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PSA Undergraduate Conference 2022
BREAKTHROUGH POLITICS
Taking place on Friday 8 April 2022 (online), this conference offers an engaging programme of student-led panels, workshops, and a keynote speech designed from the ground up to be focused on undergraduate researchers, like you.
The conference provides undergraduates with a welcoming and supportive platform to showcase their research: such as work completed as part of a unit assignment, whilst on placement, or from your dissertation. Conferences are also incredibly useful spaces to network with peers outside of your university - and conference participation makes an excellent addition to CVs for the future!
We will also be presenting awards for the three best presentations at the conference, decided by a panel of conference convenors and PSA representatives.
You don't have to be presenting a paper to take part though!
PLEASE NOTE: if you are presenting at the conference, we will register you and send you a link prior to the event. If you aren't presenting, but would like to attend, please email: ugenquiries@psa.ac.uk
KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Kim Leadbeater has been Labour MP for Batley and Spen since 1st July 2021. Before her election to parliament she was Ambassador for the Jo Cox Foundation, which was set up to continue the legacy of her sister, the former MP, who was murdered in the constituency in June 2016. Kim also chaired the ‘More In Common Batley and Spen’ volunteer group. In 2021 she was awarded an MBE for her services to social cohesion and combatting loneliness. She was born and brought up in Batley and Spen and went to Heckmondwike Grammar School. Kim graduated with a First Class degree in Health-Related Exercise and Fitness from Leeds Metropolitan University and went on to be a lecturer in Higher Education at Kirklees College and Bradford College. She later set up her own business as a personal trainer, wellbeing coach and group exercise instructor.
CONFERENCE THEME:
Running alongside the PSA 2022 Annual Conference, the PSA’s UG Conference is focused on BREAKTHROUGH POLITICS. The Conference invites reflection on the nature of new political forces, how they breakthrough into the mainstream, and the resultant shifts within the dynamics of power.
In recent years, there have been radical challenges to norms as unheard voices are now at the forefront of the political debate, both at national and global levels. National campaigns about sexual violence, Black Lives Matter, and environmentalism have made their way into the public’s consciousness. While at the global level, voices from the so-called Global South and BRICs have become ever more present. These debates can be located within every part of western society, even via app stores - where social platforms, traditionally the purview of Silicon Valley, are now being challenged by platforms from the East, such as with TikTok.
While the conference theme is on Breakthrough Politics, we appreciate that not every student will have research within this subject area. As a result, papers from outside the main conference theme are also welcomed.
Alongside this, we will also be focusing on community amongst current undergraduates within the politics discipline. To recognise the difficulties faced by university societies over lockdown, we will be hosting workshops on community building though university societies, and how the PSA can help, as well as networking sessions throughout the day - making the conference an excellent opportunity to connect with students outside your own institution.
CONFERENCE FEES:
FREE presentation opportunity and/or attendance to PSA Student members - participation by students at non-UK institutions is encouraged.
Cost for non-members is £20.
PSA Student membership costs just £10 for a full twelve months, which also gives you access to member benefits including our wide range of free academic journals and multiple networking opportunities.
- To join the PSA, please sign up here.
- Your membership needs to be active to register for the conference.
You don’t need to present to come and join in the conference as attendance is open to all undergraduates. This enables you to join in with the Q&As, networking and workshop opportunities regardless.
CONFERENCE TIMELINE:
- Monday 17 January: UG Conference opens with call for papers
- Friday 25 February: Deadline for proposals
- Friday 4 March: successful proposal outcomes announced
- 8 April: Conference! the full programme will be published soon
WHAT DOES CONFERENCE LOOK LIKE?
The format of the conference, taking place via Zoom, will be a day of thematic panels. Typically, these will be made up of 3 to 4 presentations of roughly 10-15 minutes in length each.
The panels will be followed up by a Q&A session and general discussion. There will be no need to submit a paper alongside your presentation, but you are free to do so if you wish. There will also be workshops and networking sessions which will be more discussion orientated.
All events will be hosted and presented live on the day.
GETTING IN TOUCH:
The academic convenors for the conference are Dr Liam McLoughlin (University of Manchester & PSA Trustee) and Dr Jeremy Moulton (University of York). The convenors are also supported by the PSA office.
For any general enquiries about the conference, please send an email - with ‘UG Conference’ in the subject line to: ugenquiries@psa.ac.uk
For PSA membership enquiries, please email: membership@psa.ac.uk
GDPR
When registering for this conference you are accepting the PSA’s Privacy Policy and accepting that your data will be used for the purpose of contacting you about this event. Photography and filming may take place during the conference. Please contact the PSA to make us aware of any issues regarding filming or photography via info@psa.ac.uk