33rd Annual Conference of the Ugnayang Pang-Aghamtao (UGAT)
Anthropological Association of the Philippines
in partnership with
Central Mindanao University (CMU) and the
Philippine Social Science Council (PSSC)
Call for Papers
Theme
Aghamtaong Kaagapay: Anthropology Cares for its Publics
Central Mindanao University, Musuan, Bukidnon
October 20-22, 2011
Anthropologists here and abroad have increasingly recognized the urgent need to make anthropological knowledge not only accessible but also instructive to the wider publics to which it should be accountable. This is in part a way to dispel the stereotypical view that anthropologists are simply preoccupied with esoteric, distant, and exotic topics.
Over the years, UGAT has, through its annual conferences and other special projects, managed to set the stage for multi-sectoral participation in the discussion of compelling social, including political and economic, and cultural issues affecting Philippine society. We realize, however, that making anthropology deeply-engaged and relevant in the public interest arena has not been systematically assessed and may leave much to be desired. Anthropologists have yet to actively forge a theory and practice of public anthropology aimed principally at non-academic audiences, one that upholds the transformative potentials of anthropological knowledge.
We have to begin to ask how the current engagement of anthropologists in the public arena through rights-based advocacy, policy-making, institution building, media presence (e.g., television interviews, writing regular newspaper columns), signing in public statements and manifestos, conducting impact assessments, managing museums and cultural events, blogging, and other means of participating in the public sphere, have contributed to the practice of public anthropology in the Philippines that is simultaneously constructive, collaborative, and ethical.
This year's conference invites paper and panel proposals that will generate inovative analyses and insights into the following topical areas:
- Commentaries on current participation of anthropologists and related practitioners in the public arena
- Development of processes and strategies towards greater visibility of anthropology and anthropologists in the public sphere
- Ways towards ethical collaborative engagements and critique between anthropologists and their publics (e.g., indigenous peoples, migrant communities, media practitioners, policy-makers, government officials, educators, health practitioners, legislators, lawyers, corporate groups, donors, dealer of artefacts, curators, and other interest groups)
- Constructive and collaborative anthropological engagements in knowledge production, application, and dissemination (e.g., census, social policy and program development, public health, disaster management, education, heritage conservation, environmental and social impact assessments)
- Critical reflections on rights/social justice-based community partnerships (e.g., issue-oriented mobilization, community-based development planning, and anthropologist-local actor co-authorship in knowledge production)
The conference welcomes paper proposals addressing issues outside the conference theme for consideration under a session on special topics.
GUIDELINES ON ABSTRACT SUBMISSIONS
- Abstracts should strictly be no more than 250 words.
- Authors must indicate the topical area in which their paper/panel proposals may fall.
- Abstracts should be written in a style that is accessible to non-academic audiences.
- Submissions should include the author's name, institutional affiliation, and contact information (e-mail address, telephone number, and mailing address).
- Abstracts should be sent to ugat.conference@gmail.com by 15 JULY 2011.
- For students, please indicate your intent to join the Student Paper Competition. The best entry will be considered for publication in the Aghamtao, the official journal of UGAT.
- For other inquiries, please contact the UGAT Conference Secretariat at 0917-8452788 (Ms. Acel German)/0906-2285977 (Ms. Lauren Villarama) or e-mail address ugat.conference@gmail.com.
Previous Conferences
1978, Laguna - Philippine Anthropology Today
1979, Baguio City - The Power of Anthropology: A Dialogue Among Developers
1980, Cebu City - The Filipino and His Changing Environment
1981, Dumaguete City - The Anthropology of Power
1982, Iligan City - Anthropology and Technology: Third World Perspectives
1983, Cotabato City - Anthropology of Mass Movements: Peoples Organization in Social Transformations
1984, Bukidnon - The Anthropology of the Future: Emerging Structures and Processes
1985, Legaspi City - Anthropology of Education: Contribution to Nationhood
1987, Cagayan de Oro City - Culture of Change and National Development
1988, Marawi City - Ethnicity and National Unity
1989, Tacloban City - Anthropology of Resistance
1990, Manila - Philippine Ethnography: Issues in Cultural Pluralism and Nationhood
1991, Manila - Anthropology of Philippine Anthropology: Issues and Concerns for the Nineties
1992, Laguna - Anthropology of Development: Issues and Concerns of the Nineties
1993, Cebu City - Sustainability of Development: The Anthropological Perspectives
1994, General Santos City - The Anthropology of Transformation
1995, Nueva Ecija - Anthropology of Disaster
1996, Benguet - The Indigenous Peoples of the Philippines: Knowledge, Power and Struggles
1997, Palawan - Territoriality, Histories and Identities
1998, Quezon City - Philippine Anthropology in the 21st Century
1999, Albay - The Use and Abuse of Anthropology in the Philippines
2000, Misamis Oriental - Theory and Practice of Philippine Anthropology
2001, UP Diliman - Bridging the Generations in Philippine Anthropology
2002, Davao City - Rootwork and Network: Weaving Mindanao Anthropology
2003, Cebu City - Writing Philippine Ethnography
2004, Cagayan de Oro City - The Ends of Educating
2005, Miagao, Iloilo City - The Anthropology of Crisis
2006, Dumaguete City - The Philippines Unbound: Anthropological Critiques of Globalization
2007, Zamboanga City - The Practice of Governance
2008, San Fernando City, Pampanga - Performing Heritage
2009, Cagayan De Oro City - (Re)making Cities
2010, Manila - Kalikhasan in Flux: Indigenous Peoples in a Changing Natural Environment
