We are currently accepting proposals for our winter 2019 symposium – “Diaspora, Environment, Generation” – to be held March 10-12, 2019 in Helsinki, Finland.

> Click here to access the programme

The Nordic Summer University research circle 1, Understanding Migration in the Nordic and Baltic Countries, is pleased to invite proposals for our winter 2019 symposium to be held in Helsinki, Finland from Sunday, March 10 through Tuesday, March 12, 2019. This year we will explore how social, cultural, and environmental dynamics converge and coproduce what we understand, broadly, as migration.

We are particularly interested in theoretical and applied approaches to migration that consider ongoing processes of human movement, identification, geography, language, representation, and place. This year’s symposium title, Diaspora, Environment, Generation, encompasses the plural as well of the singular of each term: the concept of diaspora as well as the specificity of particular diasporas; the environment as climate change as well as particular lived environments, material and discursive; and generation as generative processes as well as temporally distinct moments of human experience.

We invite scholars, journalists, filmmakers, educators, legal practitioners, social workers, activists, urbanists, writers, translators and interpreters, artists, and others to apply with presentations and/or advanced stage works-in-progress to share and discuss in an open, cross-disciplinary space.

We are interested in contributions that address a range of concerns — scholarly, creative, material, ethical, pragmatic. The idea of the study circle is to bring together a diverse and motivated group of people to share projects and work collaboratively through complicated questions related to the chosen topic.

As a Nordic Summer University circle, we are fundamentally interested in the Nordic and Baltic countries. However, we strongly encourage diverse submissions that speak to the symposium’s theme and subject matter, even absent a direct geographical link to the Nordic and Baltic region. The goal of the research circle is to encourage cross-disciplinary engagement, and likewise, we seek always to expand cross-contextual feedback and exchange.

To apply

Please send a proposal of 300 words and a short biographical statement to Bremen Donovan and Stéphanie Barillé at migration@nsuweb.org. The deadline for submission is January 5, 2019.

We encourage applicants to shape their presentations in the format they consider most suitable. Please keep in mind that each presentation should last a maximum of 45 minutes, including time for questions and discussion.

Those who wish to attend the symposium without giving a presentation are welcome to apply, but we encourage everyone to contribute actively to the group by engaging with any materials sent in advance, and taking an active role in collective discussions in Helsinki. If you would like to attend the symposium without presenting your work, please submit a brief statement explaining your interest in participating. Please lease note that priority will be given to applicants who intend to give presentations.

A preliminary program will be announced by mid-January 2019 on the Nordic Summer University website — http://nordic.university. There you will also find further information about NSU and may sign up for the newsletter.

About NSU

The Nordic Summer University (NSU, http://www.nordic.university) is a Nordic network for research and interdisciplinary studies. NSU is a nomadic academic institution, which organises workshop-seminars across disciplinary and national borders. Since it was established in 1950, Nordic Summer University has organised forums for cultural and intellectual debate in the Nordic and Baltic region, involving students, academics, politicians, artists and intellectuals from this region and beyond. The backbone of NSU is its thematic study circles, where researchers, students and professionals from different backgrounds collaborate in scholarly investigations during regular summer and winter symposia.

Further Practical Information

Location:

Nordic Culture Point, Helsinki, Finland.

Timing:

2pm Sunday, March 10 to 4pm Tuesday, March 12, 2019.

Registration and payment:

We request that the registration fee be paid via PayPal or bank transfer in advance of the symposium, no later than January 15, 2019. Registration fees are as follows, and include the cost of the symposium, as well as dinner on Sunday, lunch and dinner on Monday, and lunch on Tuesday:

Professors, lecturers, and other professionals: 50 €

Students and participants from Baltic countries and Poland: 20 €

Travel and Accommodation:

NSU can help organise and cover the cost of hotel accommodation for two nights, so please indicate whether you will need a hotel room. Kindly note that this means basic accommodation for participants who are not already funded by their institutions, and who are willing to share a double room. Potential participants based in Helsinki who might be interested in hosting participants are kindly encouraged to reach out to us by email. Those who wish to stay in a single room are welcome to pay the difference in cost.

Limited funding for travel may be available through NSU once the symposium has ended. However, we suggest that individuals apply directly to their home institutions, art councils, local foundations or other sponsors for help covering these costs. Please note that neither the symposium fee nor any other costs can be reimbursed should a participant cancel.

Academic credit:

PhD and MA students are eligible for up to five ECTS points for participation and presentation of a paper during the symposium.

About Circle 1:

Understanding Migration in the Nordic and Baltic Countries is a three-year international research initiative funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers. It is a transnational network of scholars, artists, and practitioners who reflect on contemporary migration.

We look forward to hearing from you!