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On behalf of the Program Committee for the Association for Asian Studies (AAS) 2013 Conference to be held at the Manchester Grant Hyatt, San Diego California, we are pleased to invite colleagues in Asian studies to submit proposals for Organized Panels, Roundtables, Workshops, and Individual Papers for sessions to be created by the Committee.
The Committee seeks sessions that will engage panelists and audiences in the consideration of ideas, information, and interpretations that will advance knowledge about Asian regions and, by extension, will enrich teaching about Asia at all levels.
We look forward to your colleagueship at our San Diego conference and to a program that reflects the dynamism of Asian studies and the AAS.
IMPORTANT SUBMISSION GUIDELINES: READ FIRST | FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Panel Selection Criteria | Creative Panel Formats | Workshop Sessions | "Border-Crossing" Panels | "Directions in the Social Sciences"
Scheduling | Preregistration Requirements for Participants |
Travel Assistance | LCD (PowerPoint) Projectors
TYPES OF PROPOSALS
Program Committee
Some of these advantages include the ability for organizers to log-in and edit proposals after submission, and also allows the Program Committee members to conduct their collaborative reviews online.
All organizers will need to create an account with a login and password before submitting a proposal. This login and password will enable organizers to make changes and updates to proposals (if needed) up and until the AUGUST 2, 2012 deadline.
The submission forms differ somewhat from those used previously, and may require additional time for applicants to familiarize themselves with the submission process. We therefore strongly encourage all applicants to carefully review the submission guidelines before starting the application process, and to take advantage of the "help" menu and FAQ's should questions or problems arise during the process. Of course, AAS staff also will be happy to assist applicants when necessary.
The AAS has established submission guidelines that apply to all participants and panel types. We urge your attention to some long-established principles upon submitting your proposal:
This rule applies to ALL PANEL PARTICIPANTS: Chairs, Paper Presenters and Discussants. However, please note that an individual may serve multiple roles WITHIN ONE PANEL. For example, an individual may serve as both Chair and discussant or as paper presenter and chair on the SAME PANEL. Panel organizers must confirm that the proposed panelists are listed on their proposal only.
- A proposal should be a commitment in the sense that its original configuration, its appearance in the printed Program, and its delivery at the conference all should match. Replacement participants are allowed but additional participants and co-authors are not allowed after the panel has been accepted.
Toward this end, the Program Committee will expect strict compliance with the , which assures inclusion in the printed Program, and will expect the in-person participation of all those named in successful proposals.
- Habits of collegiality and professional courtesy are both the pattern and the continued expectation at the AAS conference. Most fundamental are the honoring of commitments to present papers and the provision of papers to discussants in a timely fashion. The Program Committee assumes and celebrates an interactive style and effective communication in the evolution and delivery of a well-coordinated panel session. Individual paper sessions also benefit from the best implementation of professional style.
- The program committee has noted a growing number of "no-shows" among panel participants which is disrespectful toward fellow panelists and audiences, and unfair to those applicants who were not selected for inclusion on the program. Therefore, sessions will be closely monitored at the San Diego conference to note all no-shows.
For that reason, it accepts a far higher percentage of panel proposals than individual paper submissions. The Committee will look favorably on imaginative panels that address issues of interest to a wide constituency, incorporate comparative perspectives, or cross disciplinary boundaries. The criteria on which the Committee focuses are:
- Intellectual quality of the research (originality of material or interpretations, soundness of methodology, knowledge of the field, etc.).
- Coherence of the papers proposed for a given panel.
- Quality of the written abstracts, the overall panel abstract being of greatest importance (clear, jargon-free prose is especially valued).
- Indication of a commitment to stimulating active discussion at panel sessions.
- Gender, ethnic, and institutional balance with combinations of junior and senior scholars.
- Attention to AAS guidelines (deadline, prohibition on more than one appearance, limits on number of presenters, etc.).
The Program Committee supports innovative formats that will encourage bold thinking, lively dialogue, and audience involvement.
In addition we encourage variety in the presentational format of sessions, perhaps by starting with discussants and then proceeding to papers delivered but not necessarily read aloud. Posting full texts of papers online would be a way of enlivening the session, in this instance by giving the audience a prior opportunity to approach the work of the panelists. Presentation by way of well-crafted remarks, rather than by reading an entire paper, might well suit these objectives. The following list of potential formats for the panel illustrates a range of styles but is not meant to confine your options:
- Formats that introduce, at the outset, a clash of perspectives, interpretations, or methodologies.
- Formats that limit each paper writer to ten or fifteen minutes to explain the main idea of the paper.
- Formats permitting a joint panel discussion on a single theme or book as a part of the panel session.
- Formats in which commentators begin by summarizing and commenting on the papers and to which the paper writers then reply.
- Formats that allow sharply focused commentary from the audience early on.
- Formats in which knowledgeable members of the audience are encouraged to prepare comments of their own.
- Formats in which a single, major paper, film, or book launching is the subject of attention and on which other papers and all the commentary are focused.
We are continuing Workshop sessions dedicated to teaching and professional development. This panel category should be particularly appropriate for sessions dealing with language pedagogy, the use of instructional technology in the classroom, new tools for research, tips on publishing a first book, etc.
To encourage wide and innovative intellectual exchange, the Program Committee invites applications for sessions that cross borders—disciplinary, national, regional, and historical periods—in subject matter as well as participants. Border-Crossing panels should be thematically, disciplinarily, and geographically expansive. While the AAS is no longer able to provide funding for designated Border-Crossing Sessions, the special status of these panels will be indicated by highlighting in the conference program.
- Only Panels and Roundtables are eligible for this category. No individual papers will be considered.
- "Border-Crossing" panel organizers should use the Organized Panel or Roundtable forms, and indicate in the panel abstract how the topic fits within the "Border-Crossing" structure and spirit. Proposals must also include individual abstracts from all paper-givers. The deadline is the same as for regular proposals.
- Proposals that are not selected as Border-Crossing sessions will be considered in the Inter-area category.
Under this initiative, a select number of panels in the social sciences will be highlighted in the conference program and scheduled at different times. The Board welcomes wide and innovative submissions in the social science initiative, particularly those including younger scholars and interdisciplinary approaches.
This initiative is meant to expand social science representation at AAS annual conferences. If your panel falls within one or more of these categories, please CHECK THE RELEVANT BOX on the online Organized Panel or Roundtable form (individual papers are not eligible). Checking the box will NOT affect the regular competitive review of your panel proposal—it will simply assist the Committee in selecting the highlighted panels and in keeping track of the number of proposals in the social sciences, which we hope will mount steadily.
Since scheduling is done at the time of panel selection in September, proposers should indicate any potential scheduling conflicts—along with a specific reason—on their proposal. The committee will attempt to accommodate conflicts, but cannot guarantee a particular time slot, and .
No refunds will be given for participants withdrawing after December 6, 2012. Pre-registration information will be sent to all participants at the time they are notified of their acceptance to the program. Participant members must pre-register at the member rate. Participant non-members must pre-register at the higher non-member rate.
THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS IN REGARD TO THE PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT FOR PARTICIPANTS.
We are pleased to continue the availability of travel grants for scholars who are citizens of and work in the less economically advanced nations of Asia. Individual paper presenters are not eligible for support through this program.
Applications for scholars from the following countries will be accepted: Australia, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of China (Taiwan), Republic of Korea (South Korea), and Singapore. Scholars who normally work in an eligible country but will be residing in an ineligible country at the time of the conference may be considered on a case-by-case basis, but
Unfortunately, we do not have sufficient funds to cover all the related costs of attending the conference. Costs covered will be limited to international round-trip discounted airfare, up to three night's hotel accommodations at the conference rate, and meeting registration. The maximum amount available is $2,000 but due to the anticipated large number of applications, individual grants will likely be much lower. Therefore panel organizers or applicants should seek outside funding to supplement LDC grants. Grant funds may be wired in advance either directly to the scholar or to his/her travel agency, but proof of actual airline ticket purchase price will be required. Otherwise, awarded grants should be picked up on-site at the AAS Conference registration area once original travel receipts are provided. Individual scholars or their respective panel organizers are responsible for arranging purchase of tickets, hotel accommodations, registration, etc.
Awards will be made by a special selection committee after the formal program has been decided by the Program Committee. Attempts will be made to maintain fairness across countries, specializations, disciplines, etc.
The AAS routinely provides partial travel stipends to all students participating on the formal program, and this will be continued for the 2013 conference. To be eligible, students must be presenting a paper on the formal program, and have registered by the graduate student pre-registration deadline (November 29, 2012) using a valid student ID, an enrollment form, or other proof of current student status. Students living within a 100 mile radius of the conference site are considered "local" and are NOT eligible for the stipend. There are no application procedures. Individual award checks will be prepared in advance and be available for pick-up at the conference registration desk. Grant amounts vary each year and are dependent on the number of eligible students, but in recent years have averaged around $250.
The AAS will provide LCD Projectors for all panel sessions. LCD projectors are generally used and needed for PowerPoint presentations.
and/or arrange and pay for additional equipment and services needed from the hotel. The AAS cannot assist in these preparations.
To maximize efficiency and minimize set-up costs, A/V equipment provided by the AAS is limited to LCD Projectors, screens and necessary cabling.
The computers, TV/DVD equipment, overhead projectors, slide projectors, or internet connectivity.
Organized Panels are proposed by individual scholars around a common subject or theme. Formal papers are presented, often followed by discussion. The abstracts provided by the prospective paper-givers are very important, but the overall panel abstract is of greatest importance. Organized panels last for two hours and must include ample time for audience participation.
The exact configuration of paper presenters and discussants is left to your discretion. One option would be to have a panel chair, four short paper presentations designed to stimulate discussion, and one discussant; or omit the discussant altogether and leave more time for Q & A with the audience.
It is the preference of the program committee to receive proposals that comply with posted participation limits and still allow a reasonable amount of time for discussion.
Organizers may submit two-part or "back-to-back" panel proposals on related themes or topics but each proposal will be reviewed on its own merits. The Program Committee cannot guarantee acceptance of a series of panels, nor can it guarantee specific scheduling requests.
This format provides opportunities for participants with specific expertise to discuss with each other, and with members of the audience, issues or themes concerning a discipline or an Asian regional area. A 350-word (maximum) abstract is required for the panel itself and should fully explain its purpose, its issue(s)/theme(s), and scope; including the position/opinion each discussant will take or contribute during the roundtable discussion. A roundtable lasts for two hours.
Workshops are sessions relating to teaching and professional development, with a special emphasis on the learning or development of new skills. Workshops might concern language pedagogy, the use of instructional technology in the classroom, new tools for research, tips on publishing a first book, the exchange of syllabi, and the like. They may contain paper presentations or follow a more informal roundtable format, but in all cases should allow considerable time for discussion and exchange of ideas.
We particularly encourage affiliated groups and committees that have previously conducted workshops or seminar-type presentations as Meetings-in-Conjunction to instead submit formal proposals within the Workshop category. Workshops should not exceed SEVEN (7) participants, including the Chair.
The committee would like to remind junior scholars that AAS Regional Conferences are the ideal place to submit individual paper proposals and to meet like-minded scholars who might be interested in collaborating on organized panel proposals for the following year's national AAS meeting. For a list of AAS Regional Conferences, visit www.asian-studies.org/conferences/regionals.htm
In order to make individual-paper presentations more coherent and useful to the scholars presenting papers, the committee will organize the individual paper proposals accepted onto the program into panels centered around specific topics (these may be cross-disciplinary or cross-cultural). The panel chair, appointed by the program committee, will request copies of the papers to be presented in advance of the conference and act as discussant for the panel. Panel members will also be required to exchange papers ahead of time, so that they can read and develop linking comments or questions about each other's work.
While any person may submit a proposal for an individual paper presentation, strong preference is given to those submitted by advanced graduate students or by people who have completed their PhDs in the last two or three years. The intellectual quality of the abstract is the prime selection criterion for proposals. Those who present an individual paper one year are not accepted in the subsequent year. Once assigned to a session, individual paper presenters may not change to another panel.
Panel organizers may contact members of the 2013 Program Committee for questions concerning, e.g., format, possible participants, or to which category a submission should be made.
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