Call for Papers

As scholarship navigates the interstices of disciplines, anthropology evolves in novel ways. Deeply influenced by historical social movements and the current social, political, and environmental landscape, scholars are compelled to grapple with changing power dynamics, histories, and their own positionalities. Such moves are of a dynamic and reflexive nature. For example, Schneider and Hayes (2020) argue an archaeology that remains a discipline unto itself cannot be decolonized, and practitioners should seek to undiscipline it. Their aim is to move beyond conventional anthropological tools and concepts, prioritizing the questions, methods, and ideals of indigenous communities. This conference builds on their call. Untying knots that bind disciplines, we search for threads interpreting anthropology through novel ways. However, the creation of knowledges requires careful navigation—considering what thoughts think thoughts, what relations shape further relations, and the worlds that engender new worlds (Haraway, 2008). This undisciplining effort encourages a comprehensive understanding of both indigenous, vernacular, and modern Western epistemologies, interpreting anthropology through critical indigenous studies. 

In this conference, we invite scholars to explore what it means to move between and beyond boundaries — whether they be disciplinary, geographical, or conceptual. Our goal is to cultivate perspectives that destabilize or push conventions, thinking with new possibilities and relations: How do we navigate ontological positions to propel anthropology forward? How can we bridge differences in research practices? How do we unsettle binaries and trajectories of modern and colonial legacies? And how does scholarship think and move between borders? Join us in exploring dynamic shifts and urgent dialogues to think together on creating anthropologies. 

We welcome abstracts that traverse boundaries, contemplating the essence of knowledge and thought. We invite a diverse array of submissions across disciplines—humanities, arts, social sciences, professional studies, environmental, and life sciences—exploring the intersections with anthropology. Creative and experimental works such as poetry, music, visual art, and short films are also invited for consideration. We invite graduate and undergraduate students to submit abstracts at any stage of their research process, from early ideas to those near completion, for a chance to showcase their work, receive feedback, and connect with peers in the field.