The Institute for Advanced Study in the Global South at Northwestern University in Qatar (#IAS_NUQ) is poised to spotlight multidisciplinary approaches to mediated communication at the International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) 2024 conference in Christchurch, New Zealand, from June 30 to July 4.
The conference, hosted by a consortium of seven New Zealand universities, will gather more than 2,800 scholars from 100 countries under the theme of Weaving People Together: Communicative Projects of Decolonizing, Engaging, and Listening. Among the presenters are #IAS_NUQ researchers, postdoctoral scholars, and, notably, global undergraduate fellows, who will showcase their research on diverse themes representing a range of disciplines and geographies.
#IAS_NUQ postdoctoral scholar Harsha Man Maharjan's presentation "Digital Capitalism in the Global South: The Political Economy of the National Identification System in Nepal" will examine the nexus of infrastructure, foreign aid, and digital capitalism, while Mariam Karim, also an #IAS_NUQ postdoctoral scholar, will address Arab women’s artistic and literature production, French military photography, and colonial legacies in her paper, "Towards 'Controlling Our Own Images': Visual Culture, Translation, and Arab Women." In addition, Clovis Bergère, assistant director for research at #IAS_NUQ, will present "The Trials of the Gangs: Remaking Youth on Television in the 1990s," examining the televised portrayal of youths and its relationship to societal shifts in Guinea.
Two student researchers, Sudesh Baniya and Sylvie Dushime, are among the delegation. Baniya will explore post-colonial cultural interactions in his presentation "After the Hippies Were Gone: The Remnants of Countercultural Interactions in Nepal," while Sylvie Dushime will highlight the role of radio in preserving cultural narratives in Rwanda with her study "Ikinamico: Cultural Continuity Through a Mediated Anthological Radio Drama." Their participation underscores the Institute's commitment to undergraduate research and its support for emerging scholars from the Global South.
The #IAS_NUQ booth will feature publications from #IAS_NUQ_Press, providing attendees with the opportunity to engage with the Institute's mission and explore the array of programs available for scholars.
"IAMCR is a major international association in the field of media and communication, and this year’s conference’s focus on Indigenous knowledge and the value of communicative practices in our current world resonates with #IAS_NUQ’s research mandate,” said Marwan M. Kraidy, dean and CEO of Northwestern Qatar. "At this year’s iteration, our scholars, including two global undergraduate fellows, will present research on Algeria, Guinea, Nepal, and Rwanda. This new generation of evidence-based storytellers will demonstrate the very best of emerging research on and from the Global South.”
IAMCR aims to support and develop media and communication research worldwide, focusing on emerging scholars, women, and those from economically disadvantaged regions. Its members defend the freedom of academic thought and expression, advance the public presence of media and communication research, and contribute to local, national, and global policy agendas as well as media education and practice.
For the full conference schedule and program, including the speaker lineup, click here.
“IAMCR is a major international association in the field of media and communication, and this year’s conference’s focus on Indigenous knowledge and the value of communicative practices in our current world resonates with #IAS_NUQ’s research mandate. At this year’s iteration, our scholars, including two global undergraduate fellows, will present research on Algeria, Guinea, Nepal, and Rwanda. This new generation of evidence-based storytellers will demonstrate the very best of emerging research on and from the Global South.”
