Call for Abstracts

Everyone who submits an abstract for the academic component of the conference will be asked to consider the impacts of animal agriculture and the climate crisis on animals.  That said, and first and foremost, please understand that the conference is a transdisciplinary animal studies event.  So, if your paper does not in any way consider animal agriculture and the climate crisis, your abstract will not be excluded and will indeed be considered for inclusion in the programme.

We believe that the greatest threats posed to the planet, to all planetary life, human or nonhuman animal, plant or otherwise, including the current pandemic, is the intersection of animal agriculture and the climate crisis.  Hence, the urgency and criticality of climate as the key theme.

Besides the overarching theme and how that is impacting individuals and habitats, all life on our fragile planet, we have also proposed the following and linked sub-themes for your consideration and to help you focus your abstract submission and conference debate:

• Compassionate conservation, restoration ecology and rewilding
• The biodiversity crisis and climate change
• The animal industrial complex
• Animals, the circular economy and sustainable food systems
• Animals in development and food sovereignty
• First Nations and decolonisation
• Educating with and for Animals
• Animals, the law and public policy
• Multi-species justice
• Personhood, animal philosophy and bioethics

We also encourage papers that consider animals in art, biodiversity conservation, gender studies, literature, religion, film, the media, medicine, politics, science, veterinary science, the zoological sciences…..and, as for all previous Minding Animals Conferences, the list goes on…..

Thinking About Presenting at the Conference?

Importantly, and unlike previous conferences, there will be delegates from a broader cross-section of society.  There will be delegates from government, politics, corporations and industry that will have quite divergent views on how nonhuman animals are perceived/utilised/treated/exploited.  In considering nonhuman animals, to not just talk to the ‘converted’, and to reach tangible outcomes for the future, we believe this is a necessary conference objective.  Thus, this conference will seek to encourage dialogue and impart change from a broad cross-section of society.

Minding Animals Conferences are NOT animal rights conferences, abolitionist conferences, or wildlife conservation or zoology conferences, or animal welfare conferences, or anthrozoology conferences, environmental conferences, or veterinary conferences, they are ALL that!

And like all previous conferences, we stress to all delegates who attend MAC5 that they participate in a spirit of honesty and cooperation, accepting that other delegates may have very divergent opinions on how animals are perceived/utilised/treated/exploited, but always with the overall objective of protecting animals, no matter in what form or time frame, with the objective to reach better outcomes for nonhuman animals.  Nonetheless, we urge active and critical debate with your fellow delegates.

SELECTION COMMITTEE

Due to the large number of submissions received each year, a review committee will carefully consider submissions of abstracts and posters. Where possible the committee will place your presentation into a session, however it may not be possible to accommodate every submission. The review committee also reserves the right to suggest amendments to improve the suitability of presentations prior to acceptance.

 PUBLICATION

All accepted presentations will be published in the MAC5 Proceedings.

 TERMS & CONDITIONS

All submitting authors will be asked to confirm the following statements:

1. I confirm that each co-author, if any, has been informed of this submission and has agreed to all the information provided by me.
2. I consent to publication of all or part of the abstract in materials relating to the Conference, including but not limited to the program, advertising, social media and email promotions.
3. I confirm that this abstract is original work and as the principal author, I am responsible for the accuracy of the abstract.
4. I understand that the invitation to submit an abstract does not constitute an offer by Minding Animals International, the Centre for Compassionate Conservation or the conference sponsors to pay travel, accommodation or registration costs associated with the event.
5. I understand that no fee will be paid for a presentation. If my abstract is accepted, I agree to register for the Conference by no later than 17 May 2024 and will pay the requisite registration fee. I understand that failure to register by the due date may result in my presentation being withdrawn from the program.