# Balance–Unbalance International Conference:

Water, Climate, Place: Reimagining Environments

27–29 March, 2015

Arizona State University, Tempe Campus with events across Phoenix, USA


## Call for Papers, Posters, Panels and Creative Presentations

Balance-Unbalance, an international conference, brings multiple disciplines together to explore intersections between nature, art, Science, new technologies, aid agencies and society with the goal of developing cross-disciplinary initiatives using innovative art and technology to advance ecological awareness and sustainability practices and to inspire wide-ranging community engagement in the face of unprecedented environmental challenges.

We are living in a world at the tipping point, where the equilibrium between a healthy environment and the energy our society needs to maintain or improve its lifestyle and its interconnected economies could collapse more quickly than expected. Today’s delicate balance is at a critical point with the potential to herald a new reality where unbalance is the rule. The conference envisions the arts as a catalyst for reimagining our current environments.

Founded by Argentinian-born artist and scholar Ricardo Dal Farra in 2010 to promote novel forms of creativity that can help solve environmental problems, Balance-Unbalance has been sponsored by UNESCO, the Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre, Leonardo Journal: The International Society for the Arts, Sciences and Technology, the National University of Tres de Febrero, Argentina (2010), Concordia University, Canada (2011), Central Queensland University, and the Noosa Biosphere in Australia (2013).

Balance-Unbalance 2015 will focus on water, climate, and place, seeking dialogues and creative projects engaged with water and climate problems around the globe. Given the location of the conference, the Sonoran Desert, discussions and presentations may address water issues and climate change in the context of desert landscapes.

These dialogues may take the form of scholarly and creative presentations, including research papers, transdisciplinary workshops and activities, panel discussions or roundtables, sound and media art, musical performances, installations, soundwalks, and posters. It will provide a forum for the growing body of sustainability research in the arts, humanities and sciences and for creative activities inspired by environmental concerns. We welcome proposals from but not limited to artists, art and humanities scholars, scientists, engineers, economists, and policy makers to advance discussions and collaborative efforts that lead to solutions for a sustainable future.


## Proposals should include the following information:

Please see the submission page for required information on each proposal type.

Categories for submission include:

* Full paper
* Paper abstract
*`Performance
* Installation
* Panel
* Transdisciplinary workshop
* Poster
* Virtual project

Proposals may address a range of topics including but not limited to:

* Water access and scarcity
* Salinity and changes to water tables
* Expanding deserts
* Management of urban growth
* Urban engagement non-urban environments
* Climate change
* Climate impact on weather patterns
* Disaster management
* Climate impact on cultural practices
* Noise pollution
* Acoustic ecology
* Environmental awareness
* Community action
* Social change
* Change making


## Important Dates

Proposal submission deadline: November 1, 2014

Notification of presenters: December 31, 2014

Submit to via the submissions page (http://www.balance-unbalance2015.org/?page_id=37) using a supplied template.

The Program committee will include among other artists and academics: Ricardo Dal Farra, Sabine Feisst, Mary Neubauer, Garth Paine, and Leah Barclay.

Information on the program, keynote speakers, featured guest artists and scholars, registration, travel, and accommodation will be announced soon.

For additional questions please send e-mails to: info@balance-unbalance2015.org