ResilienceCon 2021 Call for Submissions
General Submission Deadline: November 2, 2020, 11:59pm CST
Late-breaking Submission Deadline: January 22, 2021, 11:59pm CST
Any abstracts submitted in 2020 are automatically accepted for 2021. As the deadlines draw near, we will provide an opportunity for you to edit your previously submitted abstract should you find the need.
Questions? Email us at lifepaths@lifepathsresearch.
Conference Dates: April 11-13, 2021
Call for submissions now open! Online options will be available for all presenters and attendees. Public health guidance permitting, we also hope to be able to meet in-person for a limited number of presenters and attendees. ResilienceCon™ focuses on strengths-based approaches for research, prevention, and intervention on violence and other adversities. All ResilienceCon sessions are interview-based. Every session makes time for moderated interviews of the presenters, followed by an audience Q&A. Moderators are not just timekeepers but serve as hosts and interviewers. The format makes space for great conversations, where participants hear about lessons learned, professional stories, and what it really takes to successfully implement a project or intervention.
For 2021, we will be offering two submission deadlines: The general submission deadline will be November 2, 2020, 11:59 PM CST. We also recognize that the results of some of the most exciting projects may not be available until closer to the actual conference, so we will also be offering a Late-Breaking submission deadline! This deadline will be January 22, 2021, 11:59 PM CST, and is for timely research and projects with up-to-date results. Submissions for the Late-Breaking deadline should be on new research and projects that have not yet been presented at other conferences, ideally for studies that are completed after the general submission deadline.
2021 will be the 5th ResilienceCon! We have already tripled in size since our first meeting in 2016, and we invite you to join our growing community!
For more information, visit our website: lifepathsresearch.org/resiliencecon
Program Topics
We invite submissions on all aspects of resilience and adversity, including:
- Resilience and the social ecology, including protective characteristics of individuals, families, schools, and communities
- Strength and resilience among people and communities of color
- Cross-cultural and international research on strengths or resilience
- Community-based participatory research to promote health and well-being
- Developmental or other longitudinal studies of strengths or resilience
- Resilience and schools, including school climate and social networks
- Resilience across the full spectrum of sexual and gender identities
- Community resilience and addressing health disparities and other systemic issues
- Resilience among individuals with disabilities
- Resilience and rehabilitation in criminal justice and other offender settings
- Resilience among active military personnel and veterans
- Exploring well-being, health, post-traumatic growth, and other resilient outcomes
- Resilience and self-care for professionals
- Strengths-based approaches to prevention and intervention, such as (but not limited to): social and emotional learning (SEL), cultural connectedness, redefining masculinity, bystander programs, mindfulness, narrative, arts-based programs, movement-based
programs, and trauma-informed care - Policy initiatives to promote resilience
- We will also consider submissions that focus on violence, trauma, and adversities or primarily on well-being or other outcomes, because understanding antecedents and consequences is essential for understanding the strengths that contribute to resilience, which is the process leading to thriving despite experiences of adversity. These submissions should clearly make the link to helping people prevent or overcome adversity.
Session Formats
All sessions are interview based. They are divided into 3 sections. The first section is 6-10 minutes per presenter, the second section is an interview of the presenters conducted by the session host. The third section is an open Q&A with the audience. The result is much deeper interactions, both with your fellow panelists and with the audience, that are more transformative (and interesting!) than typical conference sessions.
Posters. A poster is a visual presentation of a project. Poster sessions offer opportunities for informal interaction with conference attendees. Poster sessions also offer the opportunity to learn about many studies in a single session. If you are a student or someone else who is working on their first research study, then we recommend the poster format, but more senior researchers may also submit posters. Posters may be submitted and presented in English, Spanish, and French.
Data blitz option for poster presenters. Poster presenters can also indicate whether they would like to be considered for the data blitz. A data blitz gives each poster presenter 3 minutes, using a maximum of 3 slides, to present the key findings from their poster and encourage people to stop by and learn more about their study. The data blitz is primarily designed for students.
20×20 presentations (individual). 20×20 presentations are fast-paced slide presentations that are similar in style to TED talks. The name comes from the standardized format: each presentation is 20 slides set on a 20-second automatic advance. So, each presentation lasts exactly 6 minutes, 40 seconds. The format favors slides that focus on a few (even one or two) words or images, not densely packed text. Several presentations will be grouped in a single panel with a session host. Like TED talks, these are good presentations to offer commentary, present a new idea, or offer key highlights from a current research study or community program. 20X20 presentations are great for helping you to hone your key take-home messages. The fast pace creates a stimulating environment with maximum time for discussion.
20×20 symposia. We also welcome teams of 4 to 6 presenters to organize their own 20×20 symposia (with or without a discussant).
“Hot Topic” panel discussions. A 4-to-7-person panel on a current question in the field. These can be trending topics, controversies, or understudied issues (or all 3). The first section of these will be an opening statement, 6 to 8 minutes long, of the presenter’s position, ideas, or information on a topic. This will be followed by the interview section. Typically, in Hot Topics panels, the session host works in advance with the panelists to develop discussion questions. Most Hot Topics presenters do not use PowerPoint or other slides, although it is permitted if desired. This is a chance to move beyond the constraints of data-driven presentations to talk about theory building, brainstorm about reconciling contradictory findings, or making new connections between research and practice.
Perspectives (individual). Perspectives are 8-10-minute talks in a more traditional format. They are well suited for an overview and synthesis of at least two different datasets or other data sources (defined broadly, we are open to considering ethnography, history, or other sources of knowledge). We are especially interested in discussion of insights that are best appreciated from looking at findings that did and did not replicate, “lessons learned” about methods, or how these results can inspire future research on your topic.
Perspectives symposia. We also welcome teams of 4 presenters may organize perspectives symposia (with or without a discussant as a 5th person).
Submission Guidelines
Click here to submit your abstract. You will need the following information: Title; abstract (up to 200 words); presenter’s name, affiliation, and contact information; co-authors’ names, affiliations, and emails; presenter bio (up to 100 words); and conflict of interest certification. Organized symposia also require an overview abstract. If you have questions about the session formats or your submission plans or ideas, contact us at lifepaths@lifepathsresearch.
Please note that presenters are responsible for their own expenses, including travel and registration. Presenters from low-income countries (as determined by the World Bank) may contact us for information on reduced registration fees at lifepaths@lifepathsresearch.
Scholarship Opportunities
Click here to learn more about our awards and the criteria.
Life Paths Promising Scholar Award. We are offering 4 scholarships for presentations that focus on under-served or marginalized communities. Scholarships include conference registration and 2 nights’ lodging at the Scarritt-Bennett center (dorm-style lodging). Eligibility is limited to current students (graduate and undergraduate), post-baccalaureate fellows, and post-doctoral fellows. Click here to to apply for a Promising Scholar Award.
Life Paths Promising Advocate Award. We are also offering 4 scholarships for advocates who are (1) currently working at a non-profit organization serving people/communities who are historically underserved or have experienced violence, marginalization, or distress, and (2) 7 years or fewer professional experience in the field. Scholarships include conference registration and 2 nights’ lodging at the Scarritt-Bennett center (dorm-style lodging). Click here to apply for a Promising Advocate Award.
Exhibitor & Sponsorship Opportunities
We will be offering the opportunity for advocates and other service providers to have booths at ResilienceCon 2021, helping to create networks between researchers and advocates. Other sponsorship opportunities will also be available. Please email lifepaths@lifepathsresearch.
Conference Setting: Resilience Inside and Out
We are working hard to add the technology necessary to hold an online “virtual” version of the conference for anyone who prefers to participate that way.
We also hope that some of us can come to Nashville. The Scarritt-Bennett Center (www.scarrittbennett.org) offers an exceptionally beautiful and serene environment right in the heart of Nashville. The campus has historic buildings (on the National Register of Historic Places) and tree-lined green spaces. The Scarritt-Bennett Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to social justice. The environment supports ResilienceCon goals by providing space (literally) to reflect on our roles as researchers and practitioners.
Scarritt-Bennett, near Vanderbilt University, is within easy walking distance of restaurants and shops in the vibrant West End and Midtown areas. It is a short drive to Broadway music venues.
There are many local hotels and housing options near the Scarritt-Bennett Center. In addition, Scarritt-Bennett offers low-cost housing that is consistent with their mission to provide a place for reflection. Like many retreat centers, the housing is simple and modest (no televisions in rooms and every two rooms share a bath).
If you prefer a conventional hotel, we have a list of nearby options on our website. There are also many Airbnb or VRBO (vacation rental by owner) options in the area.
Nashville is Music City USA and one of the most vibrant cities in the United States. Experience live music, an increasingly fantastic restaurant scene, world-class shopping, and many museums and landmarks in the vicinity. There are many family-friendly activities as well.
Chairs of ResilienceCon
Sherry Hamby, Ph.D. (Life Paths Research Center and University of the South)
Victoria Banyard, Ph.D. (Rutgers University)
Nicole Yuan, Ph.D., MPH (University of Arizona)
Click here if you would like to become involved in the ResilienceCon program committee, see information on eligibility requirements, responsibilities, and benefits.
Contact Us
Inquiries can be sent to the Conference Administrator, Liz Taylor, at lifepaths@lifepathsresearch.
ResilienceCon and the ResilienceCon logo are trademarks of Life Paths Appalachian Research Center, LLC.
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