Conference details

Online Baha'i Studies Conference: October 13, 2012

'Abdu'l-Bahá: Legacies and Resonances  

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On the centenary of 'Abdu'l-Baha's historic voyage to the West, we take stock of the impacts, legacies and above all the ongoing relevance which the figure of 'Abdu'l-Baha still holds in a planet in transition. 

Among the speakers will be:

• Robert Stockman (USA): author of 'Abdu'l-Bahá in America

• Jan Jasion (France): author of 'Abdu'l-Bahá in France  and of 'Abdu'l-Bahá in the West, A Biographical Guide to 'Abdu'l-Bahá's Western Travels   

• Arthur Dahl (Switzerland): President of the International Environment Forum and former Deputy Director at the United Nations Environment Programme

• Gloria Yazdani (Canada): Artist, human rights activist and former co-editor of the Online Journal of Baha'i Studies

• Steven Cooney (New Zealand): Independent scholar and editor the Baha'i Studies Review

• Ismael Velasco (UK): Interdisciplinary Baha'i scholar and social action specialist

Participants at the conference will be as much protagonists as audience, the simple and accessible online conference platform making possible an unprecedented degree of interaction, reflection,  discussion and exchange. Outstanding participant contributions and conversations will be featured in the conference proceedings, subject to previous consent.

Participants will be able to put questions to the speakers, comment live, communicate with one another in public and in private, and contribute their own ideas in an innovative, scholarly, consultative atmosphere. All that you need is a computer and an internet connection... and presto!

Presentations will be recorded, so time-zone differences will be no barrier to attendance and no contribution will be missed.

The event will open for registrations the week of September 17, 2012. To make sure you are notified, communicate your wish to attend by joining the event on Facebook, or by sending an email.

Finally, why not take the jump and present a paper yourself?  Cloud Conferences will take place four times a year. The call for papers is for the whole year.There are no limitations on theme, discipline or topic for expressions of interest. Submissions from young scholars such as (but in no way limited to) graduate students are particularly welcome.

This is a global experiment in using new media in the pursuit of collaborative insight into the Baha'i teachings, community, history and spirit. Your participation might just help birth something beautiful and significant. 

Let others know and let's discover the power of word of mouth.

And now, let's hit the cloud.