ECREA WEEKLY digest ARTICLES

Universität Bremen

Open to unconventional approaches in research and teaching, the University of Bremen has retained its character as a place for closely connecting people and ideas since its foundation in 1971. We combine exceptional performance and innovative potential in a broad spectrum of subjects. As an ambitious research university, we stand for research-based learning approaches and a pronounced interdisciplinary orientation. We actively pursue international scientific cooperation in a spirit of global partnership.

Today, around 23,000 people learn, teach, research and work on our international campus. In research and teaching, administration and operations, we are strongly committed to the goals of sustainability, climate justice and climate neutrality. Our Bremen spirit is expressed in the courage to explore new things in cooperation, respect and appreciation for each other. With our study and research profile as well as with our cooperation within the European YUFE network, we assume social responsibility in the region, in Europe and in the world.

The University of Bremen is seeking to fill a professorship in Communication and Media Studies in Faculty 9 Cultural Studies as soon as possible with the following profile:

Tenure-Track-Professor (f/m/x) with tenure-track after W2

(Salary Level W1)

for the subject area

Media, Society and the Good Life

– Reference number: JP902/25 –

The professorship is initially offered for a fixed term of three years. Following an interim evaluation of an orienting nature, it will be extended for an additional three years. If the final evaluation after six years is positive, the position will be converted into a permanent W2 lifetime professorship as a civil servant. To support the academic establishment of tenure-track professors, a phased introduction to teaching is guaranteed.

Applicants should be early-career researchers with demonstrated national and international visibility in the field of empirical research on media, communication, and data practices within their social contexts. Solid expertise in qualitative methods of research on digital communication is required.

The existing research profile of the University of Bremen, particularly the Center for Media, Communication and Information Research (ZeMKI, www.zemki.uni-bremen.de), offers excellent opportunities for your own academic development as professor, with the aim of establishing a unique research and training profile on media, society, and the good life as a key aspect of sustainability. The ZeMKI provides a highly stimulating research environment, addressing questions surrounding the digital transformation of media and communication. Key research areas include datafication and communicative AI, as well as digital gaming. As a candidate, you should show interest in contributing to one of these two areas. Additionally, a willingness to acquire third-party funding, participate in collaborative research, and engage in the structured doctoral training of the ZeMKI is expected.

The responsibilities of the professorship include teaching in the bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in communication and media studies, in accordance with the teaching obligations and teaching certificate regulations (LVNV) of the University of Bremen. You are expected to offer courses in both German and English; if proficiency in one of these languages is lacking, it should be acquired within three years, with support provided by the university. Additionally, you should have an interest in “research-based teaching and learning”, in exploring new technologies for teaching and learning, and in pursuing further training in higher education didactics.

In addition to fulfilling the general appointment requirements under civil service law, the prerequisites for employment include a relevant academic university or college degree, subject-relevant degree and a particular aptitude for scientific work, proven by a relevant high-ranking doctorate in the subject area. We expect pedagogical aptitude and didactic commitment as well as a willingness to undergo further training in higher education didactics. Experience in academic self-administration is desirable.

Tenure-track professors are relieved of some of their teaching duties at the beginning of their employment in order to be able to develop their academic profile. The appointment is based on §§ 18, 18a BremHG and § 117 BremBG. According to these, the doctoral and employment phases together should not have lasted more than six years. Applicants who have already completed their doctorate in Bremen must have changed universities after completing their doctorate or have worked outside the University of Bremen for at least two years.

The university is committed to increasing the proportion of women in science and strongly encourages female scientists to apply. The university has been awarded the title “Excellence in Gender Equality” within the framework of the female professors’ program of the federal and state governments. Applications from scientists with a migration background as well as international applications are expressly welcomed. In case of substantially equal professional and personal qualifications, candidates with severe disabilities will be given preferential consideration.

For further information, please contact the spokesperson of the Center for Media, Communication and Information Research (ZeMKI), Prof. Dr. Andreas Hepp (andreas.hepp@uni-bremen.de). Applications with the usual documents (letter of motivation, curriculum vitae with publication list, teaching and research statements, copies of academic degree certificates, etc.) must be sent by February 6th, 2025, referencing the reference number JP902/25, as a PDF file by unencrypted electronic mail to the Dean, Prof. Dr. Dagmar Borchers (bewerbungen.fb9@vw.uni-bremen.de) or by post to:

Dekanin des Fachbereichs 9 – Kulturwissenschaften

Frau Prof. Dr. Dagmar Borchers

Universität Bremen

Postfach 330 440

28334 Bremen

www.fb9.uni-bremen.de

The University of Bremen provides detailed information on the appointment procedure and negotiations at https://www.uni-bremen.de/berufungsverfahren.

Download the job advertisement

Universität Bremen

(CALL CLOSES ON JANUARY 31, 2025, 23:59 CET)

Come and work with us!

Our Fellowship Program invites international researchers to Bremen for four weeks to deepen and connect their research in the transformation of media, communication, and information. We are looking for established scholars who want to enjoy the thriving interdisciplinary research environment at ZeMKI. Disciplines include media and communication studies, computer science, film studies, educational science, studies in religion, and history. Since mid-2017, ZeMKI has regularly hosted colleagues from all over the world.

What we expect:

The duration of the fellowship is one month. Applicants should demonstrate experience in their respective field of research and a strong interest in working jointly with principal investigators at ZeMKI to develop new ideas together. The main focus of the ZeMKI Visiting Research Fellowship is to pursue a joint project with at least two ZeMKI Labs (find all descriptions here: https://zemki.uni-bremen.de/en/research/labs/). The joint project can take various forms and should aim to have an impact on academic and public debates in their respective area of scholarly focus.

The following outputs are expected:

• a research paper submitted to the peer-reviewed ZeMKI Working Paper Series
  
• a public presentation in the ZeMKI Research Seminar
  

For a successful application it is highly recommended to inform oneself thoroughly about current activities in the ZeMKI Labs of interest and the work of principal investigators at ZeMKI.

What we offer:

• Research Resources: Fellows are welcome and encouraged to make use of and connect with ZeMKI’s research resources in the context of their collaboration with ZeMKI labs, including the research studios, IT pools/technical equipment, cooperatives, and initiatives.
  
• Access to the State and University Library Bremen: All fellows will be provided with access to the central academic library of the University of Bremen.
  
• Courses: Fellows are eligible to participate as listeners or guest lecturers in courses in the diverse media study programmes at ZeMKI. They have to individually ask for permission directly from the professor or lecturer.
  
• A honorarium of 3,000 euros plus a budget for research-related expenses of up to 1,500 euros
  

Please fill out all fields of the application form and submit it in order to apply by January 31, 2025 (23:59 CET).

Chinese Journal of Communication (SPECIAL ISSUE)

Deadline: July 31, 2025

This special issue of the Chinese Journal of Communication aims to expand our understanding of transnational migration in the digital age, especially as it relates to platforms, publics, and policies. It explores how digital platforms (Chinese and non-Chinese), their sociotechnical affordances, and the discourses they produce (or censor) bear upon transnational migration between China and various parts of the world, including Southeast Asia, Oceania, Africa, and Latin America, as well as North America, Europe and the rest of Asia.

READ MORE

Friday, 24 January 2025, 12pm EST/6pm GMT

Zoom

Dear colleagues,

As Urbanism/Geography/Architecture SIG at SCMS, we are pleased to invite you to our third online event of 2024-25, focusing on the theme of 'Home on Screen.'

Join us for a conversation with editors and contributors of "Home as a Site of Resistance", Alphaville Special Issue 26.

We are delighted to have Professor Laura Rascaroli (University College Cork), Editor-in Chief of Alphaville, as respondent.

Editors will briefly introduce the special issue, followed by a response and Q&A.

Panelists include: editors Liz Patton and Anna Viola Sborgi and contributors Mariana Liz, Julie Le Hegarat, Jenny Gunn, Conn Holohan, Lauren S. Berliner, Francianne dos Santos Velho, Sabine Haenni.

About the Special Issue 

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we view the concept of home. This shift has highlighted various societal disparities, including those based on race, gender, sexuality, and economic status. While the idea of the mediated home has been a growing topic of study (Schleier; Wojcik; Rhodes; Barnwell; Baschiera and De Rosa; Palmer; Patton; Price), this issue of Alphaville narrows its focus on the home as a space of resistance across different geographies and periods, from the 1960s to today. Considering debates from fields such as home movie studies, virtual reality, media activism, and the relationship between film and urbanism, the articles in this issue demonstrate how film and media can address resistance centred around the concept of home. 

Please find all the info on the event and register at this link: 

https://lu.ma/sm2kv17l

Looking forward to seeing many of you there!

The Urbanism/Geography/Architecture Scholarly Interest Group Co-chairs

For more info and Contacts:

https://www.cmstudies.org/page/groups_urban

https://www.facebook.com/groups/UrbanStudiesSIG

scmsurbanism@gmail.com

April 24-26, 2025

University of Vienna (Austria)

Deadline: January 15, 2025

Dear ECREA Community,

This is a reminder that the submission deadline for COMPTEXT 2025 is January 15. Please submit your abstracts (250 words) at: https://www.conftool.org/comptext2025/

You can find the Call for Papers, Panels, and Data Presentations here: https://www.comptextconference.org/7th-annual-comptext-conference-2025/

As always, an exciting line-up of tutorials is being planned for the first day of the conference. Whether you are a beginner or looking to advance your skills, you will have the opportunity to learn about:

• Donations and digital trace data collection
  
• Narratives in large datasets
  
• Visual data analysis
  
• Creative text analysis toolkits
  
• Bayesian text analysis
  
• ...and more!

For any questions, please contact us at comptext25@comptextconference.org.

We look forward to welcoming you to Vienna this April!

Best regards,

Anna Maria Planitzer on behalf of the organisers

__________________________________________

Call for Papers and Panels

COMPTEXT 2025

The Seventh International and Interdisciplinary COMPTEXT Conference on the Quantitative and Computational Analysis of Text, Image and Video as Data will be held at The University of Vienna, Austria, on 24-26 April 2025.

COMPTEXT is an international community of scholars working on the Quantitative and Computational Analysis of Text, Image, and Video as Data. COMPTEXT conferences offer opportunities to obtain useful feedback on ongoing research, present new data and methods, network with scholars working on similar themes, and participate in workshops. 

The increasing use of large language models (LLMs) in computational text analysis presents opportunities and challenges for the social sciences. At COMPTEXT 2025, two critical issues will be explored in depth: first, the evolving infrastructures needed to support LLMs and their impact on open science; second, strategies to mitigate bias and improve the representation of marginalized voices in computational text analysis. With that in mind, we are pleased to announce two engaging roundtable discussions at COMPTEXT 2025 in Vienna:

1. Collaborative Futures: Infrastructures and Open Science in the Age of LLMs
   
2. Beyond the Margins: Addressing Bias and Amplifying Marginalized Voices in Computational Text Analysis
   

While these round tables will focus on specific themes, paper, panel, and data presentation submissions can, but are not required to, adhere to these topics.

PAPERS. For COMPTEXT 2025 in Vienna, we are seeking paper submissions that

• Rely on image, video, text, or other digital trace data to study social and political phenomena broadly construed
  
• Propose, present, or evaluate new computational methods, tools, or datasets
  
• Offer methodological comparisons, reflections, or critiques of existing computational approaches
  
• Apply computational methods to make contributions at the intersection of social science and computer science
  

We accept both substantive and methodological papers for presentation. Substantive papers may be on any studies in the social sciences or humanities that utilize computational methods, while methodological papers may describe new computational methods, tools, datasets, and approaches.

PANELS. We also accept full panel presentations of three or four papers engaging with overlapping themes from a substantive or methodological perspective. 

DATA PRESENTATIONS. We invite data presentations on publicly available resources to be featured in one of the conference's plenary sessions. 

WORKSHOPS. In keeping with our tradition, the first day of the conference (April 24) is dedicated to a series of methods training workshops for registered participants. Courses will be offered for both beginner and advanced-level participants.

Submission formats: 

Paper Proposals. Abstracts of max. 250 words and three substantive and/or methods-related keywords.

Panel Proposals: Title, abstract of max. 250 words summarizing the panel's topic and three substantive and/or methods-related keywords. Further, abstracts of max. 250 words for three or four papers included in the panel.

Data Presentation Proposals:  Abstracts of max. 250 words and three substantive and/or methods-related keywords.

Please submit your proposals at https://www.conftool.org/comptext2025/ 

Timeline:

• Submission deadline: 15 January 2025
  
• Notifications of acceptance will be sent by 15 February 2025.
  
• The conference programme will be published, and registration will open by 15 March 2025.
  
• Full paper upload by April 8. 2025.
  

Please be advised that a conference fee will be charged for participants with accepted papers and for workshop participants. Reduced rates will be available for early career researchers (up to 4 years since Ph.D).

The Program Committee of COMPTEXT 2025 consists of:

• Fabienne Lind (University of Vienna, Vienna)
  
• Miklós Sebők (HUN-REN Centre for Social Sciences, Budapest)
  
• Petro Tolochko (University of Vienna, Vienna)
  

The COMPEXT 2025 Conference is organized by the University of Vienna with the Local Organizing Committee: Fabienne Lind and Hajo G. Boomgaarden together with Jana Bernhard-Harrer, Dominika Betakova, Hannah Greber, Veronika Ebner, Sarah Epp-Kampl, Jean Kalunseviko, Azade Kakavand, Claudia Koska, Aytalina Kulichkina, Noelle Lebernegg, Jula Lühring, Meike Müller, Anna Maria Planitzer, Moritz Sedlatschek, Sebastian Sherrah, Apeksha Shetty, Marvin Stecker, Petro Tolochko, Annie Waldherr, Daniel Wiesner (Department of Communication, University of Vienna)

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: COMPTEXT is committed to creating an inclusive conference where diversity is celebrated, and everyone is afforded equal opportunity. We welcome applications from everyone, including those who identify with any of the protected characteristics that are set out in University of Vienna 2025 Development Plan, p. 58 https://www.univie.ac.at/fileadmin/user_upload/startseite/Dokumente/Entwicklungsplan2025_EN.pdf. We especially encourage scholars from traditionally underrepresented groups, female scholars, and early-career researchers to apply.

Green Meeting: The aim is to organize the event in accordance with the criteria of the Austrian Ecolabel for Green Meetings. We hope that you welcome these efforts and support us in the implementation of this green event. If you have any questions, please contact the Green Meeting officer Alexandra Wassipaul (alexandra[dot]wassipaul[at]univie[dot]ac[dot]at).

Questions related to COMPTEXT Vienna 2025 should be directed to comptext25[at]comptextconference[dot]org

Best regards,

The Organizers

Paris-Lodron University Salzburg, Austria

Ph.D. Position at the Paris-Lodron University Salzburg, Department of Communication/ Transcultural Communication:

A PhD position is available at the Department of Communication Studies/ Transcultural Communication division, starting 1st April 2025. The successful candidate will be offered a four- year position at the University of Salzburg, Austria.

Main duties and responsibilities

• supporting the research and teaching endeavours of the transcultural communication division

• taking on administrative duties

• carrying out individual research

• teaching duties comprise two hours a week from year three onwards

• the PhD thesis has to be defended and published within 4 years

Qualification requirements

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate with experiences in intercultural communication & competence (theories & methods), intercultural trainings (training design & evaluation), cultural studies, empirical data analysis as well as interest in the concept of resilience and various interdisciplinary avenues regarding communication.

The applicant must hold a master’s degree in communication studies or an affiliated discipline. The applicants need proof of language competence in German and English: B2 level (European reference frame) – language proof needs to be submitted by the end of the first year of employment (December 2025).

Personal characteristics

Agreeable, conscientious, flexible, industrious and adaptable to new environments.

We offer

• exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment (see: https://kowi.uni-salzburg.at)

• an inspiring work environment with dedicated colleagues

Salary and conditions

PhD candidates work 30hrs a week and are remunerated € 2.786,10 (14x per year). The place of work is Salzburg City, Austria, home office days upon request.

For further information please call Assoc.Prof. Dr. Birgit Breninger: +43 (0)662 8044-41-72 and see: https://www.plus.ac.at/mitteilungsblatt

About the application:

The application comprises:

• CV including information on educational background, work experience, preprints and publications.

• Full list of publications.

• Certified copies of relevant transcripts and diplomas.

• Contact information for at least two references.

• Documentation of fluency (B2 level) in English and German: TOEFL score, IELTS, or equivalent language proof. This needs to be submitted latest by the end of the first year of employment.  

Other documents which the applicant finds relevant may also be included. We might ask for further documents when necessary during the hiring process.

General information about working at the PLUS can be found here: https://www.plus.ac.at/personalentwicklung/jobportal/

Please submit your application electronically to bewerbung@plus.ac.at Please refer to application number: GZ A 0005/1-2025 in your covering letter.

Application deadline: 29th January 2025

Katalin Feher

This groundbreaking book demystifies generative AI’s transformative impact on media, socio-cultural dynamics, ethics, and policy.

Defining generative AI as an evolutionary leap in the development of artificial intelligence, the author examines intricate human-machine interactions and socio-technical dynamics, advocating robust, proactive AI governance to navigate emerging uncertainties.  The book is clearly structured into six key sections, each exploring distinct aspects of the relationship between artificial intelligence, media, and society. The "Transformation" section examines how machine behavior is reshaping our datafied society, questioning whether data is the new oil, or digital manure. The "Generative AI" section investigates the models and future impacts of generative AI as a co-intelligence, revisiting the Turing Test and analyzing societal-business impacts. "AI Media" explores the convergence of media and AI, highlighting robot journalism, synthetic content, and the disinformation era, discussing the trend towards high-risk optimism. The "Uncertainties" section addresses inherent unpredictability vs. strategic foresight, focusing on challenged business models, sustainability concerns, and emotional intelligence factors. In "Ethics," the book analyses generative morality and dual-use technology, covering trusted AI principles—from misuse to integrative solutions. Finally, the "Policy" section discusses governance, labor market impacts, the importance of human rights and power dynamics in generative AI. Each section also provides summaries of impact projects, reflective art, scholarly questions, and strategic takeaways—extended with a comprehensive glossary.

This is an essential resource for scholars, students, policymakers, technologists, ethicists, and AI industry leaders seeking to rapidly understand and address the challenges and opportunities of generative AI and AI media in a cohesive framework.

https://www.routledge.com/Generative-AI-Media-and-Society/Feher/p/book/9781032968735?srsltid=AfmBOooSTC_hfiwOont0FsNEGcbFfBAyzhem8zvnsoI8FLljX0snefgj

May 20, 2025

Rutgers University, New Brunswick (USA)

Deadline: January 15, 2025

We invite proposals for workshops and tutorials at the ACM Web Science Conference 2025 (WebSci’25). The conference will take place at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ and will center the special theme: “Maintaining a human-centric web in the era of Generative AI.” Workshops will take place on May 20, 2025, during the first day of the conference.

For full details, please visit the conference website: https://www.websci25.org/call-for-workshops-and-tutorials/

Important dates

• Workshop/Tutorial proposal submission: Wed, January 15, 2025
  
• Workshop/Tutorial proposal notification: Mon, January 28, 2025
  
• Workshop & Tutorials Day: May 20, 2025 
  

Note that all submission deadlines are end-of-day in the Anywhere on Earth (AoE) time zone.

Overview and Purpose

We invite proposals for workshops and tutorials at the ACM Web Science Conference 2025 (WebSci’25). The conference will take place in New Brunswick, NJ, USA, from May 20 to 23, 2025, and serve as center stage for the special theme: “Maintaining a human-centric web in the era of Generative AI”. Workshops will take place on May 20, 2025, during the first day of the conference.

The ACM Web Science Conference 2025 will feature co-located workshops and tutorials to provide a forum for interdisciplinary research. Contributions may stem from a variety of disciplinary traditions including (but not limited to) Computer and Information Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences, as well as Humanities and the Humanistic Social Sciences. Researchers and practitioners studying the complex and multifaceted impact of the Web and AI on society and vice versa can engage in discussions on relevant topics (including those mentioned in the CfP for the main conference program).

WebSci’25 workshops/tutorials may address any topic relevant to the global Web Science community, e.g., questions of basic research as well as applied research, Web-related practices of developers, creators, and consumers, new methodologies, emerging application areas, privacy, ethics, sustainability, or innovations. Each workshop/tutorial should strive to generate ideas that can give the community a fresh or synthesized perspective on the topic, or suggest promising directions for future work.  

The organizers are especially interested in topics that resonate with this year’s theme of maintaining a human centric web in the age of AI. For instance, how can the Web science community develop methods, tools, or frameworks to help us responsibly navigate the age of generative AI? How can we better understand web user behaviors and attitudes in the age of and with the aid of  LLMs? The tutorials could cover a wide variety of Web Science approaches and methods. If you are working in an emerging area in the broad landscape of Web Science research, do consider contributing or participating.

Submission Guidelines

Submission System: Submissions should be made on Easychair https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=websci25

Please select the WebSci25 Workshops and Tutorials track as shown below.

Format & Length: All workshop proposals should adopt the current ACM SIG Conference proceedings template (acmart.cls available here). Please submit papers as PDF files using the ACM template, either in Microsoft Word format (available here under “Word Authors”) or with the ACM LaTeX template on the Overleaf platform, available here. In particular, please ensure you are using the two-column version of the appropriate template. Submission must be as a single PDF file: 4 (four) pages in length, including references.

Structure: Workshop/Tutorial proposals should conform to the following structure:

• A title and an acronym for the workshop/tutorial
  
• The names, affiliations, and contact information of ALL organizers
  
• Proposed duration of the workshop/tutorial – half or full-day (please specify your flexibility where applicable)
  
• A statement of the workshop/tutorial objectives (including the motivation, relevance, and desired outcomes)
  
• An outline of the proposed workshop/tutorial format, discussing the planned activities (where applicable) such as paper presentations, invited talks, panels, breakout sessions, discussion sessions, etc.
  
• A brief description of the workshop/tutorial audience and the expected number of submissions/participants
  
• If the workshop/tutorial was held before, when applicable, please share details on the venues and dates, number of participants, format, number of submissions, and number of accepted papers, and indicate how the proposed edition will differ from earlier editions
  
• A short bio of the organizers, including a description of their relevant qualifications and past experience in organizing workshops/tutorials or similar gatherings
  

Review Process & Next Steps

The workshop and tutorial chairs, in consultation with the general chairs, will create a carefully curated list of workshops with an aim to reflect the needs and desires of the Web Science community at large. Please note that we might propose modifications and augmentations, such as suggesting that workshops be shortened or combined where appropriate. The workshops/tutorials ought to address timely topics and phenomena; therefore, it depends on the year which topics are considered particularly relevant and interesting. Workshop/tutorial series or follow-up workshops/tutorials from those in previous conferences will be given special consideration but are not automatically accepted. Space in the program and technical limitations will also influence the number and form of the selected workshops and tutorials.

• Once accepted, organizers are responsible for publicizing the workshop/tutorial and soliciting potential participants.
  
• Depending on the format of the workshop/tutorial, organizers may decide to cap the number of attendees.
  
• Workshop/tutorial organizers solicit participants for their workshop through their Call for Participation, which is posted to the Web Science 2025 website and includes a link to the workshop’s public website. The workshop organizers determine the submission format.
  
• The workshop organizers will review submissions using their own criteria (not set by the Workshop Chairs or the Web Science PC).

Proceedings option for Workshops

Given the interdisciplinary nature of the conference, workshop proceedings are optional. However, if you wish to have your workshop papers included in the companion proceedings, you must ensure that the camera-ready versions of all accepted papers are prepared by April 15, 2025.

Workshops/Tutorials Chairs

• Kiran Garimella (Rutgers University)
  
• Yongfeng Zhang (Rutgers University)
  
• Harsh Taneja (University of Illinois Urbana Champaign)

For any questions and queries regarding the workshops/tutorials, please contact the chairs at websci25-workshops@easychair.org

June 17-19, 2025

Barcelona, Spain

Deadline: February 15, 2025

Auditorium  - Poblenou Campus - Universitat Pompeu Fabra

Compassionate Futures: Dismantling the Dynamics of Power and Violence in Human-Animal Relationships is a critical exploration of the multifaceted power structures that govern human-animal interactions and the ethical imperative to reimagine these relationships with compassion at the forefront. This conference will bring together scholars, professionals, and advocates from diverse fields to engage in a thorough examination of the social, political, economic, and cultural forces that continue to perpetuate the exploitation, oppression, and marginalisation of non-human animals (NHA hereafter).

The event aims to dissect the mechanisms by which humans assert dominance over NHA, from legal frameworks and economic interests to cultural narratives and institutional practices that sustain speciesism. In analysing these dynamics, we will interrogate how power operates to maintain the objectification and instrumentalization of NHA, often for human benefit, while reflecting on alternative pathways rooted in justice, empathy, and ethical responsibility.

Central to this conference is the exploration of how to distinguish between genuine ethical progress and superficial humane-washing. Humane-washing, often used to placate public concern, obscures the persistence of exploitative practices while allowing industries and institutions to maintain business as usual under the guise of reform. The conference will critically engage with the strategies and narratives that perpetuate this deception and, importantly, will highlight pathways to promote authentic, transformative change in how we relate to and treat NHA.

The conference also seeks to foster interdisciplinary dialogue on the intersectionality of animal oppression with other forms of violence and discrimination, such as racism, sexism, and environmental degradation, highlighting the importance of solidarity across social justice movements. By dismantling the dynamics of power and violence that structure human-animal relationships, Compassionate Futures envisions a world where NHA are recognized not as objects, but as subjects deserving of respect, dignity, and compassion.

Ultimately, this event invites participants to reflect, collaborate, and contribute to the creation of a more just and compassionate future for all beings, with a particular focus on identifying and overcoming the many strategies that simulate progress while obstructing real and transformative change.

Fees and registration

• Registration fees (all include coffee-breaks and lunch). 
  
• With paper presentation: 150 € 
  
• For unemployed, students without scholarships and people with low income: 100 € 
  
• Without paper presentation: 75 €.
  
• For unemployed people, students without grants and people with low income: 50 €
  

Key dates

• Start of Abstract Submission: 15 December 2024
  
• Deadline for submission of abstracts: 15 February 2025
  
• Decisions on abstracts will be notified by: 15 March 2025
  

April 5, 2025

Lleida (Catalonia, Spain) 

Submission deadline: January 31, 2025 

We invite scholars to approach the theme of aging stereotypes from diverse methodological and epistemological perspectives, including but not limited to critical theory, empirical analysis, and creative practices. We warmly encourage work-inprogress submissions as well as submissions from students, researchers, and practitioners new to ECREA events. 

Read more:  http://tinyurl.com/TWGAgingComm