GSFN, GSPPRN & SNS – SUMMER 2024

INTERDISCIPLINARY CONFERENCE

11TH- 13TH OCTOBER 2024

GLOBAL SOUTH PARADIGMS: (RE)SHAPING OUR FUTURE

As we stand at the crossroads of global environmental challenges, it is increasingly evident that collaboration must evolve to meet the complexity of our times. This isn’t just about interdisciplinary teamwork anymore—it’s about the transdisciplinary partnership that brings together academia, industry, local communities, policymakers, and innovators to tackle sustainability issues collectively.

At the (Re)Shaping the Future Conference, we’re rethinking collaboration. How can we bridge the gap between local grassroots innovations and global sustainability frameworks? How do we ensure that the solutions we develop serve the privileged and vulnerable communities disproportionately affected by climate change?

We must address critical questions: How do we dismantle biases in existing interdisciplinary frameworks? How can we elevate indigenous and local knowledge systems in formal sustainability dialogues? What strategies will create real feedback loops between local practices and global policies?

It’s time to rethink how we work together for a future where no one is left behind. This conference is a call to action for all stakeholders—leaders, decision-makers, and advocates—to come together and co-create inclusive, equitable, and sustainable solutions.

The conference was held free of charge to participants and virtually via Zoom

The burgeoning and interconnected fields of Global South public policy, humanities, and other related Global South-focused academic disciplines demand vibrant discourse and fresh perspectives from the communities these disciplines seek to empower. In recognition of this need, the Global South Public Policy Research Network (GSPPRN), the premier network of Global South public policy graduate students, and the global youth-led sustainable development knowledge network South-North Scholars (SNS) will collaborate to present a landmark summer conference, “Global South Paradigms: (Re)Shaping Our Future”, which will be held virtually from August 25-27, 2024.

This unique platform welcomes graduate and undergraduate students working or conducting research in Global South contexts and on Global South issues, especially those based at the intersection of academia and practice-oriented research in Global South regions. The objective is to engage in critical dialogue and collaborative brainstorming around the current and future directions of “Global South research” – i.e., research on Global South issues – both within and across disciplinary boundaries.

Outputs

As an innovative international conference focused on evolving Global South issues across the policy paradigm and critical paradigms of the humanities and other disciplines, the primary academic goal of the conference is to generate fresh ideas and momentum toward interdisciplinary and innovative approaches to Global South research.

Conference outputs will include:

• Release of keynote addresses invited lectures, and presentation dossier of invited papers from graduate and undergraduate students. A call for relevant papers, open to all graduate and undergraduate students, will be circulated by GSFN, GSPPRN, SNS, and other promotional partners approximately 2-3 months prior to the conference.
• Drafts of innovative Global South research proposals co-created by conference participants in the intensive workshops and sessions during the conference. These research proposals, which may take various forms familiar to participants, are intended to stimulate discussion about new directions of Global South research and inspire future research grant proposals.
• Proceedings in the form of a conference statement on current and future directions of Global South research, drafted during the conference.
• Mentorship opportunities and suggested pairings designed to encourage sustained and academically fruitful engagement among conference participants with related interests.

These outputs will be disseminated through the following channels:

• Online publication of a compilation report of conference outputs in PDF form, to be promoted via the GSPPRN/IPPA and Nexus journal websites as applicable
• Hosting of the conference statement, readouts, and/or research proposals on the GSPPRN/IPPA and Nexus journal websites
• Possible in-print publication of papers and/or other proceedings in Issue III of Nexus: The Global South Journal, scheduled for spring 2025

Format and Agenda

The conference will prioritize an inclusive and immersive experience for participants based across the world, taking place in an intensive and fully virtual format over 2 days.

This length of time is chosen to ensure time for a variety of activities while minimizing attrition in acknowledgment of busy academic/professional workloads during a high-travel season.

Day 1

• An opening keynote address and invited lectures from leading faculty and practitioners in Global South public policy, the interpretative humanities (e.g., anthropology) from a Global South perspective, and other critical, interdisciplinary perspectives.
• Coffee chats/speed networking, cultural exchange activities, and other spaces for conference participants to meet each other and learn about each other’s work informally.
• Paper presentations of the accepted papers start on Day 1.
• Initial sessions for live co-creation of conference outputs, including research proposals and a conference statement if desired.

Day 2

• Additional invited lectures and remarks.
• Paper presentations of the accepted papers conclude on Day 2.
• Intensive sessions to finish co-creating conference outputs, e.g., research proposals.
• Closing address, remarks, and/or interactive session among conference participants.

Themes

While the conference promotes holistic and interdisciplinary approaches to Global South issues, and has a primary goal of elevating and critically engaging with Global South research trends, the conference will announce four broad (but non-restrictive) content themes:

• Sustainable development and climate change: Examining innovative approaches to foster inclusivity, resilience, and environmental justice in the Global South.
• International relations and political economy: Deconstructing power dynamics, exploring alternative development models, and advocating for equitable global partnerships.
• Conflict, displacement, and migration: Analyzing root causes, seeking sustainable solutions, and amplifying the voices of affected communities.
• Histories, cultures, and movements of the Global South: Celebrating diverse narratives, reclaiming agency, and forging solidarity through shared experiences.

These content themes are intended to give participants a sense of the substantive issues that can be examined through the invited papers and conference activities. Participants should be open to engaging with holistic and interdisciplinary approaches to Global South research.