Call for Papers 2nd Annual Institute of African Studies Undergraduate Research Conference
15 October 2016

Ottawa, Canada

Theme: Africa after Africa Rising: Politics, Development, Youth and Innovation in an Era of Globalization

Calling all undergraduate students with a passion for African Studies! The Institute of African Studies (IAS) at Carleton University (carleton.ca/africanstudies) is hosting its second international undergraduate research conference, organized by the Institute of African Studies Students Association (IASSA). The goal of this one-day interdisciplinary conference is to provide a platform for emerging researchers in the field of African Studies. It is understood that this may be a student’s first time completing a scholarly paper, therefore this conference has been timed to allow students the summer to work on their research papers and present at Carleton University in mid-October.
This year’s theme, Africa after Africa Rising: Politics, Development, Youth and Innovation in an Era of Globalization, seeks to encourage interdisciplinary engagement with a new generation of continental and diasporic Africans confronting questions such as: Is Africa really rising? What is the future of the continent—politically, economically, and culturally? Are “Afropolitans” the new face of the Diaspora? In what ways are African youth using technology and innovation? What are the new directions for political participation and development? In a time of political, developmental and innovative transition, we ask: Which Way Africa? This conference encourages students not to simply replicate the usual discourses of victimhood or reproduce information obtained from a variety of sources, but to generate new and innovative ideas that address the challenges and opportunities for the new generation as well as provoke further research.
Papers which must remain within the scope of African Studies, may address the following necessarily inexhaustive subtopics:

  •  Globalization, Popular and Youth Cultures
  • Population, Displacement, Migration and Land
  • Gender, Sexuality and Intersectionality
  • Critiques of Imperialism, Colonialism and the Slave Trade
  • Natural Resources and International Development
  • Race, Identity, and Diaspora
  • Afropolitanism
  • Crime, Security, and Political Leadership
  • Environment and Conservation

We encourage students coming from the following disciplines: Anthropology, Sociology, Psychology, Law, Global and International Relations, Policy and Political Science, Art History, Cultural Studies, Musicology, Religion, Film Studies, Business, Media and Communication Studies, Technology, Literature and Critical Studies. Students interested in participating are invited to submit abstracts by July 1st, 2016 to the organizing committee at: communications.iasconference@gmail.com Abstracts of between 300-500 words in length should include the following:

  • Name, institution, field of study, address, email and phone number.
  • The title of your presentation.
  • A thesis statement, two or more research questions, and a brief description of the argument the paper seeks to make.

Research Papers are due September 1st, 2016 and must be a minimum of 3000 words.

For participating students, this conference is an excellent opportunity for improving academic portfolios, especially for those interested in future graduate studies or a career that requires writing reports or policy papers for government agencies, NGOs, etc. There will be prizes for the best papers at the conference, including being awarded publication opportunity in Nokoko, the open-access academic journal of Carleton University’s Institute of African Studies.

The IASSA plans to make this a memorable experience for students by incorporating distinguished guest-speakers, cultural components, and an environment that fosters the kind of support and encouragement that undergraduate students treasure.  More information on these activities as well as about accommodation, possible travel subsidies, possible tour of Ottawa (Canada’s capital city), and so forth will be made available in due course.

For more information, please email the organizing committee at: communications.iasconference@gmail.com

Applicants will receive confirmation of acceptance by July 20th, 2016