C2C: What to expect at GEA Conference 2019

This post is part of the Countdown to Conference (C2C) series. We would love to feature a brief blog post from you too! Visit our main Countdown to Conference page for details!

C2C: What to expect at GEA Conference 2019
Dr Jessica Gagnon, GEA Conference 2019 co-chair

Happy International Women’s Day 2019! #IWD2019
As we countdown to the next exciting Gender and Education Association International conference, we wanted to share what we have planned here at the University of Portsmouth.

The Conference programme is coming together
We received a record number of abstract submissions this year and we are so pleased with the programme of keynotes, presentations, symposia, workshops, and social events. Presenters will be informed of peer review decisions today and tomorrow and the full programme will be published online on 29th April.

Through the conference theme, About face: Identities, In/visibilities, Inequalities, and Intersections in education, we look forward to exploring identities, in/visibilities, inequalities, and intersections in education through a gendered lens. Engaging with and expanding upon contemporary debates about educational inequalities (at both national and global levels), the wide and varied presentations this year will discuss, challenge, and address how structural forms of oppression – such as (hetero)sexism, racism, classism, and ableism – operate within and shape educational environments and institutions. Over the course of the conference, one of the primary aims is to move beyond discussion towards a collectively-created call to action to address systemic inequalities in education at local, national, and international levels.

Keynote Speakers (alphabetical order by surname):

Professor Deevia Bhana, University of KwaZulu-NatalRecent book: (2018) Love, sex and teenage sexual cultures in South Africa: 16 turning 17Profile: https://soe.ukzn.ac.za/staff-profile/sarchi-chair/deevia-bhana/

Professor Kalwant Bhopal, University of Birmingham
Recent book: (2018) White privilege: The myth of a post-racial society
Profile: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/staff/profiles/education/bhopal-kalwant.aspx

Dr Sindy L Joyce, University of Limerick
Article in which she is featured: https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/living-with-everyday-racism-woman-becomes-first-traveller-to-graduate-with-a-phd-37717472.html
Videos: https://youtu.be/jAf1fJarY2I and https://youtu.be/SeRvRLWE9N8

Professor Heidi Mirza, Goldsmiths, University of London
Recent book: (2018) Dismantling Race in Higher Education: Racism, Whiteness and Decolonising the Academy
Profile: https://www.gold.ac.uk/sociology/staff/mirza-heidi/
Video: https://youtu.be/ww8_fqybkhE

Lisa Smith, Youth Programme Leader for Travellers’ Times, Vice-Chair for Advisory Council for the Education of Romany and other Travellers
Profile: https://www.travellerstimes.org.uk/team/lisa-smith
Article in which she is featured: https://www.travellerstimes.org.uk/features/lisa-smith-talks-about-traveller-education-crisis-traveller-movement-conference

Professor Shirley-Anne Tate, Leeds Beckett University
Recent book: (2018) Building The Anti-racist University
Profile: http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/staff/professor-shirley-tate/

Social Events
In addition to hearing stellar keynotes and sharing research, activist, creative, pedagogical practices and ideas throughout conference, there will be great opportunities to share a dance and laugh. The social events for the conference include:

  • Monday 24th June: After the pre-conference sessions for students, early career researchers, and teachers, join us for a Feminist Pub Quiz with prizes for winning teams. Teams can form in advance or participants can be placed in random teams to get to know new people.
  • Tuesday 25th June: Kick off the first official night of conference with a Feminist Dance Party featuring DJ Rebel Girl. Brighton, UK-based feminist Vicki Cook is DJ Rebel Girl. She is the creator and organiser of Brighton’s FemRock, Queer Prom, and Grrrls to the Front. She is a resident DJ at The Green Door Store and DJs regularly at the Marlborough Pub & Theatre.
  • Wednesday 26th June: Weather permitting, we’ll be in the sunshine for a Wine Reception and BBQ, including giant outdoor versions of your favourite games like Jenga.

Join GEA or Renew your GEA Membership
All presenters and attendees of the GEA conference must be GEA members. Please become a member or renew your membership before you register for the conference: http://www.genderandeducation.com/join/
GEA membership rates: £30 for standard membership; £15 for reduced/student membership (proof of eligibility required). Please note that it may take up to three business days for your GEA membership or renewal to be processed as GEA only has part time administrative support.

Register for the Conference
Registration opens online next week on 15th March.

Apply for a Bursary
Ten registration bursaries are available. GEA will also be granting two partial travel bursaries to support travel costs. To be considered for a bursary, please complete this online form by 1st April: http://bit.ly/GEAbursary Bursary decisions will be shared by 12th April.

About the University of Portsmouth
The University of Portsmouth’s commitment to equality and diversity is aligned with the Gender and Education Association’s own commitments to challenging and eradicating sexism and gender inequality within and through education. The University is proud to have achieved an Athena SWAN Bronze Award, recognising our commitment to gender equality and the University is currently pursuing the Race Equality Charter. There is a strong gender studies and feminist research culture across the university. Highlights include the excellent research work of the academics within the Women’s and Gender Studies research cluster and the Global Education, Childhoods and Outreach research cluster.

About the city of Portsmouth
Excerpts from the website https://www.visitportsmouth.co.uk/: Portsmouth is a dynamic and vibrant waterfront city packed with great reasons to visit. Ideally situated on the south coast of England, the UK’s only island city is ideal for a short break by the sea. There are lots of things to do in Portsmouth, with magnificent museums, live music venues, contemporary art galleries, two cathedrals, a diverse literary heritage, nightlife, festivals and countless events throughout the year. There’s also Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, the UK’s premier destination for Naval History. Inside you’ll find 11 attractions including Lord Nelson’s flagship HMS Victory, HMS Warrior 1860, the Mary Rose, and the National Museum of the Royal Navy. You can also get out onto the water on the Harbour Tour excursions, or take the waterbus to Gosport to see the Royal Navy Submarine Museum and Explosion Museum. More information about the city’s  Accommodation, Hotels, Bed & Breakfasts, Self Catering, Restaurants, Pubs, Parking & Maps.

Important Dates:

  • 15th March: Registration opens
  • 1st April: Deadline to apply for a bursary
  • 12th April: Bursary decisions shared
  • 23rd April: Deadline for presenters to register for the conference
  • 29th April: Full programme published online
  • 12th May: Early bird deadline (for non-presenters)
  • 7th June: Registration closes
  • 24th June: Pre-Conference Day (free sessions for students, early career researchers, and teachers, spaces limited)
  • Tuesday 25th-Thursday 27th June: GEA Conference 2019

See highlights from previous GEA Conferences

Check out tweets from GEA Conference 2018 at the University of Newcastle, Australia #GEAConf2018 Wakelet

Read two excellent blog posts: one by Dr Kara Kennedy blog post and one by Dr Charlotte Morris blog post, both covering highlights from GEA Conference 2018 at the University of Newcastle Australia

Check out the tweets from GEA Conference 2017 at the University of Middlesex in this #GEAConf2017 Wakelet curated by Kate Marston, GEA Social Media intern and watch video highlights from the 2017 conference

If you are attending conference, let us know on Twitter using the hashtag: #GEAconf2019