Historical and contemporary global migration involves a range of cross-cultural encounters, but how are these interactions discussed, debated, and defined? This three-day multidisciplinary conference seeks to examine past and present migrant encounters with other peoples in a diverse range of locations. We welcome papers from all disciplinary angles from both academics and independent researchers concerned with this issue.

The conference is sponsored by four key multidisciplinary research hubs in the Division of Humanities at the University of Otago: Centre for Irish and Scottish Studies; Centre for Research on Colonial Culture; Asian Migrations Research Theme; Comparative and Cross-Cultural Studies Research Theme.

Proposals for papers for the Migrant Cross-Cultural Encounters conference are now open. This international conference, and a proposed collection of essays commissioned from participants, explores the links between migration and cross-cultural encounters. Papers from various disciplinary angles are welcome from both academics and other researchers across a variety of themes from any historical period or region.

Themes may include but are not limited to:
- Race, ethnicity and citizenship
- War, migration and cross-cultural contact
- Labour, migration and cross-cultural encounters
- Empire, contact and mobility
- Gender, migration, and cross-cultural encounters

Please provide: a title, a 250-word abstract of your paper, brief biographical information (including institutional affiliation and contact details).

All proposals will be assessed after the deadline of Friday 11 July 2014. If you require an earlier acceptance please advise us.

Proposals or requests for further information should be sent to: migrants@otago.ac.nz.