The 49th Annual Byzantine Studies Conference in Vancouver, BC in 2023

Local Arrangements Committee

• Dimitris Krallis, Simon Fraser University (Department of Humanities and SNF Centre for Hellenic Studies)
• Lauren Gilbert, Simon Fraser University (Department of Global Humanities)

Call For Papers

To view or download this information as a PDF, click here for the 2023 CFP link.

The Forty-Ninth Annual Byzantine Studies Conference DEADLINE: April 14, 2023

The BSC is the annual forum for the presentation and discussion of papers on all aspects of Byzantine Studies and on topics related to the field. Conference attendance is open to all, regardless of nationality or academic status. All conference attendees are encouraged to attend the annual Byzantine Studies Association of North America (BSANA) Membership Meeting on Saturday, October 28.

To deliver your paper at the BSC, you must be a member of BSANA in good standing, enrolled in a graduate program at the time of submission, or hold a graduate degree. We encourage undergraduate attendance, but do not accept submissions from undergraduates. To join or renew your membership in BSANA, pay your dues according to your current status at: https://bsana.net/members/.

The Program Committee invites proposals for papers and thematic panels on all topics and in all disciplines related to Byzantine Studies, broadly construed. Paper proposals for the 2023 BSC may be submitted in the form of individual papers or as part of organized panels. Instructions for both are included below. Abstracts should be written to be accessible to a broad audience of readers on the Program Committee. All proposed papers must be substantially original and never have been published previously. Each contributor may deliver only one paper.

BSC BLIND REVIEW PROCESS

All members of the 2023 Program Committee will review each abstract:

• Brad Hostetler, Chair, Assistant Professor, Kenyon College (Art History)
• Nathanael Aschenbrenner, Lecturer, UC San Diego (History)
• Amy Gillette, Collections Research Associate, The Barnes Foundation (Art History and Museum Studies)
• Hallie Meredith, Assistant Professor, Washington State University (Archaeology)
• Luis Sales, Assistant Professor, Scripps College (Religion)
• Vessela Valiavitcharska, Associate Professor, University of Maryland, College Park (Literature)

The review process is anonymous; all personal information is removed by the BSANA Vice President before the abstracts are read and reviewed. The committee has no knowledge of a speaker’s overall record to date, or past work on the specific topic treated in the abstract. Thus, critical for success in the review process is a strong abstract, covering all of the four criteria:

1. a clear and informative introduction to the topic;
2. major points of the argument, and an overview of the evidence supporting the argument;
3. a convincing statement on the significance and originality of the contribution; and
4. proposed conclusions.

To ensure anonymity it is important to not contact any member of the Program Committee during the submission and evaluation process. Direct all your questions to BSANA Vice President, Christina Christoforatou (bsana.vp@gmail.com).

The deadline for submissions is April 14, 2023.

Notice of the Program Committee’s final decision on each abstract will be made by May 22, 2023 via email by the Program Committee Chair, Brad Hostetler (hostetler1@kenyon.edu). Final submission of the accepted abstract for publication in the conference Abstracts constitutes agreement to present the paper in person at the conference.

ABSTRACT FORMAT INSTRUCTIONS

Abstracts must adhere to the following formatting instructions in order to be considered for inclusion at the conference.

• File format: PDF
• Document size: Letter, 8 1⁄2 × 11 inches
• Margins: 1-inch margins on all sides
• Length: 500 words maximum
• Font: Times New Roman, size 12
• Spacing: Single-spaced
• Title: Center the title on top of the page and bold it. Title case only. Do not capitalize the full title.
• Skip 2 lines and enter your abstract (single spaced).
• Separate paragraphs by one line.
• Do not indent the beginning of paragraphs.
• There should be only one space after a period.
• Do not include your name or any other information beyond what is required.

TYPES TYPES OF PARTICIPATION

Participants may present a single paper in a regular session or a paper in an organized panel. To submit a single paper in a regular session, format your abstract according to therequirements listed above, and select “Single paper in a regular session” from the drop-down menu in the EasyChair menu.

To submit proposals for organized panels, each paper author in the proposed organized panel submits an individual abstract, prepared in the manner described above. Each PDF abstract submission in an organized session is to exclude all participant names, including all speakers and organizers. Each abstract is reviewed on its own merit. To indicate membership in a proposed panel, each author selects “Paper in an organized panel” from the drop-down menu in the EasyChair menu, and then provides the panel title, and the name and email of the panel organizer(s). This is followed by the panel’s summary (no longer than 300 words), which should include an overview of the topic, the panel’s format, and the reasons for covering this topic as a prearranged session.

All participants in the panel (the organizer as well as the speakers) will be notified of the proposal’s receipt by BSANA Vice President, Christina Christoforatou. You may direct your questions to her at bsana.vp@gmail.com.

Notice of the Program Committee’s final decision on each abstract will be made via email by the Program Committee Chair, Brad Hostetler. If the organized panel is accepted in part or whole, then the organizer(s) may also propose a session chair. This information will be gathered after the initial review process. Note that the session chair cannot also be a speaker in the panel.

In the event that most, but not all, of the papers in a panel are accepted, the Program Chair will alert the organizer(s) and will make every effort to keep the remaining accepted papers together. If the majority of the proposed papers in a panel are rejected, then any accepted abstracts will be placed elsewhere in the conference program (unless otherwise indicated by the authors).

CONFERENCE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Dumbarton Oaks Sponsored Early Career Scholar: There are two awards for early career scholars who have earned their PhD within the last eight years and who do not hold a permanent or tenure-track appointment. If you are an early career scholar, and would like to have your abstract considered for this special funding, select “Dumbarton Oaks Sponsored Early Career Scholar” from the drop-down menu in EasyChair. Your abstract will be reviewed by the Program Committee; if accepted, it will be forwarded to the BSANA-DO liaison committee. They will review the accepted abstracts, and will announce the awards ahead of the conference. Two presenters will be selected to receive $1500 each. All papers accepted by the Program Committee, but not awarded this funding, will still be part of the conference. For more information, visit https://bsana.net/do-travel-stipends/.

Dumbarton Oaks Sponsored Graduate Student Session: Graduate students — those who are enrolled in a graduate program at the time of submission — can apply to participate in a special session hosted by the BSANA Graduate Student Committee (GSC). If you are a graduate student, and would like to have your abstract considered for this special session, select “Dumbarton Oaks Sponsored Graduate Student Session” in EasyChair. Your abstract will be reviewed by the Program Committee; if accepted, it will be forwarded to the GSC. They will review the abstracts, and will announce the selected presenters ahead of the conference. Up to four participants will be selected, and each will receive a stipend of $1000. All papers accepted by the Program Committee, but not chosen for this special session, will still be part of the conference. For more information, visit https://bsana.net/do-travel-stipends/.

BSANA DEI Awards: BSANA’s new prize of $500 is awarded to two papers that best interact with issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion, construed broadly within the field of Byzantine Studies. Potential topics could include papers related to issues of gender, race, minority groups, non-elites, ethnicity, religion, medicine/disability/disease and other topics, that intend to illuminate and integrate marginalized, stigmatized, or separated communities/actors/ideas within the larger narrative of Byzantine Studies. Submitters must self-identify in EasyChair, selecting “BSANA DEI Award” to indicate that they wish to be considered for this award. Applicants can apply for multiple prizes that BSANA has to offer, in addition to any remuneration schedules that the applicant sees fit. Members of the DEI Committee will be responsible for attending panels where applicants are presenting and will meet after the conference to decide up to two winners. For more information, visit https://bsana.net/dei-award/.

BSANA Graduate Student & Early Career Contingent Scholar Travel Reimbursement: BSANA welcomes and encourages graduate students and early career contingent scholars (those who have earned their PhD within the last eight years and who do not hold a permanent or tenure-track appointment) in Byzantine Studies and related fields to attend and participate in the annual conference. Partial reimbursement for travel and lodging is available for eligible applicants who are presenting papers. To qualify, applicants must be members of BSANA, not reside in the area of the conference, and must present a paper in person. This award can be combined and held with any other awards detailed on this CFP. Application for reimbursement is due December 31, 2023. For more information, visit https://bsana.net/bsc-travel-reimbursement/.

BSANA Byzantinists of Color Conference Grant: The Byzantinists of Color Fund supports eligible graduate students and early career contingent scholars (those who have earned their PhD within the last eight years and who do not hold a permanent or tenure-track appointment) to attend the BSC. These grants are open to eligible members who will attend the conference as well as to those who are giving papers. The Byzantinists of Color grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, and will include $1,000 to cover flights and lodging, as well as a waiver for registration and all conference fees. Grant recipients are required to attend the all-conference lunch on Saturday. Grant recipients who are presenting papers at the conference may also apply for the BSANA Graduate Student & Early Career Contingent Scholar Travel Reimbursement. To apply, eligible graduate students and early career contingent scholars who are members interested in attending the conference in person and who do not live in the area of the conference should email the BSANA Vice President (bsana.vp@gmail.com) by October 1. For more information, visit https://bsana.net/byzantinists-of-color-conference-grant/.

BSANA Graduate Student Prizes: Three graduate student papers are chosen by the Program Committee after the conference to each receive an award of $300 and a recently published book. Previous recipients of awards are ineligible to compete again. BSANA graduate student prizes are open to all students enrolled in a graduate program at the time of abstract submission. For more information, visit https://bsana.net/bsc-graduate-student-prizes/.

ONLINE SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

BSANA uses an online submission method: EasyChair, a conference management software system. If you encounter difficulties, contact Christina Christoforatou at bsana.vp@gmail.com.

1. If you do not already have an EasyChair account, create your free user account here: https://easychair.org/account/signup (Step by step instructions: https://easychair.org/help/account_creation)
2. Follow this link to the BSC2023 submission page: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=bsc2023. If you are not already logged into your account, log in when prompted and re-enter the link.
3. Click on “New Submission” as Author.
4. Follow the Instructions, which you can see in the screenshots in the PDF version of this CFP.