Non-Traditional Session Formats

Mini-Conferences

A full day of content devoted to a theme. The mini-conference can be in pursuit of a larger cohesive goal than traditional panels provide, such as an edited volume or an omnibus dataset. Sessions within the mini-conference might be comprised of other formats in this list. Find all of the mini conference schedules here.

Advances in the Study of Nuclear Politics

Division 21: Conflict Processes
Time: Thursday, August 30, 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Location: Hynes, 210

Chinese Politics Mini-Conference
Division 13: The Politics of Communist and Former Communist Countries
Time: Thursday, August 30, 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Location: Hynes, 311

Justice and Injustice: Political Science Perspectives on Crime and Punishment
Division 25: Public Policy
Time: Thursday, August 30, 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Location: Marriott, Salon E

Mini Conference on Populism in Europe
Theme Panel co-sponsored by Division 15: European Politics and Society
Time: Saturday, September 1, 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Location: Marriott, Salon E

Modern Event Data Development and Analysis
Division 8: Political Methodology
Time: Friday, August 31, 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Location:  Hynes, 208

State of the Discipline in the Era of Democratic Discontent
Theme Panel
Time: Thursday, August 30, 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Location:  Hynes, 208

Wollapalooza II! Daughters, Dissenters, Democracies, Discontents
Division 2: Foundations of Political Theory
Time: Saturday, September 1, 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Location:  Sheraton, Republic Ballroom B


Research Café

This session format incorporates a handful of topic clusters, each staffed with a scholar (or scholars) in the field that has successfully used particular methodologies or epistemological frameworks. Attendees would group together to discuss research processes, methodologies, ask questions, and brainstorm together around issues in the field.

Computational Analysis of Text: Advances in Comparative Politics and Beyond
Division 11: Comparative Politics
Time: Friday, August 31, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Location: Hynes, 210

Methods Café
APSA Panel
Time: Friday, August 31, 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Location: Hynes, 210

Middle East Political Economy
Division 12: Comparative Politics in Developing Countries
Time: Thursday, August 30, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Location: Hynes, 207


Teaching Café

This session format provides a discussion forum for scholars to participate in the scholarship of teaching and learning, share pedagogical techniques, and discuss trends in political science education. Each topic cluster will be staffed with a scholar (or scholars) in the field that has demonstrated success in the use of practical instructional methods to share with attendees to take with them to their home institutions. Attendees would group together to ask questions and brainstorm together around core opportunities and issues in the field.

Teaching and Engaging Students in Large Sections
Division 10: Political Science Education
Time: Thursday, August 30, 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Place: Hynes, 207


Featured Paper Panels: 30-Minute Paper Sessions

This format allows a scholar to present his or her work for a longer period of time and to have a dedicated discussant who isn’t overburdened by having to read multiple papers. One session chair would guide the time, but each paper would have its own discussant. The sessions might follow the “Brookings format,” in which the discussant presents and then comments on the paper; the author would then have a chance to respond.

American Political Development through the Lens of Gender, Race, & Migrant Status
Division 7: Politics and History
Time: Friday, August 31, 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Location: Hynes, 304

Changing Face of Democracy and the Rising Discontent of the Citizens
Theme Panel
Time: Thursday, August 30, 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Location: Hynes, 300

Intergovernmentalism and International Politics in the EU
Division 15: European Politics and Society
Time: Friday, August 31, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Location: Marriott, Wellesley

On the Cutting Edge of Multi-Method Research
Division 46: Qualitative and Multi-Method Research
Time:  Thursday, August 30, 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Location: Marriott, Clarendon

On the Cutting Edge of Qualitative Methodology
Division 46: Qualitative and Multi-Method Research
Time: Thursday, August 30, 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Location: Marriott, Clarendon

Plant Closures, Cheap Credit, Low-Skilled Workers: Cutting Edge IPE Research
Division 16: International IPE Research
Time: Friday, August 31, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Location: Sheraton, Gardner

Understanding Legislative and Representative Institutions in Africa
Division 44: Comparative Democratization
Time: Friday, August 31, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Location: Marriott, Berkeley


Workshops

These programs allow for a deep dive in a focused environment. Workshops might be professional development focused or subfield specific, or thematically of the same spirit or accomplishing the same knowledge-sharing or learning goals. Workshops provide participants with hands-on experience and should embrace adult learning principles with clear, pre-determined learning objectives that would be included in the proposal description. See more workshops here.

Diversity and Inclusion Hack-a-thon
APSA Panel
Time: Friday, August 31, 12:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Location: Hynes, 311