via e-mail no later than October 7, 2009. The purpose of the discussant is to begin a group discussion of the ideas and concepts presented in the papers; consequently,discussants should be provided with the presentation materials as soon as possible. Panels, Roundtables, and Other Group Discussions: If you wish to organize a panel, roundtable, or an entirely different format for a group dialogue, please provide a title for your session and the contact information for all panelists/participants. Titles for individual contributions (if relevant) should also be provided. Group session organizers are responsible for the specific allocation of time and structure of the panel session. Please note that we reserve the right to add a panelist to previously organized panels if the topics fit. Alternative Formats: Because we wish to provide a forum for discussion of themes in and the nature of critical geography, interested participants should feel free to suggest ways of presenting their research, ideas, and art beyond formal the traditional confines of paper sessions. We shall attempt to accommodate performances, round tables, panels, and other communicative fora. If you are unsure about the practicability of a particular format, please contact us at critgeog@gmail.com. When submitting ideas for such sessions, please provide a detailed description of the format as well the contact information for all participants. Alternative format session organizers are responsible for the specific allocation of time and structure of the session. Submission of Abstracts: The target [b]deadline [/b]for proposing a panel or roundtable, submitting a paper to the mini-conference, or describing an alternative session is [b]August 12,2009[/b]. Submit abstracts and/or proposals for panels, roundtables, or alternative formats including title of the paper/session and contact information to critgeog@gmail.com. All submitters should include an abstract of 250 - 500 words describing their paper or session, and a brief bio of each participant with contact information and any title/affiliation you would like placed in the program. Additional info: Please feel free to email Josh Barkan and Amy Trauger at [url=mailto:critgeog@gmail.com]critgeog@gmail.com[/url] with any questions. In the next couple of weeks we will post additional details on our website (url to be determined).