UQ at the centre of international affairs this week

UQ will play host this week to the first ever International Studies Association (ISA) conference to be held in the Asia-Pacific Region.

More than 250 academics, policy makers and researchers will converge on the UQ Centre from September 29-30 to discuss the conference theme “Regions, States and Peoples in a World of Many Worlds”.

The International Studies Association (ISA) is the leading association for "International Studies" (broadly defined) in the world with more than 4,000 members.

“We are delighted to attract participants from 60 institutions in 21 different countries, and honoured that Professor Etel Solingen (ISA President-elect) and Professor Tom Volgy (ISA Executive Director) have travelled to Brisbane to witness what is a robust and vibrant community of International Studies scholars in the region, Australia and at UQ,” conference Chair Professor Tim Dunne said.

Keynote speakers include Vice-Chancellor of Murdoch University Professor Richard Higgott, Professor Tim Rowse and Professor Margaret Jolly.

Delegates will also have the opportunity to attend the UQ Annual Lecture in Politics and International Affairs scheduled for Friday lunchtime with guest speaker the Minister for Foreign Affairs, The Honourable Kevin Rudd MP.

The conference program includes timely topics such as the politics of climate change, new dimensions of China’s foreign policy behaviour, ethics and international society and economic relations in the Asia-Pacific.

The School of Political Science and International Studies welcomes the opportunity to host such an important conference and believes that a regional section of ISA will help to foster dialogue and community-building among academics and universities across the South Pacific, South East Asia, and other neighbouring regions.

More information about the conference is available online.

Media: Naomi Smith (0406 510 668, naomi.smith@uq.edu.au)