[Tlc] AAS Meeting Call for Papers

Fri Jun 9 09:22:02 PDT 2006

Dear TLC Members,

Just a reminder, the "Call for Papers" for the 2007 AAS
Meeting in Boston was announced last week. The deadline for
proposals (must be submitted electronically) is August 4,
2006. Please help support TLC Studies by submitting a panel by
that date. 

To our delight, we have already received a very strong panel
submission for the TLC sponsored panel. The TLC executive
committee is also in the process of finalizing the "TLC
Business Meeting Features Speaker." More news will be sent as
available.

Please see the "call" at:
http://www.aasianst.org/Proposal/pages/2007CFP.htm

See full text below.

Also, some good news, we have added 14 new members to the TLC
since the meeting in San Francisco and the TLC website
(tlc.ucr.edu) has added much content especially on TLC films,
new publications, new member profiles, and new links to
academic, art, and cultural sites in Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand.

Thanks,
justin

The text of the call is: 
DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF ALL PROPOSALS: AUGUST 4, 2006

On behalf of the Program Committee for the AAS annual meeting
in Boston, we are pleased to invite colleagues in Asian
studies to submit proposals for Organized Panels as well as
Roundtables, Individual Papers for sessions to be created by
the Program Committee, and Poster Sessions. The Program
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.

All proposals must be submitted electronically. We encourage
everyone to use the online forms. We expect electronic
proposals will prove convenient for panel organizers, and save
significant time and effort for the Program Committee and
secretariat staff.

Because the AAS Board of Directors encourages as much
participation as possible, no person may appear on more than
one session.

In practice, this means that someone may participate on one
panel OR participate on one roundtable OR give one individual
paper OR present one poster. Although the Program Committee
will accept a proposal in which one individual serves as chair
and either gives a paper or serves as a discussant ON THE SAME
PANEL, the AAS Board of Directors has a strong preference for
each role being filled by a different person.

    *

      Panel organizers must confirm that the proposed
panelists are listed ON THEIR PROPOSAL ONLY. Multiple proposed
participation may undermine the chances for acceptance of
every proposal involved.

    *

      Preregistration is required of all participants. If your
panel is accepted, you must preregister for the annual
meeting. Unless you preregister before DECEMBER 8, 2006, your
name will NOT appear in the printed Program. No refunds will
be given for participants withdrawing after the December 8
deadline. Preregistration cards will be sent to all
participants at the time they are notified of their acceptance
to the program. Participant members must preregister at the
member rate. Participant non-members must preregister at the
slightly higher non-member rate. If you wish to become an AAS
member, please refer to AAS Membership. There are no
exceptions in regard to the preregistration requirement for
all participants.

PANEL SELECTION CRITERIA

The Program Committee considers the annual meeting program to
be primarily a collection of organized panels. For that
reason, it accepts a far higher percentage of panel proposals
than individual paper submissions. The criteria on which it
focuses are:

    *

      intellectual quality of the research (originality of
material or of 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
    *

      attention to AAS guidelines (deadline, prohibition on
more than one appearance, limits on numbers of presenters, etc.)

Also, the Program Committee will look favorably on "creative"
panels that address issues of interest to a wide consistency,
and incorporate e.g., comparative perspectives, outside area
and cross-disciplinary representation, etc.

EXPLORING NEW PANEL FORMATS

The AAS Board of Directors and Program Committee urge panel
organizers to explore, with your panel members, the ways in
which the ideas you are presenting can be communicated most
effectively and the ways in which the audience can contribute
to the liveliness of the dialogue. We encourage breadth of
approach in terms of geographical definition, discipline, and
methodology.

The panel format should, of course, be compatible with the
purpose and content of the panel. Many forms—some of them
waiting to be invented by you—are suitable. We hope that the
format you elect for your panel will encourage substantive
brevity and clear exposition, emphasizing the larger ideas at
stake and inviting response from the faculty and graduate
students in the audience. 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 is the subject of
attention and on which other papers and all the commentary are
focused

SCHEDULING

Since the scheduling is done at the time of panel selection in
September, please indicate any potential scheduling conflict
on your proposal. The Program Committee will attempt to
accommodate conflicts, but cannot guarantee a particular time
slot, and no changes can be made once the schedule has been
determined.

"DIRECTIONS IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES"

To encourage the presentation of new social science
scholarship at AAS annual meetings, the Board of Directors has
created a new initiative “Directions in the Social Sciences.”
The Program Committee will reserve five designated slots for
panels best exemplifying this theme. The selected panels will
be highlighted in the printed program and scheduled at
different times. This initiative is meant to expand social
science representation at the annual meetings and will not
affect regular competitive review of all panel proposals in
the social sciences, which the Board hopes will mount steadily
in number.

The Board welcomes wide and innovative submissions in the
social science initiative, particularly those including
younger scholars and interdisciplinary approaches. We
especially encourage proposals in fields typically
under-represented at the annual meetings: economics, political
science, psychology, sociology, the specialties of the
professional schools (law, public health, and social work, for
example), and related disciplines such as sociobiology. If you
would like your panel/roundtable to be considered for this
category, please click the relevant box on the Organized
Panel/Roundtable proposal form (individual paper and poster
session proposals are not eligible).

"BORDER-CROSSING" PANELS

To encourage wide and innovative intellectual exchange, the
program committee invites applications for sessions that cross
borders—disciplinary, national, regional, historical
periods—in subject matter as well as participants.
Border-Crossing panels should be thematically, disciplinarily,
and geographically expansive. Border-Crossing sessions may
offer novel formats that aim to encourage lively dialogue,
brevity, audience participation, and critical bite. 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 Annual Meeting program.

    *

      Only Organized Panels and Roundtables are eligible for
this category. No Individual Papers or Poster Sessions will be
considered.
    *

      Border-Crossing panel organizers should use the
Organized Panel or Roundtable form, 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
panels will be considered in the Interarea category.

AUDIO-VISUAL EQUIPMENT

Requests for normal AV equipment (overhead and slide
projectors, screens, TV/VCR [VHS in NTSC format; PAL & CECAM
formats not available], or audio cassette/CD players) must be
made by November 22. Please note that AV equipment is not
provided for Poster Sessions or Roundtables.

LCD Projector (PowerPoint) Requests

Due to exorbitantly high rental fees, the AAS has been unable
to provide computers, internet connections, or LCD projectors
(PowerPoint support). However, the Program Committee realizes
some panels, particularly those presenting illustrations,
photographs or other graphic materials, would benefit from LCD
projectors. Accordingly, as a pilot program, the AAS board has
authorized modest funding for the 2007 meeting to cover
LIMITED provision of LCD equipment for those panels genuinely
needing them. Since rental fees are so high and funding is
limited, the pilot program will be conducted in much the same
way as a competitive travel grant program. Specifically:

   1.

      PowerPoint LCD projectors will be available for
Organized Panels only (i.e., NOT for Individual Papers,
Roundtables, or Poster Sessions). To be considered for an LCD
projector, panel organizers must complete their request as
part of their online panel proposal (by the August 4
deadline). Later requests will not be accepted.
   2.

      Each request must be accompanied by a short
justification of why the requested equipment is necessary.
Please be specific. While many panels undoubtedly could
benefit from having LCD equipment, we will be able to provide
them only to those panels in which the equipment is an
essential element of the presentation. Requests will be
evaluated by the Program Committee during the review process,
and decisions will be final. Please note: other AV equipment
will not be provided to those panels receiving LCD projectors,
so please check with your presenters prior to submission.
   3.

      Electronic A/V equipment supplied under the pilot
program will be limited to LCD projectors, screens, and
necessary cabling. Computers, software, and internet
connections will NOT be provided, and it will be the
responsibility of panel participants to bring their own
computers and/or arrange and pay for other equipment and
services as needed.
   4.

      To maximize efficiency and minimize set-up costs,
special scheduling requests for those panels receiving
electronic A/V equipment may be affected.

TRAVEL ASSISTANCE FOR ASIAN SCHOLARS OF ASIA

We are happy to announce the availability of travel grants to
attend the Boston AAS meeting for scholars who are citizens of
and work in the less economically advanced nations of Asia.
This support is limited to those scholars who are active
participants on Organized Panels or Roundtables that have been
accepted for the formal program. Individual Paper presenters,
Poster Session presenters, or meeting-in-conjunction
participants are not eligible for support.

Applications for scholars from the following countries will
NOT 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 meeting may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Unfortunately, we do not have sufficient funds to cover all
the related costs of attending the meeting. Costs covered will
be limited to international round-trip discounted airfare, up
to three nights hotel accommodation at the conference rate,
and meeting registration. The maximum amount available is
$2500, but due to the large number of applications, individual
grants will likely be much lower. Therefore panel organizers
or applicants should seek outside funding to supplement travel
assistance 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.
Individual scholars or their respective panel organizers are
responsible for arranging purchase of tickets, hotel
accommodation, registration, etc.

Panel organizers should submit the Travel Assistance form at
the same time that they submit their Organized Panel or
Roundtable proposal. No late requests will be accepted. The
Travel Assistance form is included inside the Organized Panel
and Roundtable proposal forms. Only one participant per panel
will be considered for funding. 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.

2007 Program Committee

Listed below are the members of the 2007 Program Committee.
Panel organizers may contact committee members with questions
concerning formats, possible participants, or to which
category a submission should be made. Please DO NOT send any
proposals to Program Committee members. All proposals should
be submitted to the AAS Secretariat via the online proposal forms.
INTERAREA/BORDER-CROSSING 	CHINA AND INNER ASIA 	JAPAN/KOREA
Paul Hutchcroft (Chair) 	Keith McMahon 	Ann Sherif
University of Wisconsin, Madison 	University of Kansas 
Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH
Tel: (608) 263-1878 	Tel: (785) 864-3100 	Tel: (440) 775-8827
hutchcroft at polisci.wisc.edu 	Kmcmahon at ku.edu 
ann.sherif at oberlin.edu

Cynthia Brokaw (Vice-Chair) 	James Hevia 	Patricia Maclachlan
Ohio State University 	University of Chicago 	University of
Texas, Austin
Tel: (614) 784-1323 	Tel: (773) 834-7585 	Tel: (512) 475-6047
brokaw.22 at osu.edu 	jhevia at uchicago.edu 
pmachlachlan at mail.utexas.edu

SOUTH/SOUTHEAST ASIA 	Erik Mueggler 	Michael Robinson
Amrita Basu 	University of Michigan 	Indiana University
Amherst College, Amherst, MA 	Tel: (734) 763-4026 	Tel: (812)
855-3635
Tel: (413) 542-2306 	mueggler at umich.edu 	robime at indiana.edu
abasu at amherst.edu 		

Nancy Smith-Hefner 		
Boston University 		
Tel: (617) 353-2198 		
smhefner at bu.edu 		

TYPES OF PROPOSALS

The AAS Board of Directors and the Program Committee strongly
encourage diversity and balance in the composition of panels
and roundtables. The most successful panels combine junior and
senior scholars, and take into account gender, ethnicity, and
institutional representation.

(1) Organized Panels

Organized Panels are proposed by individual scholars around a
common subject or theme. Formal papers are presented, often
followed by discussion. Please note; the Back-to-Back panel
category has been eliminated.

A 250-word (maximum) abstract is required from each
participant, in addition to the 250-word (maximum) abstract
for the panel itself. 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 should be limited to FIVE active
participants (four paper presenters and one discussant or
three paper presenters and two discussants). If more than one
organizer is necessary, the first name given will be our
primary contact.

Use this link to access the ORGANIZED PANEL proposal forms
(2) Roundtables

Roundtables are events at which no formal paper titles are
listed and no A/V equipment is provided. 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 roundtable lasts for two hours and may have a maximum
of SIX active participants. While a Roundtable proposal need
not have the detail required of an Organized Panel proposal,
the abstract must fully explain its purpose, its
issue(s)/theme(s), and scope.

Use this link to access the ROUNDTABLE proposal forms
(3) Individual Papers

Panels composed of individual papers are organized by the
Program Committee and may be arranged around common themes or
be presented as omnibus panels. The Program Committee
considers the annual meeting to be primarily a panel-based
conference. Therefore, the acceptance rate for Individual
Paper proposals is much lower than for Organized Panels.
Preference is given to those whose institutional affiliation
is outside the United States. The intellectual quality of the
abstract is the prime selection criterion for proposals.

Because Individual Paper panels were created to give scholars
an opportunity to participate in the annual meeting even if
they do not have the established professional networks
necessary to put together an Organized Panel proposal, strong
preference will be given to ABDs and recent PhDs (within the
last two years). Advanced graduate students should note that
their chances of acceptance are greatly enhanced by an
advisor’s letter. Also, graduate students who have presented a
paper at an AAS Regional Conference will be given preference.
The Program 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. More
senior scholars are urged to use their contacts and networks
to put together Organized Panels or Roundtables.

Those who present an Individual Paper at one annual meeting
will not be accepted for an Individual Paper for the following
meeting. DO NOT submit more than one individual paper or
poster proposal. If you are included in an Organized Panel or
Roundtable proposal, you will NOT be eligible to present an
individual paper or poster. Once assigned to a given session,
individual paper presenters may not change to another panel.

Use this link to access the INDIVIDUAL PAPER proposal form
(4) Poster Sessions

Unlike the standard paper presentation format, researchers
present their topic utilizing a visual display positioned on a
poster board. The poster usually combines a brief narrative
paper with tables, graphs, pictures, and other presentation
formats. The researcher stands by the poster display during an
assigned time, while other conference participants view the
presentation and interact with the author. For more
information on posters, visit Marilyn Levine's "Creating
Posters for Humanities and Social Sciences" website at:
http://www.lcsc.edu/ss150/poster.htm

Although poster sessions have not become widely popular yet
with AAS members, they present an excellent forum for many
types of research. These sessions provide opportunity for more
intensive interaction between the presenter and AAS members
interested in the topic. Moreover, the committee encourages
graduate students to propose poster sessions, and has agreed
to accept poster materials presented in languages other than
English, provided that the presentation includes an
English-language abstract. It also should be noted that the
acceptance rate of poster proposals thus far has been higher
than that in other categories. As a cautionary note: it is
important that poster sessions utilize the kinds of materials
that are appropriate to this medium, materials that are
effective visually (graphs, formats that organize content,
etc.); they should not involve the mere tacking up of pages
from an academic paper. A/V equipment is not available for
poster sessions.

Use this link to access the POSTER SESSION proposal form

______________
Dr. Justin McDaniel
Dept. of Religious Studies
2617 Humanities Building
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
951-827-4530
justinm at ucr.edu