2012 Conference, University of Quebec, Montreal, Canada, June 25-29 

URL: http://www.ihsrc2012.uqam.ca

EMAIL: infoihsrc2012@uqam.ca

Theme: Renewing the Encounter Between the Human Sciences, the Arts and the Humanities 

 In our preparations for the International Human Science Research Conference of Montreal, 2012, we are guided by the hope that the conference may lead us all to a deeper questioning of the inherent, ancient and interdependent relationship between the human sciences, the arts and the humanities. We therefore warmly invite presentations inspired by that theme, but with the understanding that we do not mean to discourage others from addressing different topics of interest to our community.

Both Husserl and Gadamer –and many others– have extensively commented on the perverse effects of narrow scientism, materialism and objectivism on our culture in general and on the practice of the human sciences in particular. Their criticism remains as relevant today as when it was first formulated by Husserl more than three quarters of a century ago.
The conference at Montreal wants to be an occasion to reflect on the distorting effects of narrowly conceived methods, theories and practices that forever send the human sciences on new paths that do not connect with the older, nor set the stage for future ones. We might well ask to what extend the modern human sciences owe their existence to a fascination with methods and procedures rather than to a genuine desire to shed light on the human condition.

This appears to be so much the case that it often escapes us to think of the arts and the humanities –and included in this myths and religious practices, literature and even cinema– as sources of light that illuminate our existence and that permit us in the first place to bring self, world and others into sharper focus.

We might ask if it is still possible for the contemporary human sciences, as these are taught and practiced in the modern university, to reconnect us to those other and older human explorations or “sciences” in the form of the arts, the humanities, and the great works of our cultural heritage. Seen from this angle we might inquire how the contemporary human sciences might break out of the cocoon of scientism so as to find their way back to the traditions of the humanities. It would appear that such a homecoming to ancient disciplines and sources would revitalize the human sciences and permit these to do greater justice to the variety and richness of human experience.

About the University of Quebec in Montreal
The University of Quebec in Montreal is a public francophone university of international repute. Most academic activity takes place at the central campus located in the downtown core of the city, in addition to four other campuses and a distance learning program (TELUQ). UQAM offers over 300 programs of study at both the undergraduate and graduate levels in either the school of management or one of the six faculties: arts, communication, political science and law, science, education, and humanities. It is regarded as one of the major research centres in Canada with particular strengths in the humanities, natural sciences, health sciences and fine arts. Researchers are grouped into numerous research groups, centres and chairs, as well as six interdisciplinary institutes. In all of these areas, UQAM’s mission is to promote the exchange of knowledge between researchers and students. To this end, it is continually increasing the number of affiliations with institutions abroad. Every year, it welcomes more than 2200 students from 80 different countries.
UQAM`s 40 000 students, not to mention the additional 20 000 signed up for the TELUQ, benefit from a modern, urban campus which includes laboratories, workshops, studios, a sports complex, and very popular cultural venues.
After more than 40 years in existence, training the next generation of researchers and professionals, UQAM remains faithful to its mission of democratising access to high quality education in French and fostering creativity in cultural, social and scientific spheres of activity.

About the Psychology Department
UQAM’s psychology department was founded in 1969 at the same time as the founding and official opening of the university. Today, it includes 62 professors grouped into nine areas of specialisation, including a section of humanistic and phenomenological psychology with 6 full time positions.
As such, UQAM’s psychology department offers its students access to a large range of different domains of specialisation in both the undergraduate and doctoral programs. This remarkable diversity of theoretical orientations, areas of specialisation and research models allows doctoral students to obtain in-depth training in their chosen area of specialisation.
The 2012 edition of the International Human Science Research Conference is organised by three professors of the humanistic psychology section of the department: Christian Thiboutot (Ph.D.), Florence Vinit (Ph. D.) and Bernd Jager (Ph. D.).

Important dates
January 29th, 2012: final date for the submission of the contributions;
February 27th, 2012: beginning of the registration;
April 8th, 2012: final date for the conference registration (early bids will be offered);
April 26th, 2012: final date for room reservation on the university campus;

Accommodations
The university will make student housing available on the campus to the participants of the conference at a very reasonable cost. There will be breakfasts and lunches included in the inscription. It will be served at the cafeteria, on the campus. Further details about the activities we will propose during the conference period will be available soon on the official website of the 2012 IHSRC: http://www.ihsrc2012.uqam.ca.

It is also possible to join us via e-mail: infoihsrc2012@uqam.ca
We are really looking forward to see you all in Montreal!
The organizers,
Christian Thiboutot, Ph.D.
Florence Vinit, Ph.D
Bernd Jager, Ph.D.