2012 Congress Call for Session Proposals

Stage 1: Call for Session Proposals

Deadline for first-stage submissions: Now extended to APRIL 18th, 2011

Session proposals are now being invited. Please read this document carefully for more information. This is NOT the call for individual contributions, such as individual papers, posters or other contributions. The call for individual contributions is STAGE 2, which will be launched in early June 2011, after the sessions are selected by the Scientific Committee and Program Sub-Committee.

Download the Call for Session Proposals in English, French, or Spanish

Who can submit a Session Proposal?

Anyone who shares an interest in the themes of the Congress and the principles of the International Society of Ethnobiology may submit a Session Proposal. To enhance diversity, bridge perspectives and avoid the usual format of more conventional scientific events, we encourage sessions co-chaired by two individuals who are not from the same background where feasible (for instance, an Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholar, or a scientist and a practitioner).

What kind of “sessions” can be proposed?

The term “sessions” is used in a very broad sense, as a bundle of thematically linked presentations or contributions that together explore, discuss, or portray a common issue from different perspectives.

Depending on their content, sessions can take place either during the day (i.e., as part of the main scientific Congress program), or as an optional evening activity. They can be held in the session rooms and poster gallery within “Le Corum” Conference Hall, or in the numerous stalls that will be set up in the main public square of Montpellier’s fully pedestrian historical center. Many other places in town (restaurants, bars, museums, public squares, gardens, theaters) may also offer suitable space for less-conventional session formats. Please indicate if you have a preference and Congress organizers will work to accommodate your request to the extent possible.

We highly encourage many formats of communication and interaction designed to facilitate multidisciplinary exchanges, cross-cultural sharing, and bridging of worldviews. Examples include (but are not limited to): formal speakers (with or without PowerPoint presentations), round-tables, posters, storytelling, testimonies, films or photo exhibitions, demonstrations (artisanal craft, food or medicine preparation, carving, etc.), performance (dance, chant, singing, drumming, drama, other), multimedia, talking circles, debates, radio or TV shows…

Sessions that combine a diversity of formats are welcome. The time slot of each session will vary accordingly, depending on the proposed format.

What are the responsibilities of Session Chairs or Co-Chairs?

The Session Chairs are responsible for all the organizational aspects of the Session including soliciting and selecting contributions, and liaising with session participants to ensure timely submission of abstracts, and electronic presentations if relevant (e.g., slideshow or video).

  • Session Chairs will attend the Congress, set the order of presentations, assist with set up, and moderate their session.
  • Session Chairs will collaborate with the Program Sub-Committee to finalize the Session program.
  • Session Chairs will coordinate the submission of final papers, posters or other contributions as appropriate for the Congress Proceedings.

Once accepted, Session programs cannot be changed (barring extreme circumstances).

What are the criteria for selection?

We regret in advance that we may not be able to accept all Session Proposals. The Scientific Committee and Congress Chair will use the following criteria to assist in selection:

  • Does your proposal fit the Congress themes (outlined below)? Does it contribute to the diversity and richness of the Congress?
  • Can your proposal be accommodated within the meeting venues and with available audio-visual equipment, or other space and equipment needs?
  • Does your proposal complement other contributions and activities or does it overlap with other proposals? If it overlaps, can the Chairs of similar sessions and the Program Sub-Committee suggest collaborations to create a mutually acceptable program?
  • Is your proposal consistent with the vision of the ISE and the principles of the ISE’s Code of Ethics?
  • If appropriate for the format of your session, are you and the other presenters in your session willing to contribute to the Congress Proceedings?

Preference may be shown to proposals that are co-chaired by ISE members and/or by local community members. All successful chairs are required to renew their membership or join the ISE membership if they do not already belong. Individual presenters within sessions are not required to be ISE members.

In addition to sessions proposed by congress participants, the Congress Chair, Organizing Committee, and the ISE will also organize sessions.

Congress Themes

To help focus and guide dialogue and exchanges at the Congress, the overarching theme selected for the 13th Congress of the ISE is Cultural diversity and biological diversity for sustainable development: Exploring the past to build the future.

The remarkable diversity in space and time of both natural environments and human societies has contributed to a complex structure of these coupled systems. Human societies have progressively shaped the various landscapes around the world. Using the features of the proposed hosting region as a source of inspiration, we wish to question the history of human-induced changes for a better understanding of the components and dynamics of current global biodiversity. Congress participants will be encouraged to focus on their understanding of past human activities as a means to develop more sustainable patterns of natural resource management in the near future.

This theme resonates strongly in Montpellier and the surrounding region, especially among producers of various local resources that are emblematic of the Mediterranean coast. It is not only of significance for scientists in ethnobiology, but is also an invitation to share views with historians, archaeologists and paleoenvironmentalists.

The main keywords upon which we would like to draw the Congress topics are the following: biocultural interactions; coupled human and ecological systems; historical ecology; cultural landscapes; and socio-ecological resilience.

We most welcome session proposals that propose theoretical as well as practical contributions to match the following interactions:

  • Local products: Interactions between rural and urban environments;
  • Agrodiversity: Interactions between past and contemporary agricultural practices;
  • Land use legacies: Interactions between past knowledge and contemporary practices;
  • Co-learning processes in ethnobiological research: Interactions between researchers, local actors, and other stakeholders;
  • Sustainable development: Interactions between traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and environmental norms/policies;
  • Advocacy: Interactions between ethnobiologists and the media.

Contributions that do not fall within one of these sub-themes are also welcome, but may be given less priority.

Submission Requirements

Please use this checklist before you send in your proposal. Your proposal must include:

  • Your name, organizational affiliation, mailing address, email address and telephone number, plus the same of your Co-Chair if you have one.
  • If you have a Session Co-Chair, please indicate whether s/he has confirmed his/her participation. It is acceptable to submit the name of an unconfirmed Co-Chair as long as you have at least initially contacted him/her and received his/her agreement. The Program Sub-Committee is willing to work with Session Chairs to suggest or match possible Co-Chairs.
  • A short, descriptive session title (please avoid colons and subtitles).
  • A description, in 500 words or less, of the objectives of your session, the central questions to be addressed by participants, and how it fits in the Congress theme or otherwise contributes to the Congress.
  • The proposal does not need to include participant names and paper titles at this time. Nevertheless, you are encouraged to approach potentially interested participants and obtain their agreement in principle to contribute to your session. Mentioning distinguished attendees and a tentative title of their respective contribution will enhance the interest of your session proposal.
  • Do not cite any name as long has you have not yet received permission from the person to include his/her name on your proposal.
  • Electronic submissions sent by email are preferred. The proposal should be attached as a Word file. It must contain the Session Chair’s name in the file name, e.g., John_Smith_session_proposal.doc

You will be informed in late May 2011 about the status of your proposal. Selected proposals will be posted on the 2012 ISE Congress webpage in early June 2011 corresponding to the beginning of STAGE 2 (Call for individual contributions). Chairs may be asked to work with the Program Sub-Committee to build a mutually agreeable session program prior to final acceptance.

Submit your proposal

  • Via e-mail to Congress-ISE2012@agropolis.fr
  • Via fax to (+33) 467412138
  • Via snail mail to:
  • Congress ICE 2012
  • UMR5175 CEFE
  • Campus CNRS
  • 1919, route de Mende
  • 34293 Montpellier cedex 5, France

Whatever your posting choice, please clearly indicate “2012 ISE Congress” in the subject line of your message.

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