Over 8,000 delegates from across the country are coming together this week in Ottawa for North America’s largest annual interdisciplinary academic conference.
Carleton University is hosting the 78th Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences from Saturday through May 31. Organized by the Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, Congress 2009 brings together over 70 scholarly associations to celebrate intellectual life in Canada.
“(Carleton) is a perfect location for congress, not only because it’s such a beautiful, well laid-out campus, but because the city is such a wonderful place for our delegates to be in,” said director of programs Alison Faulknor.
The congress is an opportunity for researchers, scholars and students from diverse studies such as ethics, political sciences, communications, literature, geography, theatre and religion to discuss, debate and share research methods, said Faulknor.
According to Faulknor, the event is an important opportunity for young researchers in particular.
“Thirty per cent of those attending the congress will actually be young researchers,” said Faulknor.
“The event is really attractive for them, because it’s a way for them to network and foster important relationships with world-class researchers.”
Over 4,000 meetings, lectures, workshops, panels and presentations are taking place throughout the nine days of the congress. Scheduled discussions and debates highlight issues of major cultural and social importance, such as international development, violence, immigration and youth issues.
