Transformative Futures Conference

Call For Papers

2024 HLSS Transformative Futures Conference: Call for Papers

THE 2024 CALL FOR PAPERS HAS NOW CLOSED.

Theme:

Responding to Change: Doing Values-Based Research in the Humanities

Values have been an integral part of Griffith University’s identity since its establishment. These values are demonstrated through the innovative research being done in the School of Humanities, Languages and Social Sciences and beyond. The aim of this conference is to highlight the inventive and diverse research undertaken in the School and celebrate the university’s core principles of excellence, ethics, and engagement.

There are growing calls for an increase in interdisciplinary approaches to research within the broad scope of humanities study, to help deal with the rapidly changing world (Schipper 2021). As Robinson et al. have noted, “one central aspect of these disciplinary perspectives involves values, and more specifically, the roles that values do, may, and should play in research practice” (2016:1). In humanities studies, values-based research means engaging in a range of best research practices (O’Riordan 2014), that reinforce people’s ongoing relationships with, and responsibilities to, their environment and community. The sharing of interdisciplinary approaches to values-based research presents new possibilities for responding to both emerging and enduring problems.  

We invite papers that speak to doing value-based research in the age of rapid technological advancement, complex social change, large scale injustice and displacement, profound local grass-roots movements, and unprecedented global connectivity. The conference is underpinned by questions of:

  • How do values translate across, and benefit, the many interdisciplinary approaches housed within the humanities, languages, and social sciences?
  • How do values shape our identities as researchers?
  • How does interdisciplinary research connect and interrogate diverse perspectives and methodologies?

Papers might speak to any of the following: the doing of values-based research through methodological choices and considerations, research outcomes, community engagement, or questions of doing research in the context of ever-changing social and political climates. Presenters might also choose to address one or more of Griffith’s four pillars of values-based research: First Peoples, Environmental Sustainability, Diversity and Inclusion, and Social Justice.

The conference is to be held at the Ship Inn, South Brisbane, QLD. We welcome presentations of 15-20 minutes from HDR candidates, Honours students and academic staff from all disciplines and at all stages of their career. If you are unsure of whether your work might speak to the conference theme, or have any other questions, please contact the organisers to discuss. Please submit abstracts to hlss.transformative.futures@gmail.com by COB Friday 19th July 2024. Please send the following as an attachment:

  1. The paper title and abstract of no more than 250 words.
  2. Your contact details, i.e. name, email address, affiliation.
  3. A short biographical statement of no more than 100 words.

References:

O’Riordan, T. (Ed.). (2000). Environmental Science for Environmental Management (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315839592

Robinson, B., Vasko, S. E., Gonnerman, C., Christen, M., O’Rourke, M., Steel, D., & Fosl, P. S. (2016). Human values and the value of humanities in interdisciplinary research. Cogent Arts & Humanities, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2015.1123080

Schipper, E.L.F., Dubash, N.K. & Mulugetta, Y. (2021) Climate change research and the search for solutions: rethinking interdisciplinarity. Climatic Change 168(18). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-021-03237-3