The Environmental Design Research Association

Transcription

1 The Environmental Design Research Association 46th Annual Conference Call for Proposals Environments - built and natural, big and small are the stages where human actors live, play, work, relax, and heal. We are intricately connected to our immediate and imaginary environments through the functional affordances they create and the symbolic meanings they offer. In turn, we also constantly shape and reshape the environments we daily inhabit as our socio-cultural insights and psychological needs call for. These connections are vastly varied in nature and are invariably critical to the deeper understanding of environments that we create through processes, products, and policies in urban design, planning, architecture, landscape architecture, and interior design. Through decades of empirical research, critical practice, incisive dialogues, and insightful theories, we have built a strong foundation of environment-behavior knowledge. We still have questions, however. Why do we find buildings such as St. Peter s Basilica or the Taj Mahal awe-inspiring? Why do we enjoy the experience of being alone in an open and empty natural field, yet feel uncomfortable and unsafe in an open and empty urban plaza? Why do some architectural elements evoke particular emotions or provoke certain feelings? How exactly does a dementia patient benefit from experiencing a sensory garden or why do colors affect them differently? Evidence from nearly a half-century of environment-behavior research has provided us with a plethora of information on social, cultural, and psychological dimensions, and now neuroscience has the potential of adding another very significant and critical dimension. It sets the stage for a comprehensive understanding of both the biological and social scientific facets of environment-behavior interactions. Our brains can reveal to us how the processes underlying human responses to environments take place and how specific neuro-mechanisms can inform us about environmental preferences, feelings, emotions, and sentiments. It can provide a substantive theoretical knowledge base connecting our brains to our behavior and explain to us how we can map the dynamic interactions between human behavior and environments. We act and react to our surroundings because of the ways we are wired both as a neuro-biological entity and as a product of social, cultural, and psychological factors. Both these dimensions are critical in gaining a deeper understanding of our mental and emotional responses to the environments around us. Page 1

2 Amidst the forever stimulating landscapes of Los Angeles, opportunities to link EDRA s legacy of environment-behavior research with the nation s leading neuroscience institutions and scholars abound. A body of scholarship is steadily developing linking the built environment, behavior, and neuroscience. Taking advantage of this, EDRA46 will have a specific thematic track on neuroscience that informs the relationships between environment and behavior. This track will include plenaries, pre-conference intensives, individual presentations, group presentations (symposia, workshops, and professional development tutorials), mobile sessions, EDRAShorts, and posters. EDRA46 also invites submissions in all other environment-behavior domain areas. SUBMISSIONS: Submissions are welcome in either of the tracks below: Neuroscience that informs relationships between environment and behavior Open environment-behavior research domains, such as Post-Occupancy Evaluation, Healthcare, Children s Environments, Cultural Aspects of Design, etc. SUBMISSION TYPES UNDER EITHER TRACK: A maximum of three submissions total across all submission types can be submitted by the same individual. (see pages 3-4 for specific submission requirements) Pre-Conference Intensives: Half-day-4 hours; full-day-8 hours Individual Presentations (Papers or Abstracts): 30 minutes Group Presentations (Symposia, Workshops, Professional Development Tutorials): 90 minutes Mobile Sessions: 4 hours Display Poster Sessions: 60 minutes EDRAShorts: 6 minutes SUBMISSION DEADLINE: All proposals must be submitted online at The submission site opens August 1, All Intensives, Individual Presentations, Group Presentations and Mobile Sessions must be submitted by 9:00am ET on Monday, September 22, All Display Posters and EDRAShorts must be submitted by 9:00am ET on Monday, November 24, REGISTRATION: Registration for EDRA46LosAngeles will open to the public on February 1, All individuals accepted to present in any of the presentation types must be registered by the presenter registration deadline of March 13, Please note: no registration or payment is necessary to submit a proposal. Only those accepted will be required to register. Page 2

3 SUBMISSION TYPES EDRA46LosAngeles has six session types: pre-conference intensives, individual presentations, group presentations, mobile sessions, EDRAShorts, and poster presentations. Learning objectives and participant biographies are a required component of the session submission process so that EDRA can request continuing education credits from AIA CES, IDCEC, LA CES, and APA CM. All sessions have a September 22, 2014 deadline for submission of a paper or abstract, except for display posters and EDRAShorts, which have a deadline of November 24, All submissions undergo a rigorous double-blind refereeing process. New this year: Individuals can only participate in a maximum of three proposals total across all submission types as submitted for review. Pre-Conference Intensives (4 or 8 hours) Wednesday, May 28, 2015 is reserved exclusively for intensives; other presentation types are not scheduled for this day. Intensives are half or full-day sessions devoted to an in-depth exploration of a single topic or theme and use a variety of formats (e.g. presentation, charrette, working session) to engage varying numbers of attendees. abstract and individual presentation abstracts from each of the presentations, four learning objectives, and one presenter biography. The word limit for abstracts is 300 words. Individual Presentations: Papers or Abstracts (30 minutes) Individual presentations should focus on original scholarly or professional research that has not been published or presented elsewhere. Applicants may submit either an abstract or a paper and an abstract (recommended). Please note: those individuals intending to present an entire paper (as opposed to only an abstract) must submit the complete paper by the September 22 deadline. There will not be a separate deadline for full paper uploads. All accepted papers receive consideration for publication in the conference proceedings. Submission requirements: Abstracts: One abstract, four learning objectives, and one presenter biography. The word limit for abstracts is 300 words. Full Papers: One abstract, one full paper uploaded as a Word doc, four learning objectives, and one presenter biography. The limit for full papers is 14 pages, double spaced at 11 pt. font. All images, references and citations should be embedded in full papers. Group Presentations: Symposia, Workshops, Professional Development Tutorials (90 minutes) A group presentation is traditionally a panel of two or more individuals that address a topic of major importance in the field of environment and behavior. The chair organizes the presentation and is responsible for submitting the submission package, organizing the group session, moderating the session and leading the discussion. Page 3

4 Symposia typically provide a forum for emerging conceptual and methodological issues or a critical discussion of exploratory research and work in progress. These presentations should extend the state-ofthe-art of the topic they address, and discussions should be well moderated at a professional level of discourse. Professional Development Tutorials (PDTs) and Workshops are interactive sessions focusing on a specific topic. PDTs should be designed to collaboratively explore a particular research or practice construct, or deliver an educational tutorial on a particular advanced design, method(s), or practice concept. An individual or a team may propose a PDT or Workshop, provided one individual is the team s lead or organizer. abstract and individual presentation abstracts from each of the presentations, four learning objectives, and one presenter biography. The word limit for abstracts is 300 words. Mobile Sessions (4 hours) Mobile Sessions are in-situ EDRA sessions in which the group travels to and interacts with a site of interest. An individual who is interested in and capable of leading and facilitating a unique educational experience at a particular site proposes a mobile session. Local site tour guides may be employed as appropriate. Display Poster Sessions (60 minutes) Consider a poster session if your work lends itself best to a visual representation, or if you do not wish to make a formal presentation in front of an audience. Posters should represent in-progress research or finished research that lends itself to visual presentation, and/or research-informed design projects. In these sessions, the presenter stands near his/her poster or exhibit and discusses its content or design with nearby conference attendees. Poster presentations are an appropriate outlet for professional or student studio design work, policy studies, or visual research. abstract detailing the topic and design methodology. The word limit for abstracts is 300 words. EDRAShorts EDRAShorts are a new presentation option designed to offer informal content to conference attendees in an engaging, abbreviated presentation. Each presentation will be a 6-minute visual presentation (slides, video, animation, etc.) that responds to a particular topic area or research construct. abstract detailing the topic and design methodology. The word limit for abstracts is 300 words. abstract, four learning objectives, and one presenter biography. The word limit for abstracts is 300 words. Submissions in this category must also include an estimate of expenses and proposed expenses. Page 4

5 SUBMISSION SCHOLARSHIPS TYPES AND AWARDS Student Scholarships A limited number of conference scholarships in the form of reduced or complimentary conference registration and/or travel reimbursement are available for current EDRA student members. Students may apply online at between August 1, 2014, and December 15, Applications will not be accepted after the December 14 deadline. Please note: Students will not be able to apply for EDRA conference scholarships if their membership is not current. Best Paper Award All submitters will have the opportunity during the submission process to indicate if they would like the submission to be considered for the EDRA46 Best Paper award. Those full length papers that are accepted will be judged on the submission s quality of research, quality of writing, and alignment of the project to EDRA s mission. Student Paper Award Papers submitted by students are eligible for a special student paper award, but must adhere to specific guidelines. Please visit for complete details. First prize for the Student Paper Award includes a $500 travel voucher, conference fee paid by EDRA, and a one year EDRA student membership. Second place prize is a one year EDRA student membership. All student award finalists merit recognition in EDRA publications. Student Design Awards The EDRA Student Design Award is distinguished by its recognition of environmental designs that respond to human factors in the conception of the full range of environmental scales through the infusion of research findings and users inputs on the needs of human s in the built world. We invite submissions of exemplary environmental design work at a range of scales from urban design, to landscape, to architecture, to interior and industrial design completed by EDRA student members. Design projects should have been completed after January 2014 and should emphasize a link between research and design, demonstrating how an understanding of human interaction, use and experience can inspire excellent environmental design. First prize for the Student Design Award includes a $500 travel voucher, conference fee paid by EDRA, and a one year EDRA student membership. Second place prize is a one year EDRA student membership. All student award finalists merit recognition in EDRA publications. Student Design Award submissions have unique deadlines and submission procedures. Please visit for complete details. Page 5

6 SUBMISSION DEADLINES August 1, 2014 Submission site opens: August 1, 2014 Student scholarship applications accepted through December 14 at September 22, 2014 Deadline for intensives, individual or group presentations, and mobile sessions submissions (abstracts and full papers) November 24, 2014 Deadline for display posters and EDRAShorts submissions (abstracts) December 15, 2014 Acceptance notification for intensives, individual or group presentations, and mobile sessions December 15, 2014 Student conference scholarship applications due January 12, 2015 Deadline for any and all edits to accepted proposals, including adding or deleting names of authors and presenters January 21, 2014 Acceptance notification for display poster sessions and EDRAShorts February 1, 2015 EDRA46 Early Bird Registration Opens February 16, 2015 Deadline for any and all edits to poster and EDRAShorts proposals, including adding or deleting names of authors and presenters March 13, 2015 Registration deadline for all presenters (all individual presenters and group presentation organizers are required to register by March 13, 2015 for the abstract to be included in the conference program and EDRA46 proceedings) May 27, 2015 EDRA46 pre-conference intensives and welcome reception May 28-30, 2015 EDRA46 concurrent, mobile and plenary sessions ABOUT EDRA The Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA) is a global interdisciplinary community of research and design professionals, educators, and students focused on the links between people and their built and natural environments. EDRA s annual conferences focus on research and design presentations in a variety of formats, and have paved the way for cutting-edge research and collaboration in a variety of topics. The American Institute of Architects, the Interior Design Continuing Education Council, the American Society of Landscape Architects, and the American Planning Association recognize EDRA sessions as continuing education venues. We look forward to receiving your proposal! Page 6