The Development Studies Association conference will include an early career researcher plenary speaker session (within 5 years of finishing PhD). The session aims to showcase emerging talent and showcase their thoughts on how research agendas in specific fields of development theory and practice can be moved forward. We are seeking early career researchers who can speak to how their research relates to, and pushes forward, the conference theme of “Global Inequalities”.

A full concept note for the conference theme is available here. Briefly, focusing on global inequalities challenges the traditional geographies of development, and demands investigation of the power relations that generate wealth and poverty within and between countries and regions. It also emphasises the many dimensions of inequality, including gender, class, climate, race and ethnicity, region, nationality, citizenship status, age, (dis)ability, sexuality, and religion and the ways these reinforce or counteract each other.

We expect to select a maximum of 3-4 speakers who will form one plenary panel.
The application should be sent to conference(at)devstud.org.uk, and should include a:

• 250 word abstract of the proposed talk
• Short CV (4 pages max.)
• Copy of PhD certificate (showing PhD completion date any time from January 2013 onwards)

Applications should be submitted to conference(at)devstud.org.uk with the subject line “Early career researcher plenary speaker application” by Friday 23rd February 2018.
We especially welcome applications from early career researchers from and based at institutions in the global South.

The selection will be made by the conference organising committee. The conference registration, travel and accommodation costs for selected speakers will be covered by sponsorship from Journal of Development Studies.

All applicants are encouraged and welcome to submit an abstract for, and participate in, a regular paper session during the conference as well (deadline 5th March 2018). We expect to notify the selected plenary speakers before the call for papers closes on 5th March 2018).