Call for Papers for Interdisciplinary Book on Success, Terrorism, and Political Violence

The editors of a proposed interdisciplinary book exploring the concept of success and the role of violence in achieving movement goals invite chapter proposals of 500 words or less. The book ventures to present essays examining the notion of success related to terrorism and political violence. We seek essays concerning the theoretical analysis, perception, and framing/re-framing of what it means to be successful or unsuccessful in the use of violence as a tactic in achieving movement goals. We also seek essays addressing this concept from a broad terrorism/political violence perspective as well as case studies examining regional or group specific successful/unsuccessful uses of terrorism/political violence. Questioning and perhaps refocusing the concept of success and whether violence can ever be a successful tactic, we seek to better understand the role and selection of violence as a tactic in pursuing movement goals, if violence can be a successful strategy, and how violence can be a successful strategy. Deadline for proposals is August 1, 2010. Contact Gabriela Guazzo, gmguazzo@tamu.edu.

International Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge Call for Entries

The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the journal Science (published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science) created the International Science & Engineering Visualization Challenge to celebrate the grand tradition of illustration and visualization of research—and to encourage its continued growth. The spirit of the competition is for communicating science, engineering, and technology for education and journalistic purposes.

Judges appointed by NSF and Science will select winners in each of five categories: Photography, Illustrations, Informational Posters and Graphics, Interactives Games, and Non-Interactive Media. The winning entries will appear in a special section of the February 2011 issue of Science and Science Online, and on the NSF Web site, and one of the winning entries will be pictured on the front cover. In addition, each winner will receive a one-year print and online subscription to the journal Science and a certificate of appreciation.

For more information, see: http://www.nsf.gov/news/scivis

APSA Committee on the Status of Women in the Profession Seeks Survey Respondents

The Committee on the Status of Women in the Profession of the American Political Science Association cordially invites your participation in a research project entitled “Best Practices for Interviewing.” We are asking women to take part in this study, which is designed to understand how women are faring in our field, particularly while on the job market. You will also be asked a series of questions pertaining to your experiences while interviewing on the academic job market as an expectant or nursing mother. Your participation in this study will allow the Committee to develop suggestions for best practices for interviewing job candidates. We are asking that you participate in this study so we can more clearly understand the impact that being a mother (or expectant mother) has on the interviewing process.

Please take a moment to answer a few questions using the online link (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/cswp). Your participation is voluntary. Your responses will be anonymous. Data will only be used for research purposes. If you have any questions about this research, please contact Dr. Angela K. Lewis at dralewis@uab.edu.

Northeastern Political Science Association Annual Meeting

The Northeastern Political Science Association will hold its 42nd annual meeting November 11 to 13, 2010, at the Omni Parker House in Boston. We invite paper, panel, and roundtable submissions from academics, graduate students, journalists, and practitioners.

NPSA prohibits multiple paper submissions. Only one paper submission per person will be accepted. However, a paper presenter may also serve as a chair or discussant on another panel or as a roundtable participant. Questions should be directed to the appropriate Program Section Chair or the conference Program Chair. All conference information is available on the NPSA website, which is regularly updated: www.northeasternpsa.com

IPSA Announces New Master's Program in Central and Eastern European Politics and Societies

The IPSA is delighted to announce the launching of a new European Master's in political science entitled Central and Eastern European Politics and Societies, jointly organized by the Université Libre de Bruxelles, the University of Bucharest, and the University of Wroclaw.

The Master's program offers a double degree awarded by the entrance university and the university chosen for mobility, a certificate signed by the three universities (members of the consortium), multinational teaching methods using innovative pedagogical tools, a large number of specialized courses, an integrated program of study coordinated by the three members of the Consortium, the possibility to learn the language of the country selected for the exchange, and the opportunity to gain some working experience in a specific cultural, social and political context. The duration of the program is two years. Deadline for enrollment is August 31, 2010.

For additional information, please see http://dev.ulb.ac.be/sciencespo/dossiers_fichiers/ma-eur-sc-po2.pdf.

AAAS Coalition Council Meeting to Be Held July 26–27, 2010, in Washington, DC

The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Coalition Council Meeting will be held July 26 to 27 in Washington, DC. The Coalition meets twice a year, always in January and July. Coalition meetings are open to all members, affiliates, and interested scientists. These meetings provide an opportunity for participants to learn about topical issues lying at the intersection of science and human rights, and to take part in informational sessions, and trainings. Coalition meetings are also used as an opportunity for each of the area of activity working groups to meet.

A panel will be held on “Enjoying the Benefits of Scientific Progress: Access, Innovation and Impediments” to canvass a number of innovative strategies that have been proposed and, in some cases, implemented to give marginalized persons access to the benefits of scientific progress. Workshop topics include “Getting the Word Out: Designing a Human Rights Track for Your Annual Meeting” and “The Next Generation: Incorporating Human Rights into Science Curricula.”

For more information, see http://shr.aaas.org/coalition/Meetings/meetings.shtml#upcoming%20meetings.

New APSA Organized Section Exploring Experimental Research

At its spring meeting, the APSA Council approved the establishment of a new organized section on Experimental Research. The idea for the section grew from the recognition of Donald Green (Yale University), Rebecca Morton (New York University), and a number of other scholars that with the rapid growth and development of experimental methods in political science has come a set of terms and concepts that political scientists must know and understand. The section hopes to build on this growth by providing a forum in which research based on these techniques can be shared and discussed.

As stated in its formation materials, the Section will define experimental research broadly to “encompass scholarship advanced by lab, survey or field experimentation spanning the discipline's subfields including, but not limited to, comparative politics, international relations, public policy, American politics, political behavior, etc. The Section will create and sustain a place for the mastery of the methodological skills appropriate to conducting experiment-based research. This level of visibility, in turn, will spread the interest and energy political scientists can bring to important research questions, produce more and better research and teaching, and stimulate the training of new generations of scholars.”

The Section will hold its first business meeting at the 2010 Annual Meeting in Washington, when it will ratify bylaws, set membership dues, and hold its first election. The section will be included in the program committee for the 2011 Annual Meeting in San Francisco, where it will hold its first panels. For information on how to become engaged with the new section, please contact Kevin Esterling (University of California, Riverside) at kevin.esterling@ucr.edu.