Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) is taking center stage at the 74th annual conference of the International Communication Association (ICA), where more than 4,000 scholars from around the world will gather. A total of ten faculty and researchers from the Institute for Advanced Study in the Global South (#IAS_NUQ) will be featured at the conference, contributing to 13 sessions and securing 17 individual slots with their selected works. Their presentations will focus on the conference theme of Communication and Global Human Rights, as well as Global South media histories, politics, and other issues such as revolutionary Arab media and youth and digital infrastructure in Africa.
As part of the conference, NU-Q will organize a panel that examines digital life, tools, and experiences across InterAsia, contributing to current debates on “Southern Digitalities,” a research theme for #IAS_NUQ. Additionally, the university will co-sponsor two pre-conferences: “Repressed Histories of Communication and Media Studies” and “Arab Communications Studies: Towards A Renewed Research Agenda”. This involvement in various panels and pre-conferences highlights Northwestern Qatar’s commitment to amplifying the Global South perspective in media and communication studies, which have historically been dominated by Western paradigms.
Two student researchers from NU-Q, Abenezer Bekele and In’utu Imbuwa, will be among the delegation at the conference. They will present their #IAS_NUQ undergraduate fellowship projects, “Exploring the Factors That Affect the Adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI)” and “Watermelon Politics and Chitenge in Zambia”, respectively. This opportunity for student researchers to showcase their work at an international conference demonstrates NU-Q’s commitment to fostering a culture of research and innovation among its students.
Publications from #IAS_NUQ Press will also be featured at the #IAS_NUQ booth, where visitors can learn about the Institute’s vision and mission, as well as the programs available for scholars. This provides a platform for NU-Q to showcase its research and publications, while also connecting with conference attendees and potential collaborators. Moreover, Northwestern Qatar Dean and CEO Marwan M. Kraidy, as chair of ICA fellows, will preside over new fellows induction, fellows’ panels, and fellows’ breakfast at the conference. He will also present his paper “Democracy Dies in Dazzlement”, further showcasing NU-Q’s leadership and expertise in the field of media and communication studies.
The ICA conference serves as a platform for global knowledge sharing and collaboration, allowing scholars from diverse backgrounds to come together and exchange ideas. For Northwestern Qatar, it presents an opportunity to highlight the Global South perspective in media and communication studies, challenging the dominance of Western paradigms in the field. By showcasing the work of faculty, researchers, and student researchers at the conference, NU-Q is able to contribute to important conversations on topics such as global human rights, media histories, and digital infrastructure in the Global South.
Overall, NU-Q’s significant presence at the ICA conference demonstrates its commitment to advancing research and scholarship in the field of media and communication studies, particularly from a Global South perspective. Through panel presentations, pre-conferences, student research projects, and publications, Northwestern Qatar is able to showcase its expertise and engage with scholars from around the world. This participation not only enhances NU-Q’s reputation as a leading institution in the field but also contributes to the broader goal of promoting diversity and inclusivity in academic discourse.
