Centering Marginalised Voices: Women Scholars, Knowledge Pathways, and Inclusive Futures in Asian Studies
We’re inviting applications for a special Wiley Women Scholars Roundtable at AAS-in-Asia 2026 (Lahore): “Centering Marginalised Voices: Women Scholars, Knowledge Pathways, and Inclusive Futures in Asian Studies.”
This roundtable responds to the AAS-in-Asia 2026 theme, Centering Asia: Refiguring Connections, Recharting Futures, by asking who is centred within Asian Studies, whose voices remain peripheral, and how conference spaces might be reimagined as sites of scholarly transformation rather than simply knowledge display. While Asia is framed as a space of plurality and intellectual possibility, structural inequalities continue to shape academic participation—particularly for early-career women scholars navigating barriers of access, visibility, mobility, and recognition.
Positioned in Lahore, a city historically associated with circulation and intellectual exchange, the session reframes the conference itself as a space of inclusion. Moving beyond conventional panel formats, the roundtable adopts a participatory, workshop-based model that foregrounds mentorship, dialogue, and capacity-building.
The deadline for submission has been extended to May 20, 2026.
The session will feature
- Short research pitches (5 minutes) by selected participants
- Constructive feedback from senior scholars and journal editors
- Guidance on publishing, peer review, and academic writing
- Discussion of conference participation, networking, and career pathways
- A collaborative, mentorship-focused workshop environment
- Sponsored by Asia Pacific Viewpoint, the roundtable also considers the role of journals, editors, and scholarly networks as potential gateways—rather than gatekeepers—for emerging voices. Through editorial insight and mentorship, it explores how publishing pathways and reflective writing can widen participation in global academic conversations.
Participation and support
- Open to women Master’s, PhD students, and early-career researchers based in Pakistan
- Includes a 5-minute research pitch + feedback from senior scholars and journal editors
- Only 5 participants will be selected, and their conference registration will be fully funded
Facilitators
- Niki Alsford — Professor of Anthropology and Human Geography (University of Central Lancashire) and Editor-in-Chief of Asia Pacific Viewpoint
- Shabbir Ahsen — Associate Professor, Department of Social Sciences and Humanities (LUMS)
- By investing in women researchers in Pakistan, this roundtable aims to ensure that the next generation of scholars are not only present within Asian Studies, but actively shaping its future directions.