Symposium of UNESCO Chair on Science Diplomacy and Scientific Heritage

UNESCO Chair on Science Diplomacy and Scientific Heritage: Communication and Cultural Connections Between the Arab World and Latin America CALL FOR PAPERS 5th International Symposium of the UNESCO Chair on Science Diplomacy and Scientific Heritage Bridging Civilizations: Communication and Cultural Connections Between the Arab World and Latin America Bogotá, Colombia | April 18, 19, 20, 2027 In conjunction with the International Book Fair of Bogotá (FILBo) 2027 Organizers • University of Sharjah, UAE • Sharjah Institute for Heritage, UAE • Universidad de los Andes, Colombia • Universidad del Rosario, Colombia • National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Mexico • Asociación Latinoamericana de Investigadores de la Comunicación • University of the Arts Sharjah, UAE The UNESCO Chair on Scientific Heritage and Science Diplomacy invites scholars, researchers, graduate students, heritage professionals, and cultural practitioners to submit proposals for the international symposium “Bridging Civilizations: Communication and Cultural Connections Between the Arab World and Latin America,” to be held in Bogotá, Colombia, from April 4–6, 2027. The symposium takes place in the context of Sharjah’s participation as Guest of Honor at the International Book Fair of Bogotá (FILBo) 2027 and seeks to strengthen academic, scientific, and cultural cooperation between Latin America and the Arab world. This symposium is conceived as more than a conventional academic conference. Rather than simply providing a venue for presenting completed research, it will create an intellectual space in which participants can discuss work in progress, receive constructive feedback, interact with scholars from different disciplines and regions, and further develop their ideas for publication. Participants will have opportunities to identify common research interests and develop new international collaborations. Particular emphasis will be placed on encouraging comparative, interdisciplinary, and co-authored research connecting scholars and institutions in Latin America and the Arab world. The symposium therefore welcomes both established research and promising work in progress that can benefit from discussion and further development. Publication Opportunity Selected papers presented at the symposium will be invited for publication in a Scopus-indexed academic publication. Following the symposium, selected authors will be given additional time to revise and substantially develop their manuscripts in response to discussions, scholarly feedback, and editorial guidance received during the event. The publication initiative is intended not simply to record symposium proceedings, but to produce a significant scholarly contribution to understanding the historical and contemporary relationships between the Arab world and Latin America. Symposium Themes Submissions are welcomed on topics including, but not limited to: Historical Connections and Shared Heritage • Arab influences on Iberian and Latin American cultural development • Arab migration and diaspora communities in Latin America • Historical encounters between Latin America and the Arab world • Shared traditions in architecture, literature, heritage, and cultural expression • Historical routes of intellectual and scientific exchange Scientific Heritage and Knowledge Transfer • Contributions of Arab and Muslim scholars to global scientific development • Scientific heritage and intercultural understanding • Knowledge circulation between civilizations • Museums, archives, libraries, and heritage institutions • Digital preservation and dissemination of scientific heritage Culture, Media, and Representation • Representations of Latin America in Arab media • Representations of the Arab world in Latin American media • Journalism, media, and cross-cultural communication • Translation, literature, and cultural circulation • Film, visual culture, and digital media • Public diplomacy and cultural diplomacy • Communication, identity, and intercultural dialogue Science Diplomacy and Future Cooperation • Science diplomacy and international cooperation • Heritage as an instrument of diplomacy • Academic diplomacy and university partnerships • Collaborative approaches to research and knowledge production • Cultural diplomacy between Latin America and the Arab world • Building sustainable Arab–Latin American academic networks • Interdisciplinary and comparative proposals that bring together perspectives, experiences, evidence, or methodologies from both regions are particularly encouraged. Submission Guidelines Applicants should submit a 200-word abstract clearly identifying: • The title of the proposed paper • Research question or central argument • Theoretical or conceptual approach • Methodology or sources, where applicable • Relevance to the themes of the symposium • Author name, institutional affiliation, position, and contact information Proposals for collaborative and co-authored papers involving scholars from Latin America and the Arab world are particularly welcome.