Hej to all on the Scandinavian politics list,
A couple of quick messages about future events.
1. The call for panel proposals at next year's PSA conference has already been issued. This conference, which will apparently be the last with the traditional campus-based format, will be at Swansea University on April 1st-3rd 2008 (www.psa.ac.uk/2008/call.htm).
My own scope to attend this conference might be rather limited. But that shouldn't stop other members of the list applying to convene panels - and it won't stop me co-ordinating our efforts. Indeed, the conference's academic convenor (who, incidentally, I know to be a sound bloke) wants "to emphasise the importance I attach to the role of specialist groups in helping to compose the programme...In the call for papers I have also encouraged scholars to consult you if they need assistance in composing coherent panels that are in the general research area covered by your specialist group."
Our panel at the PSA conference last April worked rather well. They can be an excellent way to get feedback on a draft or to report more advanced findings. Do let me have any ideas that you might have.
As usual, a small amount of money (up to a £150 or so) can be made available by the group to help with postgraduate students' conference costs.
2. My own involvement in the joint research ideas that we discussed very preliminarily at the conference in April will, unfortunately, have to be shelved. Unexpectedly securing project money is always nice. The downside, of course, is that it inevitably crowds out other plans. But if others on our list would like to initiate some form of collaboration, perhaps on the lines that we discussed or on something quite different, that would be great.
One immediate option (the deadline is as soon as August 15th) is the money provided for "exploratory workshops" by the Joint Committee for Nordic Research Councils for the Humanities and the Social Sciences. The link can be found (via a Danish research site) here:
http://fist.dk/site/forside/soeg-stoette/opslag-stoettemuligheder/2007/stoette-til-eksplorative-workshops-fra-nos-hs
Remember, too, that our group has a few hundred pounds available for financing small research-related events. I've received a few expressions of interest, but other ideas for how we might use this money are more than welcome.
Meanwhile, have a great summer.
Best,
Nick Aylott.
--
Dr Nicholas Aylott, senior lecturer (docent) in political science
School of Social Sciences, Södertörn University College
SE-141 89 Huddinge, Sweden
www.sh.se/samhallsvetenskaper
