Social Differences, Social Justice Symposium Calls for Participants

Please note: This image pre-dates the COVID-19 pandemic.

Presented by the Social Differences, Social Justice faculty cluster and sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences, Renée Crown University Honors Program and Whitman School of Management, campus community members are invited to participate in the first annual Social Differences, Social Justice Symposium. The symposium will be held as a hybrid event (in person and virtually) on March 31, 2022.

The inaugural symposium will explore the themes of equity, social justice and global transformation. “These fundamental issues remain unresolved in society, higher education and across professional settings,” says Kira Reed, associate professor of management in the Whitman School and member of the Social Differences, Social Justice cluster.

“Businesses are having to address them with their employees, activist investors, as well as consumers that are shopping their values. Management scholars, working with humanists colleagues, can examine this phenomenon in nuanced ways that will advance the study of organizational performance. Global contestations of existing systems and structures have the potential to transform how we work and shop and bridge the gap in who has access to opportunities.”

These challenges include access to quality education at all levels, high-quality and affordable health care and a universal basic income; protection of our climate; the right to immigrate; the right to be free from violence, civil strife and armed conflict, pandemics, environmental disasters; and the need for sustainable development.

The symposium seeks to respond to the urgent need for rigorous research and debate regarding these challenges. Key questions for exploration include:

• How can scholars and researchers at leading universities, such as Syracuse University, spearhead the process and engage our students, communities and policymakers in forging a common path forward?
• How can scholarly work contribute to improving our communities while at the same time improving the well-being of others in distant places?
• How can scholars better understand prevailing narratives and counter-narratives on current socio-political, economic and other changes which impact our human condition?
• How is interdisciplinary research in the humanities, social sciences, professional disciplines and sciences crucial to unpacking these phenomena?

Established and emerging scholars, including students, who are conducting transformative research and investigating these issues are invited to submit a presentation abstract. Presentations can take multiple forms, including teams, and presentations will be approximately 20 to 30 minutes in length.

Submission Process and Deadline

Presentations are sought of works in progress, completed papers, performances and other forms of expression that speak to these themes. The deadline to submit a presentation is Feb. 28. For more information, with questions, or to submit work or join the Social Differences, Social Justice cluster, please email Kira Reed.

Interested in Attending the Symposium?

Faculty, graduate and undergraduate students from Syracuse University and partnering schools are welcome to attend the research conference on March 31 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET. There is no registration fee to attend and lunch will be included for in-person participants. Register here.