Call for Proposals

Proposal Guidelines | Proposal Submission Form | Artistic Proposal Guidelines

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What we want to talk about

The goal of this conference is to build a degrowth movement in the Americas with rigorous examination of issues, involving academia and social movements, arts and sciences, thought and living experiences. For this purpose it will be a "slow" one-week long conference to experience degrowth.

The Montreal Degrowth Conference invites papers, posters, workshops, proposals for arts, and interactive activities to address and experience degrowth in its diverse manifestations. The conference builds upon previous international degrowth conferences (Paris, 2008 and Barcelona, 2010) and aims at contributing to the following themes:

• Grounding: What is a flourishing Earth and what world views enable it?


• Knowing: How can the physical, biological and social sciences help us in understanding how to enhance the flourishing of the Earth's life systems?


• Relating: What means of relationship and exchange can help enhance the continual flourishing of the Earth's life systems?


• Consenting: How the can the major political, economic, development, social, technical, and scientific priorities of society be developed with broad and informed public dialogue and consent?


• Sharing: How can the radically unjust inequalities between people be eliminated; and how can the human fair share of the Earth's life support systems be defined and achieved?


• Experiencing: What would a flourishing society look and feel like for individuals and collectives at various temporal and spatial scales?

 

How we will talk

The Conference seeks an open and plural dialogue among various stakeholders including academics, artists, business, the general public, political leaders, social organizations, students and unions. Our engagements will be "convivial" – friendly, warm, welcoming, yet rigorous and daring, as the conference seeks extensive interpersonal engagement and ultimately, action.

The conference will be attended by a variety of stakeholders with different professional and cultural backgrounds. Therefore, communicating in accessible language (whether in English, French and Spanish) is encouraged whenever possible.

Presentation Formats

We are pleased to invite submissions of the following types of proposals. Please note that all speakers and presenters will be required to register for the Conference.

• Symposia (½ or a full day)
  We invite anyone interested in organizing a symposium within the framework of degrowth and the conference themes to contact the conference secretariat directly. Proposals will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Arts and cultural exhibits/performances
  We are very interested in receiving artistic proposals relating to the conference themes. These can include any type of artistic proposal, such as installations, performances, exhibits, etc..
• Workshops (90 minutes)
  A workshop would comprise of a 90 minute session that treats one or more of the conference themes. The session organizer will be responsible for the content of the session, confirming all speakers and identifying a session chair.
• Roundtables (90 minutes)
  These sessions would include 4 to 6 people based on a common theme. Each participant will have 5 to 7 minutes to present their ideas on the theme. These short presentations will be followed by 60 minutes of discussion. This session is designed for individuals who would like to engage in discussion surrounding the themes and their ideas.
• Special sessions (90 minutes)
  We are open to any form of organisation of special sessions as long as it is related to the themes of the degrowth conference. It could be a complementary mix of artistic and academic presentation or a non verbal activity. For instance, to study and overcome the limitations of making the academic knowledge understandable and usable, one could envision a combination of a world café discussion and an academic presentation, or the same presentation in an academic format and in a broad audience format, followed by a critical evaluation of the differences. The special sessions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis by the Programme/Scientific Committee, with external advisers when necessary.

• Paper presentations (20 minute presentation + 10 minute discussion)
  Interested participants are invited to propose presentations of 20 minutes (individual or group) relating to one or more of the conference themes. A discussion period will take place after each presentation. Individual presentations will be grouped in sessions by the Programme/Scientific Committee. Time will be allocated at the end of the session to permit discussion between the presenters and participants.
• Posters
  Poster presentations provide an opportunity to introduce innovative or non-innovative approaches related to the conference themes. Poster sessions are available to all delegates. Posters can cover research reports, testimonies, accounts, political standpoints or simple questioning of the status quo.

 

The rules of the game

Evaluation of proposals:

Reviewers of proposals will be peers and non-peers with expertise and experience in the themes of the conference, and will assess both their rigour and broad accessibility. A jury composed of renowned artists will be composed to evaluate proposals having an artistic component, in collaboration with the Programme/Scientific Committee. The Programme/Scientific Committee will use appropriate review criteria suitable to the different forms and content of the presentations.

Proposals will be expected to meet the following criteria:

• Relevance to the conference themes and objectives.
• Easily accessible and broadly understandable writing.
• Use of an appropriate and reproducible methodology.
• Potential for engaging participants in substantive discussions.
• An achievable outline with regard to time allotment.
• Adhere to the proposal submission guidelines.

Deadlines:

• Artistic proposals and proposals for artistic or non-artistic posters: February 28, 2012
• All other proposals: the deadline was January 31, 2012 and submissions are no longer being accepted

Acceptance of proposals will be sent within 60 days of the deadlines. The Programme/Scientific Committee reserves the right to revise programme allocations if criteria and deadlines are not met.

Proposal submission guidelines:

• Proposals should preferably not have been previously published. For previously published works, please include a rationale.
• Proposals should be clear, concise and written in English, French or Spanish.
• Proposals can only be submitted online via the conference website.
• Only submissions received prior to the posted deadline will be considered.
• Submitted proposals that contain similar or duplicate information from the same or similar set of authors will be disqualified.
• It is the author's responsibility to submit a correct proposal. Conference presentations will be published online and any errors in spelling, grammar or scientific fact will be reproduced as typed by the author.
• The submission of a proposal carries with it the obligation that it will be presented at the meeting by at least one of the authors.
• To withdraw a proposal, the contact author or speaker must send an email request along with the proposal reference name at least three weeks prior to the conference.
• Please note that all presenters must register for the conference.

Please submit proposals through our online Proposal Submission Form.

For artistic proposals, please consult the Artistic Proposals Guidelines.

Last updated: 01/02/12