14th Annual Open Books – Open Minds Student Conference Call for Papers and Projects
The Open Books – Open Minds 14th Annual Student Conference will focus on this year’s common book, Ryka Aoki's LIGHT FROM UNCOMMON STARS, and will be held on April 16, 2025. We hope that you'll join us!
Call for Papers and Creative Projects
Rhode Island College’s Open Books – Open Minds Program is calling for paper, panel, roundtable, or other creative proposals to be presented at our 14th Annual Student Conference.
How and When to Submit Proposals
Instructors and Students: To submit a proposal for a paper, panel, or roundtable discussion, email OBOM with "OBOM PROPOSAL" in the subject line.
The deadline for submissions is April 1, 2025.
Instructor Contributions
Instructors are encouraged to submit collaborative proposals for student panels or innovative formats.
What to Include
- name of the faculty facilitator
- title of the panel
- names of the student presenters
- type of presentation: panel or creative format
- brief description of the proposed presentation (200-250 words)
- title of the course in which students have researched this topic
Student Contributions
Undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to submit proposals. We invite students to share their writing, research, and creative projects on any topic related to this year’s common book. We welcome submissions from any academic discipline as well as interdisciplinary approaches. Submissions may include, but are not restricted to:
- visual art
- musical performances
- skits or dramatic performances
- poetry readings
- creative pieces
- academic writing
What to Include
Student submissions should include:
- name of the presenter(s)
- title of your paper or project
- type of presentation: paper or other creative format
- brief description that concisely identifies your topic and approach (200-250 words)
- faculty sponsor (or the name of the professor and the course in which you did the research)
Undergraduate papers will be allotted 10-12 minutes each (time for approximately 1000-1250 words or four-five pages, double-spaced); graduate student papers will be allotted 15 minutes. We will accept proposals for already-formed panels (one hour per session) or for individual papers, which we will group by topic. We’re also open to other possibilities: poster sessions, larger roundtables with more students on a single panel, and so on. Pitch us what you think would work for you!
Possible Topics
- Child Abuse
- Racism
- Transphobia
- Queer Community
- Identity
- Self-Acceptance
- Rape
- Music
- East Asian Communities
- Food
- Los Angeles
- Redemption and Damnation
- Aliens
- Artificial Intelligence
- Karma
- Love
- The Banality of Evil
- Talent
- Immigration
- Parenting
- Erasure of Women from History
