Call for participation at the inaugural conference of the Radical Humanities Laboratory 

8-9 May 2024 at University College Cork

Submission deadline: 12 December 2023

 

Keynote Speakers
Whitney Battle-Baptiste  | Beryl Pong

Plenary Panelists
Gargi Bhattacharyya | Mairead Enright | Eva Haifa Giraud

 

What potential do the humanities hold today – and how might research and praxis animate these visions? Ours is an epoch of violence and apparent breakdown, with long-term sources. But it is also an era of unexpected conjunctures and new possibilities. The foundations of contemporary politics, economics and society reconfigure around us as inherited visions of the future are transformed and revaluated. Technological change and transformations disorient all stable reference points.  

We ask: “What forms of thought and practice can meet such a moment?” 

To be radical means to grasp things by the root. In practice, to be radical requires an aspiration towards a better future coupled with a commitment to act towards it. The Radical Humanities Laboratory at University College Cork is a space for post- and anti- disciplinary practice. It places critical and experimental work from the humanities at the heart of fundamental research.  

The Radical Humanities Laboratory: Radical Futures invites scholars, scientists, artists, activists, archivists, and policy shapers, to engage in conversations about the roots of present crises – ecological, political and social, and how collective futures might be better understood, transformed and lived differently as new potentials and trajectories emerge.  

 

Event strands: 

• Papers 
• Panel discussions 
• Creative practice 
• Performances 

 

Call for papers, panels & performances 

 

We invite proposal for papers, panels and performances by scholars, scientists, artists, performers and activists whose work addresses the myriad ecological, social, political, cultural and scientific crises of our times with mould-breaking and radical new thinking. 

 

The conference is free of charge to all selected and registered participants, including panels, tea & coffees, reception and a social event. 

We are open to all topics, approaches and exchanges among, but not limited to: 

 

• Environmental / Eco-Humanities 
• Medical Humanities 
• Digital Humanities 
• Intersectional & Decolonial Humanities 

• Sciences Arts and Technology Studies 
• Science-Humanities collaborations 
• Interdisciplinary Arts Practices (including Computer & Data-Driven Practices) 
• Radical Ethics & Philosophy 

 

Papers and Panels 

For paper proposals please submit an abstract of 250-words. For panel proposals briefly outline the topic of your discussion, your suggested panel members and provide a short statement on the relevance of the panel to the conference themes (word count: 250 max). Please also provide an additional 50-word biographical statement. All materials should be provided in .docx format with titles including the submission track, a dash, and your surname (e.g. panel-jones.docx). 

 

Creative Practices and Performances  

Proposed events or interventions could include readings, music, sonic art, digital art, dance, audio-visual, multimedia and other artistic performances. Proposals should be roughly 2 pages in length. Page 1 should provide description of the performance along with links to any supporting multimedia materials. Page 2 should provide a detailed technical overview that clearly states what equipment you need from us and what you can provide yourself. Proposals will be assessed for technical feasibility. For a full overview of the venue’s technical specifications see here: https://bit.ly/rhltechspecdoc 

Please adhere to the following structure: 

Page 1: Title; Type/Media; Duration (if any); Artist Bio (include weblinks if available); Performance Notes; Description of Piece; Links to Supporting Materials (video/audio recordings & text/image documentation). 

 

Page 2: Technical Overview; List of Equipment to be provided by the artist; List of Equipment to be provided by the venue. 

All materials should be provided in .docx format with titles including the submission track, a dash, and your surname (e.g. performance-jones.docx). 

 

Please email all submissions to: