***Apologies for cross-posting***

Dear colleagues,

Socrel invites proposals for an organising team, theme and venue for the Annual Conference in July 2018. If you would like to host Socrel’s next conference at your university or a suitable conference centre, we encourage you to submit a proposal by April 28^th 2017.

This is an excellent opportunity to host a prestigious and fully-supported conference (including international keynotes and bursaries).

About Socrel and the annual conference

Socrel is the Sociology of Religion Study Group of the British Sociological Association (BSA). It is the second largest study group in the BSA and has been in operation for over 40 years. Socrel currently has over 200 active members and organises a range of events each year, including the annual conference, a Socrel response day focused on an issue of particular current relevance and a study day for postgraduate and early career researchers. Socrel publishes one edited volume each year with Routledge.

The theme of a Socrel conference should be distinctive enough to form a focus for discussion, but broad enough to allow a wide range of sociologists of religion, postgraduates, and other scholars interested in social scientific study of religion to relate the conference to their own work. Over the last ten years Socrel conference themes have included: Construction and disruption: The power of religion in the public sphere (2016)

Foundations and Futures (2015), Religion and Crisis (2014), Material Religion (2013), Religion and Inequalities (2012), Religion and Social Theory (2011), The Changing Face of Christianity (2010), Religion and Knowledge (2009), Religion and Youth (2008), Religion and Media (2007) and Religion and the Individual (2006).

The Annual Conference will take place over three days in early -mid July. Socrel’s annual conferences attract 100-140 participants. Your venue should be able to provide lecture or seminar rooms for at least four parallel sessions and accommodation for at least 100 overnight guests.

Your organising team will be supported by the Socrel committee and the BSA Events Team.

Please visit http://socrel.org.uk/ for more information about this year’s conference and the group.

Proposal details

Your proposal should include the following headings:

1.      Conference title and theme, with an explanation (no more than 300 words) of why you believe this theme will make for an interesting and successful conference

2.      Suggested dates for the conference, which should be held in July

3.      Your proposed venue for the conference, including a brief explanation of why you believe this venue is appropriate

4.       A list of the team members who will help you to organise this conference (the principal organisers must be Socrel members).

5.       Suggested keynote speakers

6.       A list of the major sub themes you hope to include among the conference presentations. What will people be talking about at your event?

If you have any questions, or would like to discuss your ideas before submitting a formal proposal, please contact the Socrel Conference and Events Officer, Rachael Shillitoe, at r.shillitoe@PROTECTED

Please submit your proposal by email to Rachael Shillitoe by April 28^th 2017.

Best wishes,

Rachael

Rachael Shillitoe

Research Student – Faith on the Air

SocRel Conference and Events Officer

University of Worcester

Research School

Jenny Lind Building

Farrier Street

Worcester

WR1 3BB