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Memory
A Making Sense Of: Project

A Global Inclusive Interdisciplinary Conference

 

Saturday 23rd October 2021 - Sunday 24th October 2021
Online: ShockLogic Platform

Our memories shape us: our beliefs, our actions, our selves. A memory that we share with others can be a call to action or a way of formulating our identities. But memories are fallible, and the more people who are involved in a memory, the more room there is for debate about its meaning.

The fallibility of memory is important in court cases, memoir-writing, and other situations involving testimony. And the extreme memory-loss caused by conditions such as Alzheimer’s robs people of an important aspect of their identity.

We remember episodes in our lives, and semantic knowledge such as ‘Paris is the capital of France’, but even when these recollections fade, we might still remember the procedural knowledge of how to tie a shoelace or play the flute.

We experience memory within our personal selves, but we also practise it in our cultures, through acts of remembrance. We build traditions around making sure that our communities do not forget important moments in our history: deaths of loved ones or of groups of people, the ends of wars, escapes from persecutions, births and/or deaths of important figures, moments of national independence. Accompanying these traditions are implicit expectations about how we should remember these events – expectations that are sources of controversy when the “correct” form of remembrance privileges one group’s memories at the expense of another, or is used to gate-keep the personal, emotional experiences of memory.

But it’s not easy to just throw out remembrance traditions. Without memory and remembrance, we cannot engage with the past or use its lessons to build a future – but without critically examining them, the past can become a weapon. Museums, memorials, and memoirs fight to develop ethical ways to remember, but projects of memory and remembrance can and must also take place outside of these institutions.

This interdisciplinary conference is a space to explore the intersection between personal, psychological experiences of memory, and the communal, cultural experiences of remembrance. How do we – both as people and groups – remember and forget? What happens when memory fails? What about when two different memories contradict each other? How can we preserve memories when there is no one left to remember them? And are some things best forgotten?

Key Topics

Key topics, themes and issues for discussion may include, but are definitely not limited to:

  • The psychology of memory
  • Memory loss, amnesia, Alzheimer’s
  • Retrieved and false memories
  • Memory and testimony
  • Memory and empathy
  • Trauma’s impact on memory or memory loss
  • Memoirs, writing or performing our memories, remembering ourselves
  • Importance of rituals of remembrance
  • Expressions of memory through creative practice
  • Technologies and memory
  • Memorials, statues, Denkmal
  • Culturally specific practices/rituals of remembrance
  • State-sponsored remembrance projects, national anniversaries, state-disseminated memorial media
  • Memory in museums and historic sites
  • Founding traumas
  • Role of education in ‘training’ cultural memory
  • Remembrance Day, Veteran’s Day, and other holidays of remembrance
  • Postmemory
  • Institutional memory
  • Selective memory (and the ideological/political implications thereof)

What To Send

The aim of this interdisciplinary conference and collaborative networking event is to bring people together and encourage creative conversations in the context of a variety of formats: papers, seminars, workshops, storytelling, readings, performances, poster presentations, panels, Q&As, round-tables etc.

At the end of the conference we will be exploring ways in which we can develop the discussions and dialogues in new and sustainably inclusive interdisciplinary directions, including research, workshops, publications, public interest days, associations, developing courses, etc which will help us make sense of the topics discussed during the conference and ensure that our efforts are continued in our own communities.

300-word proposals, presentations, abstracts and other forms of contribution and participation should be submitted by Friday 3rd September 2021. Other forms of participation should be discussed in advance with the Organising Chair.

All submissions will at a minimum be double reviewed, under anonymous (blind) conditions, by a global panel drawn from members of the Project Development Team and the Advisory Board. In practice our procedures usually entail that by the time a proposal is accepted, it will have been triple and quadruple reviewed.

You will be notified of the panel’s decision by Friday 10th September 2021.

If your submission is accepted for the conference, a full draft of your contribution should be submitted by Friday 1st October 2021 at the latest.

Abstracts and proposals may be in Word, PDF, RTF or Notepad formats with the following information and in this order:
a) author(s), b) affiliation as you would like it to appear in the programme, c) email address, d) title of proposal, e) body of proposal, f) up to 10 keywords.

E-mails should be entitled: Memory Submission

Where To Send

Abstracts should be submitted simultaneously to the Organising Chair and the Project Administrator:

Lorraine Rumson: lorraine@progressiveconnexions.net
Len Capuli (Project Administrator): memory@progressiveconnexions.net

 

Details and Information

 
Fees
Key Dates
Platform
Outcomes
Payment

Registration Fees

The cost for attending the conference is £135, and includes:

~ conference registration fee
~ online registration
~ online abstract and programme submissions
~ access to the conferencing platform
~ ~ a virtual registration areas where conference information and materials will be available
~~  virtual ePoster possibilities
~ ~ virtual break out rooms
~ ~ virtual one-to-one meeting capabilities
~ ~ virtual networking rooms

~ electronic book of Abstracts
~ access to downloads of all conference materials
~ physical copy book of abstracts (on request)

~ participation in project output discussion session
~ live session with the publications team as part of a development meeting
~ discounted rates for any outputs emerging from the event

Calendar of time-lines and deadlines

Friday 3rd September 2021
Abstract/Presentation submission

Friday 10th September 2021
Acceptance/Rejection notification
Booking Forms Open

Monday 13th September 2021
Circulation of Draft programme

Friday 1st October 2021
Draft presentations to be submitted

Monday 11th October 2021
Final date for payment

Friday 29th September 2021
Final Programme Circulation

We appreciate that in 2021, a lot of folks are already Skype and Zoom fatigued! This is why we have been taking our time to partner with the British software developer ShockLogic, to create a customised Progressive Connexions oriented digital platform which will hopefully allow us to create a unique virtual environment which will let us stage as closely as possible the kinds of face-to-face 'in person' encounters and engagements which we successfully achieve in the seminar rooms.

The particular aspects of the platform means we have:

~ online registration

~ a secure platform available only to conference attendees

~ a networking area that can serve as a social hall akin to our typical registration and refreshment areas where folks can meet, see materials and information, chat etc

~ online abstract and programme submissions

~ ePoster capabilities

~ break out rooms where needed

~ one-to-one meeting capabilities

~ networking rooms

The video calls themselves are zoom-based, but embedded within the ShockLogic platform, they share the same sense of community and continuity that we are so committed to in in-person events.

The conferences, meetings and events we organise are not single ‘one-off’ events. They are part of a continual stream of conversations, activities and projects which grow and evolve in different directions. At the conclusion of every meeting, the question needs to be considered: What happens next? After all, there is little personal, educational or professional benefit in gathering people together from around the world and sharing all sorts of fascinating conversations if nothing further is going to happen as a result!

The possible ranges of ‘outputs’ which can productively flow from our meetings is a dynamic response to the dialogues, issues and engagements that take place during the events themselves. And as our meetings are attended by folks who come from different backgrounds, contexts, professions and vocations, what people would like to see developed as a result of our time spent together will always be potentially diverse, fluid and appropriate to what took place.

One range of possible outputs involves publication as a way of continuing the work of a project. Where publishing is a possibility, it is directly referenced in the Call for Papers, Presentations and Participation. Other possible outputs may include, but are not limited to:
~ social media platforms such as Facebook pages and groups, blogs, wikis, Twitter, as vehicles for continuing dialogues, disseminating knowledge and information and bringing new people into the work of the project
~ reviews; reports; policy statements; position papers/statements; declarations of principles
~ proposals for meetings, workshops, courses, schools
~ collaboration gateways, platforms and media
~ personal and professional development opportunities: faculty development; mentoring programmes; cultural cruises; consultancies; summer schools; personal enrichment programmes

The range of outputs is dependent on how little or how much you would like to become involved. Don’t let the end of the meeting signal the end of your involvement with the project. Please get involved, bounce ideas around, think out loud – we’d love to hear about what you’d like to do and are always happy to talk about what is possible.

Payment Process
All participants must complete an online booking form by Monday 20th September 2021 at the latest.

After the deadline has expired, an invoice will be drawn up and sent to you; the invoice will contain all the necessary information for you to pay by bank transfer, Paypal or credit card.
The invoice must be settled by Monday 11th October 2021.

It is the responsibility of delegates to ensure that payment is made by this date. Failure to receive payment will result in your booking being cancelled.

Payment Methods
There are a number of ways payment can be made.

Bank Transfer

Payment may be made using bank transfer. There will be an option to pay in either GBP (£ Sterling) or Euro (€). Full details to enable a bank transfer are made available on your conference invoice. If paying by this method, you must agree to pay all charges at the sending and receiving banks.

By Invoice
You may request that an invoice be sent to you which you may forward to your institution. It is your responsibility to ensure that the invoice is paid before the payment deadline.

Online
Your invoice will include a link to pay through a secure and encrypted online payment system. Please click the link to use this method.

Credit Card
Payment may also be made using credit card. We cannot accept American Express or Discovery as a form of payment.

Paypal
Payment may also be made using Paypal. If paying by this method please send us the email account connected with your Paypal account and we will forward you a request for payment.

IMPORTANT

All fees are payable in advance. No delegate will be permitted entry to the conference if an invoice is still unpaid.

What’s so Special?

A fresh, friendly, dynamic format – at Progressive Connexions we are dedicated to breaking away from the stuffy, old-fashion conference formats, where endless presentations are read aloud off PowerPoints. We work to bring you an interactive format, where exchange of experience and information is alternated with captivating workshops, engaging debates and round tables, time set aside for getting to know each other and for discussing common future projects and initiatives, all in a warm, relaxed, egalitarian atmosphere.

 

A chance to network with international professionals – the beauty of our interdisciplinary events is that they bring together professionals from all over the world and from various fields of activity, all joined together by a shared passion. Not only will the exchange of experience, knowledge and stories be extremely valuable in itself, but we seek to create lasting, ever-growing communities around our projects, which will become a valuable resource for those belonging to them.

 

A chance to be part of constructing change – There is only one thing we love as much as promoting knowledge: promoting real, lasting social change by encouraging our participants to take collective action, under whichever form is most suited to their needs and expertise (policy proposals, measuring instruments, research projects, educational materials, etc.) We will support all such actions in the aftermath of the event as well, providing a platform for further discussions, advice from the experts on our Project Advisory Team and various other tools and intellectual resources, as needed.

 

An opportunity to discuss things that matter to you – Our events are not only about discussing how things work in the respective field, but also about how people work in that field – what are the struggles, problems and solutions professionals have found in their line of work, what are the areas where better communication among specialists is needed and how the interdisciplinary approach can help bridge those gaps and help provide answers to questions from specific areas of activity.

 

An unforgettable experience – When participating in a Progressive Connexions event, there is a good chance you will make some long-time friends. Our group sizes are intimate, our venues are comfortable and relaxing and our event locations are suited to the history and culture of the event.

Ethos

Progressive Connexions believes it is a mark of personal courtesy and professional respect to your colleagues that all delegates should attend for the full duration of the meeting. If you are unable to make this commitment, please do not submit an abstract or proposal for presentation.

 

Please note: Progressive Connexions is a not-for-profit network and we are not in a position to be able to assist with conference travel or subsistence, nor can we offer discounts off published rates and fees.

Progressive Connexions is a not-for-profit network inspiring inclusive interdisciplinary research, publishing and collaboration