Call for Proposals: International Conference on Study Abroad, Service-Learning, and Sustainability

Posted by on November 21, 2010

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALL FOR PROPOSALS: International Service-Learning Opportunity

South Dakota State University is hosting an International Conference on Study Abroad, Service-Learning, and Sustainability, May 12-14, 2011.

We are pleased to announce this new conference designed for academics, practitioners, staff at non-profits, and students.  The three intertwined themes of the conference—study abroad, service-learning, and sustainability—are a unique way of thinking about the inter-relationships between learning abroad, personal action, and the state of the planet.

We will have four exciting keynote speakers:

Daniel Greenberg, the founder and director of Living Routes, a 3rd-party non-profit educational provider that partners with the University of Massachusetts–Amherst to offer study abroad programs based in ‘ecovillages’.

Ed Wells, Chair/Associate Professor of Environmental Studies at Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.

Lucia Legan, a native of Australia, co-founder of both Ecocentro IPEC and the Mollison School for Sustainable Studies in Pirenópolis, Brazil, where she remains as Executive Director.

André Jaeger Soares, a native of Brazil, cofounder of Ecocentro IPEC, trilingual teacher, natural builder and permaculture designer.  He recently gave an invited TEDx talk in Amazonia.

SUBMITTING PROPOSALS

The conference will be a unique opportunity for academics, students, and practitioners to come together to share their knowledge and experiences with one another on these three interconnected topics.  We invite proposals from any discipline or field.  We strongly encourage proposals that address at least two of the three themes of the conference, such as study abroad and service-learning, service-learning and sustainability, or sustainability and study abroad.

We hope that you will consider submitting a proposal for a presentation, roundtable discussion, workshop, or panel.  We will have opportunities for posters during a poster session, too.  We are also keenly interested in having students present, so if you have students who would be interested in this opportunity, do let us know.

Proposals can be sent to us via e-mail.  Please include a title and a 100-word abstract.  The deadline for proposal submissions is 15 January 2011.

AIEA REGIONAL FORUM: Preconference

South Dakota State University is pleased to announce that it has been selected by the Association of International Education Administrators as the site of an AIEA Regional Forum that will take place on Thursday, May 12, 2011, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.  The topic of the regional forum is planning for a sustainable future within study abroad and service-learning.  This AIEA Regional Forum precedes The International Conference on Study  Abroad, Service-Learning and Sustainability that runs May 12-14.  The AIEA Regional  Forum will be a pre-conference opportunity to understand and engage with the three themes of the conference and to consider the value of connecting sustainability to service-learning and study abroad, including what kinds of programs work best for different kinds of students, and what kinds of outcomes planners and participants may expect.  This pre-conference workshop will feature Dr. Daniel Greenberg of Living Routes, who will guide the discussion and dialogue.  Space for this AIEA Forum is limited to no more than 25 participants, so please consider registering early.  More information about the AIEA Regional Forum will be sent directly out to AIEA members before the end of the calendar year.  Below is a Call for Presentations at the International Conference.

MORE INFORMATION

Complete information about the conference can be found at this link: http://www.sdstate.edu/international-affairs/sdsu-international-conference.cfm, including a form to register.  Special Early Bird and discounted student registration fees rates are available.  The conference fee includes a wine and cheese reception (featuring South Dakota wines) on the 12th, a buffet lunch and sit-down dinner on the 13th, and a buffet lunch on the 14th.

We have secured modest-cost, short-term accommodation at local motels, and on campus.  Additional details will be sent upon request or upon receipt of registration.  We are hoping to make this as close to a zero-waste event as possible.

Sincerely,

Karl J. Schmidt, Ph.D.
Director of International Affairs
Professor of History
karl.schmidt@sdstate.edu

Brooke C. Sydow, M.S.
OIA Special Projects Coordinator
brooke.sydow@sdstate.edu

South Dakota State University
West Hall 220/Box 510
Brookings, SD 57007-2098  USA
Tel. 605-688-4913
Fax 605-688-6540
Web: http://international.sdstate.edu