Special Annual Convention Programs

Our Special Activities at the Annual Convention

Our Annual Convention has over 1,000 panels and roundtables every year covering topics from across the wide array of international studies. But, ISA also offers a number of program experiences that go beyond these traditional forms of conference participation.

Career Courses

Career Courses are half-day courses that offer participants an in-depth instruction on advanced topics such as methodology, teaching strategies, software, and more.

Distinguished Scholar Panels

These are created by section and caucus to recognize and celebrate exceptional scholars in their respective fields. ISA's Distinguished Scholar panels can only be submitted by section or caucus chairs and come directly from the group's allocation quota. Please note that ISA HQ can only facilitate one special scheduling request. (Deadline July 1st)

Film Screening Panels

These take place either during a lunch period or during the evening and take the form of a film showing and moderated Q&A, or a more formal showing and roundtable discussion..

"In Other Words" Roundtables

"In Other Words" Roundtables is a series of three non-English roundtables that seeks to explore the role of the English language in governing academic practice, facilitating, or impeding communication, and determining academic proficiency and legitimacy within the discipline of International Relations.

Innovative Panels

Innovative panels provide scholars with the ability to move beyond the traditional panel format. In the past, these have involved simulations, "town-hall" style events, and many other forms of interaction.

ISA Poster Gallery

ISA maintains a virtual gallery of digital posters that have been presented at ISA Annual Conventions. Poster paper presenters share their research through this visual medium and meet separately with discussants and convention attendees to discuss their work.

Junior Scholar Symposia

The JSS is designed to provide Junior scholars (those in graduate school or who are within two years of their Ph.D) the opportunity to present their research and receive feedback in an environment dedicated to professional development as well as improving and sharing work.

Pay It Forward

Pay It Forward is a mentoring program designed for female graduate students and junior faculty within the International Studies profession. It serves as a space for networking, guidance, and critical engagement and reflection. The one-day workshop covers topics such as professional development, work-life balance, and navigating a gendered field, among others.

Structuring Inclusion

Structuring Inclusion is a series of panels that seek to challenge systemic exclusion through the articulation of new practices, approaches, cultures, and institutional parameters that liberate ISA in particular and scholarship in general.

Working Groups

Workshops

Workshops are supported by the Research Workshop Grants program. Workshops take place the day before the official start of the Convention and bring together the research team being funded by the grant to discuss their work and prepare to share it with the broader ISA community.

Looking for other ISA Programs that take place outside of the Annual Convention?