Islam and Society: Challenges & Prospects - AAIMS Second Conference on the Study of Islam and Muslim Societies

The Australian Association of Islamic and Muslim Studies is pleased to announce the three keynote speakers for AAIMS’ upcoming two day conference at Western Sydney University: ‘Islam and Society: Challenges and Prospects’. These scholars are sure to contribute to the rich diversity of experience and knowledge that we anticipate will characterise this year’s conference. Our keynote speakers are as follows:

Professor Deepa Kumar is a professor of journalism and media studies at Rutgers University in New York. Professor Kumar’s research centres on Islamophobia, empire, culture, gender, race, class in the media, neoliberalism, labor and social class. Her work is driven by an active engagement with the issues of neoliberalism and imperialism. Professor Kumar recently published the book ‘Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire’.

Dr Shakira Hussein is a writer and researcher for the National Centre for Excellence in Islamic Studies, The University of Melbourne. Dr Hussein has done extensive research into gender, multiculturalism and Islam as well as Muslim women, gendered violence and radicalised political discourse. Dr Hussein recently authored research book; ‘Is Racism an Environmental Threat?’ and journal article ‘We’re Not Multicultural, but…’

Professor Fethi Mansouri holds the UNESCO Chair on ‘Cultural Diversity and Social Justice’ and is the Director of Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation. He specialises in migration studies, comparative refugee research, global Islamic politics and multiculturalism and intercultural relations. Since 2010, Professor Mansouri has been serving as an expert advisor to the UN on cultural diversity, and intercultural relations. Last year, he co-authored ‘Intercultural contact, knowledge of Islam, and prejudice against muslims in Australia’.

Thank you Professor Deepa Kumar, Dr Shakira Hussein and Professor Fethi Mansouri. We eagerly anticipate the fascinating presentations you are sure to bring to the AAIMS conference.

If you are a scholar in the field of Islamic and Muslim studies who would like to present at the AAIMS conference this year, please do get in touch with us. First-time presenters and Higher Degree Research students are strongly encouraged to attend- this is a great opportunity to share your hard work with other scholars in your field. We are accepting abstracts for presentations till June 14th. All information and abstract guidelines can be found at our Conference 2019 page. Looking forward to seeing what ideas you come up with!

The conference will be held from 30th September - 1st October 2019 and forms part of the School of Social Sciences and Psychology (Religion and Society Research Cluster and Challenging Racism Project).

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