Alison Faulknor, Director of Programs
Most of you reading this blog do not need convincing to attend Congress 2010 held at Concordia University in Montreal this spring (May 28th – June 4th). Just ask one of the 8,600 people who gathered in Ottawa last year at Carleton University.
With the theme of Connected Understanding/ le savoir branché as a jumping-off point, there are many reasons why scholars - at all stages in their careers, community members and policy-makers will choose to attend. Here are five:
1) Stimulate the Mind – In recent years, Congress has been declared a “meeting of the minds” and the “intellectual Olympics”. Between May 28 and June 4 2010, close to 9,000 delegates will gather in Montreal to present ideas, debate and enrich their research. What other conference would provide its delegates with such diverse colloquia from “The pleasure and anxiety of eating” to “Climate Change in Africa”? There is something for everyone at Congress.
2) Network - Congress is a phenomenal place to both meet new people and gather with old friends. Whether you are a young scholar just finding your footing or a veteran researcher at the peak of your career, Congress presents multiple opportunities to connect with those inside and outside of your discipline. Make connections, share ideas and create synergies at association meetings, special events, president’s receptions or one of the many gathering places around campus.
3) Connect Across Disciplines - Congress is nothing if not interdisciplinary. From theatre research to digital humanities and philosophy to communications, over 70 scholarly associations meet annually at Congress. Associations are encouraged to collaborate, to find points of intersection in their work and explore themes that are critical to all disciplines. Attend sessions in more than one association program or enjoy one of the many special events open to all delegates.
4) Think Big – The Federation and the host university collaborate on a special lecture series called Big Thinking that provides delegates and members of the community with the opportunity to hear from some of the leading voices of our time. Join us at Concordia to hear from renowned philosopher Mark Kingwell, esteemed commentator and technophile Robert Darnton, bestselling author Lawrence Hill and trailblazing political strategist Donna Brazile.
5) Satisfy the Booklover in You- Centrally located at Congress, in three of Concordia’s state-of-the-art buildings, Congress Book Fair 2010 will provide delegates and the public with the unprecedented opportunity to browse through scholarly works, fiction, and everything in between, while networking with some of the continent’s most innovative and exciting publishing houses. The Congress Book Fair is the largest multidisciplinary scholarly book fair in North America, attracting over 150 Canadian and international publishers.
The fact that Congress 2010 takes place in Montreal - Canada’s second largest city with unlimited restaurants, galleries and cultural attractions - certainly helps too!
Congress registration is now live on our website. We can help answer any questions you have by email.