The Nordic Institute of Asian Studies (NIAS), the Network for Asian Studies (Asianettverket), the University of Bergen, and the Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI) invite panel proposals for our joint 2023 conference, “Consuming Asia” (22-23 June), as well as applications for the associated PhD workshop (20-21 June).
Call for proposals
Our conference theme, “Consuming Asia,” is meant to be stimulative and inclusive. Under this broad umbrella, we look forward to panel proposals that speak to issues including but not limited to social, environmental, religious, and sociocultural dimensions of consumption; food and nutrition practices and policies; waste and pollution; infrastructure of/and extraction; the geopolitics of consumption; networks and linkages in local and globalized consumption, and more. We welcome diverse geographical coverage of all areas of Asia covered by NIAS and the Asia Network (including underrepresented areas). We encourage research at all scales, micro to macro, including cross-border and comparative panels. We hope that this ecumenically defined conference theme and scalar and spatial openness will spark innovative interdisciplinary collaborations and lead to provocative approaches and lively Q&A that spills out into the coffee breaks and beyond. To facilitate these dialogues, we do ask that proposals be temporally limited to the modern and contemporary periods, i.e., roughly the mid-nineteenth century to the present.
As always, we welcome panels on all aspects of Asian studies, from across the humanities and social sciences. This year, in addition to traditional panels of 3-4 speakers (20” each), we strongly encourage proposals that are innovative in composition and format. We also look forward to individual and/or collaborative proposals for exhibitions, installations, posters, audiovisual presentations, and more that align with the conference theme.
All proposals must include a title, the names and affiliations of all participants, and an abstract of no more than 350 words.
PhD Workshop
Please send all PhD-workshop proposals to consumingasia@gmail.com by 17 March 2023.
We will be running a PhD workshop in conjunction with the conference. We expect 12 participants. The workshop’s primary focus is on intensive review of participants’ papers, but additional sessions will be included on career developments and getting published. Each participant’s paper will be discussed by two established academics, as well as one student peer discussant. Participants will be expected to be present for all workshop sessions, and to be ready to provide detailed feedback on the papers presented.
Participants must be currently enrolled for a doctoral degree. Applications are welcome from students of any nationality who are enrolled at any university. However, we do prioritize applicants affiliated with member institutions of the Nordic NIAS Council and the Network for Asian Studies.
We accept proposals in any fields of Asian studies, though we would especially welcome proposals related to the overall conference theme, “Consuming Asia.” Participants in the PhD workshop are also welcome to take part in the conference, if both their proposals are accepted.
Applicants must submit a title, an abstract (max 300 words) outlining your PhD topic, a CV, a cover letter explaining which year you are in the PhD program, and a recommendation letter from your supervisor. Participants will present from a paper (6,000 to 10,000 words) based on one dissertation chapter, submitted one month before the workshop.
Accommodation from 19 to 21 June 2023 (3 nights) will be provided to PhD workshop participants. See more information about the PhD workshop here.
Please contact consumingasia@gmail.com with questions not answered on the conference or workshop websites
Keynotes
Lyla Mehta is a Professorial Fellow at the Institute of Development Studies (IDS). She trained as a sociologist (University of Vienna) and has a PhD in Development Studies (University of Sussex). Her work focuses on water and sanitation, forced displacement and resistance, climate change, scarcity, rights and access, resource grabbing and the politics of environment/ development and sustainability.
Juan Zhang is Senior Lecturer in Social Anthropology at the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Bristol. Juan’s research explores borders and transnational mobilities in various forms – from memories and livelihoods at the margins of China and Vietnam, to the global flows of labour and capital in and out of Asian casino spaces; from transnational marriages and family life to Asian migrant im/mobilities under differentiated pandemic governance.
Practical information
The conference and PhD workshop take place physically in Bergen. Online (including hybrid) participation is not possible.
This conference is free and no conference fee will be charged!
Emergency contact for the conference: Kari Telle - +4793013011
Visit Bergen - A World Heritage City!
Bergen is located on the west coast of Norway in the heart of the fjords. As a UNESCO World Heritage City and a European City of Culture, the Bergen region has the ideal combination of nature, culture and exciting urban life all year around. If you are looking for things to do while in Bergen, check out the large selection of activities and attractions at visitbergen.com!
Excursions
After the conference on Friday there will be two options for those who want to socialise and see more of Bergen.
Option 1: A walk up to Fl?yen, with beutiful views over the city and fjord. A must-see when in Bergen. Those who do not want to do the hike up can also take the funicular.
Option 2: A walk around Nordnes, a picturesque neighborhood overlooking the Fjord. With a stop at USF Verftet for a drink/coffee.
For both tours meet at 15:00 in the lobby at the conference venue.
Instructions for presenters
Each panel session totals 85 minutes, including Q&A. Please leave at least 20 minutes for audience questions and discussion. With three presenters, this means each presentation should average about 20 minutes. With four presenters, there is less time. Plan your panel accordingly. The panel Chair is responsible for ensuring each presenter and the overall panel finish on time.
Presenters must bring presentation materials (slides/PPTs) on a memory stick, have them easily available by other means (such as cloud storage, email), or send them in advance to the panel Chair. Presenters are encouraged to use the coffee break before their session to get slides ready so that all panels can start on time.
Important dates
12 April 2023 Proposal submission deadline
19 April 2023 Proposal responses sent out
20-21 June 2023 Consuming Asia PhD workshop
22-23 June 2023 Consuming Asia Main conference
Conference Committee
Nathan Hopson, University of Bergen
Anwesha Dutta, Chr. Michelsen Institute
Kari Telle, Chr. Michelsen Institute
Hanna Geschewski, Chr. Michelsen Institute
Duncan McCargo, NIAS, University of Copenhagen
Kenneth Bo Nielsen, ASIANET, University of Oslo