“Teaching and Researching Big History:
Exploring a New Scholarly Field”

An International Big History Association (IBHA) Inaugural Conference Event

August 2 - 5, 2012

Deadline for Paper/ Panel Submissions is March 1, 2012

“The International Big History Association (IBHA) exists to promote the unified and interdisciplinary study of Big History and the teaching of the history of Cosmos, Earth, Life, and Humanity. It seeks not only to discover and create new knowledge, but to shape a future in which humanity understands its common origins and its common destiny. To further this objective, not only must scholarship be expanded, but the entire public must be better educated.”

In addition to promoting the IBHA initiative, the IBHA Conference also seeks to initiate and generate dialog among scholars through a series of panels, roundtables, and discussions. The proposed outcome of the IBHA Conference is to stimulate interest in, and thinking about, Big History, and create a deeper understanding of its common origins. Also, very importantly, discussions on the expansion of scholarship in the pedagogy of Big History will be a primary focus.

Among the topics that may be addressed at the conference are:
• Graduate Work in Big History
• Research Agendas in Big History
• The History of Big History
• Little Big Histories
• Teaching Big History (all levels and formats, including E-learning)
• The Politics and Future of Big History

Along with regular panels and roundtables, presentations might consist of:

• Question and answer sessions – where historians will be able to answer questions and discuss research questions that are worth pursuing

• Brainstorming sessions – with very short, provocative papers

• General discussion panels – where different points of view about Big History can be addressed in 5 minute increments, specifically addressing the different cultural perceptions of Big History

• Workshops – where participants will view short film fragments and other art forms chosen by Big Historians, and presentations on Big History from the artistic point of view from artists, musicians, and storytellers

• Conference roundup – with a keynote address that summarizes the most important things that have happened and what is learned from the conference

This is just a proposed submission guideline for planning purposes only. We encourage proposals on any topic related to Big History. A select group of papers will be included in a compilation of Big History Research that will be published after the 2012 Conference.

The time limit for presenting papers will be 20 minutes, and the deadline for submitting papers to the session moderator is three weeks in advance of the conference. Individual paper proposals must include a 100-200 word summary with the title of the paper, name, institutional affiliation, e-mail address, phone and fax numbers, and brief curriculum vitae, all integrated into a single file, preferably in MS-Word. Proposals for entire sessions or panels must contain the same information for each participant, as well as contact information and a brief C.V. for the moderator if you suggest one. (The program committee can help find moderators, if necessary.)

Please submit your paper or panel proposal through IBHA website at: www.ibhanet.org. The conference link allows for submission information. The deadline for paper and panel submissions is March 1, 2012.

The IBHA Conference will convene at the Frederick Meijer Honors College at the Grand Valley State University campus in Allendale, Michigan. Attendees will have the option of selecting from one of several hotels in Grand Rapids (20 minutes from the GVSU Allendale campus) or staying in on-campus accommodation.

Grand Rapids is a destination like no other: art, culture, dining, with world-class cultural museums and botanical gardens. The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, brand new Grand Rapids Art Museum and Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park are but a few of the many places to explore, while UICA is full of unique and thought-provoking contemporary art. Experience Grand Rapids at www.experiencegr.com.

Details on the conference will be posted soon. We hope you can join us for this fantastic inaugural membership conference event!

Program Committee: David Christian, Cynthia Brown, Craig Benjamin, and Fred Spier

The views and opinions which may be expressed at the IBHA Conference are not necessarily those of the IBHA Board.