The Baha'i Studies Listserv 33rd Annual Conference of the Association for Bahá'í Studies– North America Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, DC August 13-16, 2009 Environments Theme Statement The teachings of the Bahá'í Faith shed light on the dialogue between the human soul and its environment. "We cannot segregate the human heart from the environment outside us and say that once one of these is reformed everything will be improved." Shoghi Effendi wrote, "Man is organic with the world. His inner life moulds the environment and is itself also deeply affected by it. The one acts upon the other and every abiding change in the life of man is the result of these mutual reactions." The nature, quality, and condition of the environments we inhabit therefore have profound implications for human well-being. In this context, how can science and religion, as complementary systems of knowledge and practice, be applied more effectively to the preservation, refinement, and improvement of the myriad environments – natural, cultural, and built – within which we live and grow? You are invited to explore this theme at the 33rd annual conference of the North American Association for Bahá'í Studies. New and experienced presenters and participants, from all backgrounds and disciplines, are welcome. Possible topics for presentation might include, but are not limited to: the spiritual dimensions of environmental stewardship; the impact of diverse environments on human development and well-being; understanding nature as an expression of the Divine; empowering children and youth to cope with and transform the media environment they are growing up within; beautifying and enriching our environments through the arts; understanding the environment of the study circle; refining the social environment within our communities; mobilizing communities to care for their natural environments; probing the nexus between environment and development; and applying spiritual and scientific principles to the design of our built environment. Call for Presentation Proposals are invited for presentations on (but not limited to) the above themes, as well as themes pertaining to creative and conceptual processes within the performing arts, visual arts, and other modes of artistic expression. Presentations must explore an original question or proposition through a clearly described method or approach. Proposals must outline the presentation in detail and provide sufficient background on the topic and on the presenter's qualifications for the review panel to judge the value of the contribution. A broad range of qualifications is recognized, beyond purely academic and /or professional. Proposals must be for substantially original work, unpublished and not previously presented. While many presentations are in the style of talks, the use of the arts and other diverse approaches is also encouraged. Presentations should be seen as a collaborative process, where the speaker not only presents information, but engages conference participants in discussion which further advances the ideas. Papers will be considered for publication in The Journal of Bahá'í Studies. Proposals are especially welcome from youth and first-time ABS presenters. Guidelines for submissions are available on the ABS website, and you can also contact ABS if you would like further assistance with preparing a proposal. Proposals must be submitted on-line (go to Presentation Proposal Submission Form). Potential presenters unable to submit on-line may contact the address below for further information on alternate means of submission. The deadline for submitting proposals is 1 April 2009. Please review the presentation guidelines before completing the form. Poster presentations have their own specific guidelines. Guidelines for Submission - 2009 These guidelines are written with all presenters in mind, regardless of level of experience, formal academic qualification, or discipline or field. Bahá'í Studies calls for diverse participants and approaches. Choosing Your Presentation Format Simultaneous break-out sessions are scheduled for the afternoons of the second and third days of the conference, August 14th and 15th. Most sessions are for one hour, to allow time for establishing background for a diverse audience. Panel presentations can be organised and can be up to two hours in length, depending on the number of participants. Presentations can be in lecture or discussion format, but all must allow substantial time for discussion. At least one third of the total time period is recommended as a suitable allotment for questions and discussion. One hour poster sessions are also possible (please read the Poster Session Guidelines). Audiovisual equipment and screens can be provided. However, the cost of renting digital projectors and shortages in technical assistance requires that presenters request digital projectors only when it is absolutely necessary (for example, if animated images or video are integral to the presentation). For non-animated images, both black and white and colour digital slides can easily be converted to overhead slides or 35 mm slides, and presenters who don't have their own digital projectors should expect to rely on these media. Writing Your Proposal The content of the 200 word proposal is important since it will be the basis for the decision whether to accept it for the conference, and where to best place it in the schedule. For more formal, academically-styled presentations, it is helpful to begin a proposal with identifying which specific question(s) the presentation will consider, explain why the question is important with respect to current thinking and/or practice, and what means will be used to address the question (related theory, methods of research, presentation style, etc). It can also briefly comment on known or anticipated results. Presentations which vary from the above academic norm are welcome and encouraged. In an arts-based presentation, for example, the "results" may be a performance or visual work, which evokes an audience response. Other approaches to exploring ideas and knowledge exist, and can be presented in the proposal with an explanation of their use. Whatever the approach, the foremost goal of the Association for Bahá'í Studies, as distinct from the Bahá'í schools and other conferences, is to have new, "leading edge" work, presented to a group of peers working in similar areas and to others especially interested in new areas of research. This audience differs from those looking for direct application in society or in their personal lives. Consequently, the requirements for presentation content are that 1) it represents new and original work, and that 2) it has not been presented elsewhere in a school, workshop, seminar or study-class format. Identifying Appropriate Topics for the Annual Conference It is important to realise that presentations at the Annual Meeting are focussed on the exploration stage of research, or on the reporting of new results, or on assessing the coherence of new research, analyses, or practice, or the application of new research, analysis, or practice. The Bahá'í schools and other conferences are more often directed toward educating people on better established ideas and principles, or about those applications which have resulted from previous, more established research on the Writings and the world's problems. In other words, the ABS presentations should inspire people to look for and find new knowledge in new ways, or provide constructive feedback on work being done, or both. One conference goal is to identify new work for publication in the Journal of Bahá'í Studies. In this light, all presentations can be viewed as "works in progress," with the greater purpose of furthering scholarship in general. Association for Bahá'í Studies 34 Copernicus St., Ottawa, ON Canada K1N 7K4 Tel.: (613) 233-1903 Fax: (613) 233-3644
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