Call for Papers: Approaches to Sustainable Development in Southeast Asia – Research & Action 

Dates: December 17-19, 2018 

Venue: Southern Institute of Social Sciences, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 

Overview and objectives: The Southern Institute of Social Sciences (SISS) (HCMC), in collaboration with the Asia Center, University of Utah, and generously supported by a Henry Luce Foundation grant to the Mekong Region Development Research Group, is organizing a 2.5 day symposium of scholarly presentation and discussion of leading edge research and action approaches to sustainable development (SD) across communities of Southeast Asia. The goals of the symposium are to create a collaborative community of scholars interested in addressing SD challenges through research and action, and to foster interdisciplinary knowledge and conversations on ways to conceptualize, conduct, and translate research into policy and practice around SD in the region. The symposium organizers will seek venues for publication of symposium proceedings in order to disseminate select symposium papers to a wider audience of researchers, practitioners, and policy makers. 

The first two days of the symposium will consist of two keynotes, 2-4 paper sessions comprised of participants’ original research papers, and guided discussions on SD questions submitted by the symposium organizers and participants. The organizers request that interested researchers, from academic, policy, and NGO sectors, submit for consideration original concept or research papers that address approaches and challenges to achieving sustainable forms of development. Case studies documenting community successes in achieving SD, and which can inform ongoing challenges in Vietnam and elsewhere in the Mekong Region, are particularly welcome, as are papers elaborating transboundary development issues. We also welcome papers that take up the following issues in relationship to sustainable development: gender, demography, migration, health, environment and natural resources, transportation and built environment, ethnicity and indigeneity, and culture. 

The symposium’s primary regional focus will be the Mekong Region countries, however papers that focus upon other regions with parallel development challenges are also welcome. 

On the final day of the symposium, participants are invited to take part in a guided field trip to the XaMat border, TanBien district, TayNinh province. We will visit communities that have participated in SISS’ ongoing research on transboundary SD issues. 

The University of Utah Asia Center, with generous support from the Henry Luce Foundation, will cover the costs of airfare, visa preparation, accommodation and meals for the duration of the symposium. 

Submission guidelines: Please submit a title page (including authors and affiliations), paper abstract (up to 250 words) and CV to Ms. Nguyen Minh Chau (minhchauvkhxh@gmail.com) no later than October 1, 2018