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University of Plymouth, UK, July 12-14, 2007
The 8th international conference of the Utopian
Studies Society will be held at the University of Plymouth from
July 12th to 14th, 2007. The conference will examine a range of
topics related to utopia and utopianisms, its historical articulation
and contemporary realisation. Keynote speakers
are Dr Esther Leslie (Birkbeck), artist David Cross and Lalit Kishor
Bhati (Auroville, India).
BACKGROUND
The Utopian Studies Society is an interdisciplinary society that
aims to co-ordinate and encourage the diverse work currently taking
place on the subject of utopianism. Members include people researching
literature, philosophy, sociology, history, architecture, politics
and anthropology. The Society was established in 1988 by a group
of British scholars, following an international conference on utopianism
at New Lanark (www.utopianstudieseurope.org).
The University of Plymouth (www.plymouth.ac.uk)
hosts the Critical Spaces Research Group in the Faculty of Arts;
and features Utopian Studies as a pathway in its Masters in Research
programme (from October 2007).
Critical Spaces is convening a 1-day pre-conference workshop on
July 12th (10am to 4pm) on culture, agency and social change, funded
by the Arts and Humanities Research Council in the Nature of Creativity
programme - open to registered conference participants at no additional
cost.
VENUE
The campus is near the city centre, a few minutes from the railway
station. Plymouth is close to coasts and moors of outstanding natural
beauty in Devon and Cornwall. The nearest international airports
are Exeter and Bristol. Trains run hourly to Plymouth from London,
Birmingham, and Bristol, with other services to Cardiff, Birmingham,
Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow. From London Heathrow airport there
is a rail bus link to Reading for the main line to the South West.
SCHEDULE
The conference will open with a plenary session at 6pm on Thursday
12th, July, followed by a reception. There will be two full days
of parallel sessions on July 13th and 14th, and a closing plenary
and reception in the evening of Saturday 14th, July.
A pre-conference workshop on cultural agency for social transformation
will be held on 12th July (11am -4pm) open to participants registered
for the conference at no additional cost, subject to space (funded
by the Arts and Humanities Research Council in the Nature of Creativity
programme). A detailed programme will be available in May, 2007.
FEE and BURSARIES
The registration fee will be £75, to include teas, coffees,
buffet lunches and two evening buffet receptions, but not accommodation
or evening meals. Details of hotels and student rooms will be available
nearer the date. The Utopian Studies Society has some limited funds
available to assist post-graduates with the expenses of attending
the Society’s annual conference. If your paper has been accepted,
and you would like more details or an application form, please contact
the USS Secretary: Lorna.Davidson@newlanark.org.
REGISTRATION: BookingFormUT.doc
ACCOMMODATION
The University of Plymouth can offer limited good quality accommodation,
very close to the conference venue and in the heart of the City
of Plymouth. All rooms are well equiped with comfortable basic furnishings,
ensuite and double rooms are available. Single ensuite rooms are
£25 per night. All accommodation bookings must be made and
paid for separately to the conference booking.
Please note: if you still need to book a room in the student residence
(across the road from the main campus) please use this link and
book as soon as possible: http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/holidayaccommodation
HOTELS: Hotels
in Plymouth link |
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