MESA 2008 Thematic Conversations

The MESA 2008 annual meeting can have no more than 12 thematic conversations. Some conversations that were on the 2007 meeting program are eligible to continue at MESA 2008. The 2008 program will have limited room for new conversations. Proposals for thematic conversations are placed on the program in the order in which they are received at the Secretariat. Submissions must fit the category as described below. Please direct questions to Mark Lowder at MESA mlowder@u.arizona.edu.

The deadline for thematic conversation submissions is May 1, 2008.

General Description

Thematic Conversations offer an alternative place to pose new questions for research, explore new trends and approaches to old questions, meet like-minded scholars, and engage in open academic exchange in an unstructured space. They are meant to encourage discussion across disciplines and regions at the annual meeting. The "conversation" should be a dialogue already in progress, perhaps on an electronic discussion list, and there should be an intent to have it be a multi-meeting "conversation," spanning a minimum of two consecutive MESA annual meetings, although not necessarily directed or attended by the same individual(s).

Guidelines for submissions

1. There will be no more than one "conversation" for each panel time slot of the meeting, and this may be further limited by the number of available meeting rooms.

2. The room arrangement will be conference style, with seating restricted to 25-30 maximum; attendance will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

3. Each conversation should have an organizer, or a referee, and no more than 5 specifically designated discussants who would presumably set the agenda for discussion. Not all discussants need be MESA members, but organizers or referees must be. All participants must pay the appropriate category of annual meeting pre-registration in accordance with MESA regulations.

4. There should be some evidence of a debate or dialogue already in progress (i.e., circulating position paper, discussion list, previous panels, perhaps a mini-conference elsewhere, etc.)

5. The MESA Newsletter could also be considered as a place to call for participation, or to announce a thematic conversation.

6. There should also be an intention to carry on the conversation for two MESA meetings, three at a maximum.

7. The organizer should submit a Thematic Conversation Details Form and a one-page position paper detailing the topic and purpose of the conversation. The position paper should provide evidence that the conversation is the product of work already in progress (panel at a previous conference, listserv discussions, etc.). Each discussant should submit a Thematic Conversation Participant Details Form, which includes a space where they can provide their response or further elaboration on the topic. The conversation leader should submit a Thematic Conversation Leader Details Form. All forms and supporting materials need to be at the MESA Secretariat by no later than May 1. Unlike other categories of participation, thematic conversations are not subject to the "blind review" process by MESA's Program Committee.

8. The Program Chair in consultation with Program Committee and/or Board members in relevant fields will review submissions only for duplication of effort and clarity.

9. Thematic conversations will be distributed across the meeting, with an eye to preventing conflicts with related panels where possible, and will be listed with roundtables and regular panels, as well as on a separate page in the program.

10. Per MESA’s regulations, no individual may participate in more than two sessions, including panels, roundtables, and thematic conversations. Each member may propose only one abstract for a formal paper presentation.

11. Due to the unstructured nature of thematic conversations, submissions in this category are not eligible for sponsorship by an organization.

Questions about thematic conversations or other categories of participation should be directed to Mark Lowder at the MESA Secretariat (mlowder@u.arizona.edu or 520 626-6290).