(Extended Deadline) Call for Proposals: DIRECTO's Fourth Annual Fall Symposium on Diversity & Inclusion in Research & Teaching

CFP 4th annual DIRECTO Symposium

This message has been approved by Dr. Lisa Liseno, Assistant Dean of the Graduate School, for distribution to students, faculty and staff.

4th Annual Symposium on Diversity & Inclusion in Research & Teaching
 
EXTENSION OF DEADLINE: CALL FOR PROPOSALS

DIRECTO, the Diversity & Inclusion in Research & Teaching Organization at FSU, cordially invites proposals by July 1st, 2021 from all undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, alumni, staff, and postdocs, from FSU, FAMU, TCC, and the surrounding community for its fourth annual Fall Symposium. Thanks to the generosity of the FSU President's Council on Diversity and Inclusion, the Symposium is free to all FSU students, faculty, staff, alumni, and members of the surrounding community, and will be held in a hybrid format at the Turnbull Conference Center in Tallahassee on September 30, and October 1, 2021.

Date and Time:
Location:

Submissions:

Deadline for Submissions:

Notification of Acceptance:
Questions?

September 30 & October 1, 2021 (exact times each day TBD)
Turnbull Conference Center (currently we plan to welcome 100 participants in person and welcome others virtually, depending on COVID-19 restrictions)

https://bit.ly/CFP-DIRECTO-4th-ANNUAL--SYMPOSIUM 

July 1, 2021

August 2021 

Contact us at: directo@fsu.edu or 
visit our website at
https://directo.fsu.edu

DIRECTO’s Annual Fall Symposium seeks to promote constructive dialogue and provide participants opportunities to discuss issues surrounding diversity, inclusion, and equity. More importantly, we want attendees and participants to walk away from the event with tangible ways to promote diversity and foster inclusion in their research projects and teaching methods. This Symposium is free of charge and open to all members of the FSU and surrounding community.
 
Interested parties should submit a 150-250-word abstract describing a breakout session or poster that addresses a specific element of diversity and inclusion and how it relates to teaching and/or research. Participants are encouraged to think “outside the box” for their presentation structure and review suggestions for presentation formats below.
 
Abstracts may address, but are not limited to:

  • How to turn theory in diversity and inclusion into practice
  • How to guarantee input from underrepresented and/or minority groups is valued and registered
  • Lessons learned and case studies
  • Issues of voice and visibility in online learning environments 
  • The “Digital Divide” and transferring accessibility into the virtual realm

Topic suggestions include, but are not limited to: 

  • Inclusive teaching and universal design
  • Diversity in content, materials, and ideas
  • Issues of race, gender, sexuality, ability, size, class, and status in teaching and/or research
  • Overlapping issues of diversity and inclusion in teaching and research
  • International students, teachers, researchers, and cultural concerns related to immigration 
  • Issues of identity in teaching and/or research
  • Hidden and implicit biases
  • Ways that a focus on diversity and inclusion can promote research and/or teaching developments
  • Going beyond the “diversity statement” - making long term changes

 Note: If your proposal is accepted you are required to attend one informational session in advance of the Symposium.

Questions? Contact us at: directo@fsu.edu
 
Descriptions of possible breakout sessions*:

Type

Description

Talking Circles
 
 

Talking Circles offer an opportunity to meet other participants with similar interests and concerns. Talking Circles are based on broad thematic areas and then engage in extended discussion about the issues and concerns the participants feel are of utmost importance to that segment of the community. Questions like “Who are we?”,” What is our common ground?”, “What are the current challenges facing society in this area?”, “What challenges do we face in constructing knowledge and effecting meaningful change in this area?” may guide the conversation. Submissions should include a description of the topic and who will be guiding/facilitating the Talking Circle.

Themed Paper Presentations
 
 

Paper presentations are grouped by general themes or topics into sessions comprised of two to four presentations followed by group discussion. Based on the size of the group each presenter in the session makes a formal 10-15-minute presentation of their work; Q&A and group discussion follow after all have presented. Session Chairs introduce the speakers, keep time on the presentations, and facilitate the discussion.

Panel Discussions
 
 

Panel discussions are organized by a group of colleagues who wish to present various dimensions of a project or perspectives on an issue. Three or five short formal presentations are followed by commentary and/or group discussion.

Roundtable discussion
 
 

For work that is best discussed or debated, rather than reported on through a formal presentation, these sessions provide a forum for an extended “roundtable” conversation between a facilitator and a small group of interested colleagues. Summaries of the facilitator’s key ideas, or points of discussion, are used to stimulate and guide the discourse.

Workshop / Interactive Session
 
 

Workshop sessions involve extensive interaction between presenters and participants around an idea or hands-on experience of a practice. These sessions may also take the form of a staged conversation, dialogue or debate – all involving substantial interaction with the audience.
 
 

Innovation Case Studies

 
 

Teachers, researchers, or other community present research or scenarios for the basis of discussion or problem-solving. All presentations should be grounded in presenter's research or teaching experience.

Poster Sessions

 
 

Poster sessions present preliminary results of works in progress or projects that lend themselves to visual displays and representations. These sessions allow for engagement in informal discussions about the work with interested delegates throughout.

*Adapted from the Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nationals Conference Call - http://ondiversity.com/2019- conference/format

Article Date
June 22, 2021