CFP: International Multispecies Methods Research Symposium (online, May 2023)

08 Nov CFP: International Multispecies Methods Research Symposium (online, May 2023)

International Multispecies Methods Research Symposium: Intuitive Interspecies Communication (2023) invites submissions for papers, presentations, posters and artistic works.

Hosted online at University of Saskatchewan, May 8-12, 2023.

The 4-day transdisciplinary symposium is for researchers, animal communicators and animal care providers who are, or may be, interested in conducting research on Intuitive Interspecies Communication (IIC): the exchange of information between humans and other animals without the need for cues normally associated with communication (e.g. sound, sight, smell, etc.).

Abstract submissions due by January 20, 2023.

You do not have to submit an abstract to attend.

Aims:
• Scholarly exploration and deeper understanding of intuitive interspecies communication (IIC);
• Catalyze novel partnerships and grow an international network of IIC research;
• Develop new research questions, directions, teams, discussion groups across diverse areas of inquiry and disciplines.

Background:
The precarity of this time demands a radical shift in human activity and reorientation toward the bio-systems that sustain us. Many individuals from all walks of life are recognizing that they can communicate with the natural world and are using these skills to reorient relations and solve practical problems. Innovative methods to directly engage animal voice and agency are called for, being developed, and remembered (Barrett et al., 2021; Buller, 2015; Erickson et al, 2016; McInnis et al., 2019; Sepie, 2017; Wijngaarden, accepted). We refer to this interspecies engagement as intuitive interspecies communication (IIC): the exchange of information between humans and other animals without the need for cues normally associated with communication (e.g. sound, sight, smell, etc.).
As we continue to learn and develop this field of study focusing on IIC, a diversity of perspectives are critical. Whether you are a researcher, IIC practitioner (e.g. animal communicator), or animal care provider, we invite you to consider making a submission and contribute to this growing transdisciplinary field of study. This year we particularly welcome submissions that build understanding of the processes of doing or studying IIC as well as those which provide insight into tricky places in the IIC field: areas that require further reflection, and investigation.

For full details, see the Symposium Website: https://researchers.usask.ca/mj-barrett/multispecies-research-symposium-iic.php

To recognize the deep traditions of interspecies communication among Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous professionals, Elders, knowledge keepers and community members are welcome to attend at no cost, but you must register. Please contact the conference organizers at: Multispecies.symposium@usask.ca

References:
Barrett, M. J., Hinz, V., Wijngaarden, V., & Lovrod, M. (2021). Speaking with other animals through intuitive interspecies communication: Towards cognitive and interspecies justice. In A. Hovorka, S. McCubbin, & L. VanPatter (Eds.), A research agenda for animal geographies (pp. 149–166). UK: Edward Elgar Publishing.
Buller, H. (2015). Animal geographies II: Methods. Progress in Human Geography, 39(3), 374–384. https://doi.org/10.1177/0309132514527401
Erickson, D. L., Ph, D., Fisher, D., Woelk, B., Buckner, W., Ed, D., & Ashley, C. (2016). A mixed methods study of telepathic interspecies communication with therapeutic riding horses and their recovering wounded veteran partners. NeuroQuantology, 14(2), 404-427. https://doi.org/10.14704/nq.2016.14.2.953
McGinnis, A., Kincaid, A., Barrett, M. J., Ham, C., & Community Elders Research Advisory Group (2019). Strengthening Animal-Human Relationships as a Doorway to Indigenous Holistic Wellness. Ecopsychology, 11(3), 162–173.
Sepie, A. (2017). More than Stories, More than Myths: Animal/Human/Nature(s) in Traditional Ecological Worldviews. Humanities, 6(4), 78. https://doi.org/10.3390/h6040078
Wijngaarden, V. (accepted, 2022). Interviewing animals through animal communicators: Potentials of intuitive interspecies communication for multispecies methods. Society and Animals.