This year’s UGAT Conference invites anthropologists, social scientists, development workers, researchers, and scholars to reflect deeply on the multifaceted concept of divergence and its implications in our interactions with individuals, groups, and societies of diverse cultural, political, religious, economic, and social backgrounds. In the social sciences, divergence is understood as the boundaries and differences that divide people based on factors such as social class, ability, ethnicity, status, gender, identity, citizenship, and nationality. These boundaries not only separate individuals but also exacerbate the disparities in the distribution of resources and access to opportunities, perpetuating systemic inequalities.
In today’s increasingly divergent world, Anthropology assumes a pivotal role in addressing global issues that polarize and divide communities. The upcoming UGAT conference aims to provide a platform for reflexive and critical discussions, fostering rich dialogue among anthropologists and
practitioners across various domains—academia, development and cultural sectors, media, art, advocacy, policy-making, community engagement, and social action. Through this interdisciplinary dialogue, participants can explore how anthropology can contribute to dismantling social boundaries and mitigating inequalities, ultimately promoting principles of diversity, justice, and inclusivity and offer problem-solving approaches.
By examining different diverse perspectives and experiences, the conference aims to identify and illuminate pathways towards a more equitable and inclusive world. Anthropologists, practitioners, and scholars are encouraged to submit papers and panel proposals that engage with these themes, offering innovative approaches, empirical studies, theoretical insights, and practical and ethical reflections, and strategies for addressing and attenuating social divisions and fostering social cohesion. The Conference contributes to the goal of envisioning and working towards a world where differences are celebrated, injustices are confronted, and inclusivity prevails as a guiding principle in shaping our shared future.
PLENARY SPEAKERS
CONFERENCE CONVENORS
Noreen Sapalo
Department of Anthropology,
University of the Philippines Diliman
Melanie Tolentino
Center for Central Luzon Studies,
Central Luzon State University
Melvin Jabar
Department of Sociology & Behavioral Sciences,
De La Salle University/Social Development Research Center
Doms Cordero
Head of Conference Secretariat, UGAT
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See you at the 46th UGAT Conference!