cfp.english.upenn.edu

Abstracts are invited for the academic track at WisCon, the world's leading feminist science fiction convention.

Proposals for individual presentations or self-convened panels are welcome. Guests of Honor at WisCon 37 are Joan Slonczewski and Jo Walton, so papers on their work are particularly welcomed. Panels at WisCon are 75 minutes in length, so no more than three presentations per panel. Abstracts are required for each individual presentation of around 300 words in length. If accepted, you will be asked to provide a short form of the abstract for program book purposes.

Papers are welcome on all aspects of feminist science fiction, fantasy, and fandom. These categories are interpreted broadly. Over the years presenters have explored topics in fantasy, horror, and science fiction literature, media, and fandom. They have examined issues of feminism, gender, sexuality, race, and class, among many others.

WisCon attendees are a diverse mix of writers, academics and passionate fans - and of course many attendees occupy various intersections of those categories. Presenters are therefore urged to communicate their research accessibly and creatively. First-time presenters almost invariably comment that they have learned more from the WisCon audience than they have from any other audience they’ve shared their work with.

The deadline for submitting ideas to the academic track for WisCon 37 is Friday, February 22nd, with decisions going out to participants by Monday,March 18th. Full instructions for the process can be found here: www.wiscon.info/academic.php.

We’re also going to have a session continuing our
very successful conversations about the role of science fiction in teaching contexts, as well as another session on mentoring and networking for academics in the WisCon community. Academic programming works in parallel with the rest of programming, but
we handle the idea submission process a little differently.

If you have any questions about any part of the academic programming process, please email: academic37@wiscon.info