ResilienceCon 2024 will be held in
Nashville, TN
April 14-16, with a Resilience Portfolio Consortium on April 17 from 9-2pm Central
Abstract Submission Deadlines:
General Submission Deadline: October 27, 2023, 11:59pm CST
Late-Breaking Submission Deadline: January 26, 2024, 11:59pm CST
Deadline for Promising Scholar and Promising Advocate Scholarships:
November 17, 2023 by 11:59pm Central
Questions? Email us at lifepaths@lifepathsresearch.org
Conference Dates: April 14-16, 2024
Join us for ResilienceCon 2024! ResilienceCon™ is an international conference that focuses on strengths-based approaches for research, prevention, and intervention on violence and other adversities. All ResilienceCon sessions are interview-based with live interactions. Every keynote and breakout session makes time for moderated interviews of the presenters, followed by an audience Q&A. Moderators are not just timekeepers but also serve as hosts and interviewers. Poster sessions include opportunities for informal interactions. All formats make space for great conversations, where participants hear about lessons learned, professional stories, and what it really takes to successfully implement a project or intervention.
For 2024, we will be offering two submission deadlines: The general submission deadline will be October 27, 2023, 11:59 PM CST. We also recognize that the results of some of the most exciting projects may not be available until closer to the actual conference, so we will also be offering a late-breaking submission deadline, which is January 26, 2024, 11:59 PM CST. Submissions for the late-breaking deadline should be on new research and projects that have not yet been presented at other conferences, ideally for studies that are completed after the general submission deadline.
Because the UNH conference on International Family Violence and Child Victimization Research Conference remains on pause, we’d like to extend a special invitation to anyone conducting research on violence and victimization.
For more information about ResilienceCon, visit our website: https://resiliencecon.org
Program Topics
We invite submissions on all aspects of resilience and adversity, including:
- Resilience and the social ecology, including protective characteristics of individuals, families, schools, and communities
- Strength and resilience among people and communities of color
- Cross-cultural and international research on strengths or resilience
- Community-based participatory research to promote health and well-being
- Developmental and other longitudinal studies of strengths or resilience
- Resilience and schools, including school climate and social networks
- Resilience across the full spectrum of sexual and gender identities
- Community resilience, including research on health disparities and other systemic issues
- Resilience among individuals with disabilities
- Resilience and rehabilitation in criminal justice and other offender settings
- Resilience among active military personnel and veterans
- Research on well-being, health, post-traumatic growth, and other resilient outcomes
- Resilience and self-care for professionals and diverse workforces
- Strengths-based approaches to prevention and intervention, such as (but not limited to): social and emotional learning (SEL), cultural connectedness, redefining masculinity, bystander programs, mindfulness, narrative, arts-based programs, movement-based programs, and trauma-informed care
- Policy initiatives to promote resilience
We also welcome submissions that focus on violence, trauma, and adversities or primarily on well-being or other outcomes, because understanding antecedents and consequences is essential for understanding the strengths that contribute to resilience, which is the process leading to thriving despite experiences of adversity. These submissions should clearly make the link to helping people prevent or overcome adversity.
Session Formats
All sessions offer opportunities for live interactions among presenters and attendees. Guidelines and examples for all presentation types are on our website at: https://lifepathsresearch.org/resiliencecon-guidelines-presenters-moderators/
Posters. A poster is a visual presentation of a project. Poster sessions offer opportunities for informal interaction with conference attendees. Poster sessions also offer the opportunity to learn about many studies in a single session. If you are a student or someone else who is working on their first research study, then we recommend the poster format, but more senior researchers may also submit posters. Posters may be submitted and presented in English, Spanish, and French.
Data blitz option for poster presenters. Poster presenters can also indicate whether they would like to be considered for the data blitz. A data blitz gives each poster presenter 3 minutes, using a maximum of 3 slides, to present the key findings from their poster and encourage people to stop by and learn more about their study. The data blitz is primarily designed for students.
All breakout sessions are interview based. We have 3 types of breakout sessions: 20×20, Perspectives, and Hot Topics. All 3 types of breakouts are divided into 3 sections. The 1st section is 6-10 minutes per presenter, the 2nd section is an interview of the presenters conducted by the session host. The 3rd section is an open Q&A with the audience. The result is much deeper interactions, both with your fellow panelists and with the audience, that are more transformative (and interesting!) than typical conference sessions.
20×20 presentations. 20×20 presentations are fast-paced slide presentations that are similar in style to TED talks. The name comes from the standardized format: each presentation is 20 slides set on a 20-second automatic advance. So, each presentation lasts exactly 6 minutes, 40 seconds. The format favors slides that focus on a few (even one or two) words or images, not densely packed text. Several presentations will be grouped in a single panel with a session host. Like TED talks, these are good presentations to offer commentary, present a new idea, or offer key highlights from a current research study or community program. 20×20 presentations are great for helping you to hone your key take-home messages. The fast pace creates a stimulating environment with maximum time for discussion.
- You may submit a single 20×20 presentation, and then you will be grouped with others presenting on similar topics.
20×20 symposia. We also welcome teams of 4 to 5 presenters to organize their own 20×20 symposia (with or without a discussant).
Perspectives. Perspectives are 8-10-minute talks in a more traditional format. They are well suited for an overview and synthesis of at least two different datasets or other data sources (defined broadly, we are open to considering ethnography, history, or other sources of knowledge). We are especially interested in discussion of insights that are best appreciated from looking at findings that did and did not replicate, “lessons learned” about methods, or how these results can inspire future research on your topic.
- You may submit a single Perspectives presentation, and then you will be grouped with others presenting on similar topics.
Perspectives symposia. Teams of 3-4 presenters may organize perspectives symposia (with or without a discussant as a 5th person).
“Hot Topic” panel discussions. A 4-to-7-person panel on a current question in the field. These can be trending topics, controversies, or understudied issues (or all 3). The first section of these will be an opening statement, 5-7 minutes long, of the presenter’s position, ideas, or information on a topic. This will be followed by the interview section. Typically, in Hot Topics panels, the session host works in advance with the panelists to develop discussion questions (see the Guidelines section on our website for examples). Most Hot Topics presenters do not use PowerPoint or other slides, although it is permitted if desired. This is a chance to move beyond the constraints of data-driven presentations to talk about theory building, brainstorm about reconciling contradictory findings, or making new connections between research and practice.
Submission Guidelines
To submit your abstract you will need the following information: Title; abstract (up to 200 words); presenter’s name, affiliation, and contact information; co-authors’ names, affiliations, and emails; presenter bio (up to 100 words); and conflict of interest certification. Organized symposia also require an overview abstract. If you have questions about the session formats or your submission plans or ideas, contact us at lifepaths@lifepathsresearch.org
- Please note that presenters are responsible for their own expenses, including travel and registration.
- Conference registration includes hors d’oeuvre’s on Sunday, and breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks on Monday and Tuesday of the conference.
- Presenters from low-income countries (as determined by the World Bank) may qualify for reduced registration rates. Click here to see if you qualify. The reduced fee schedule is also on our registration page. All eligible presenters are welcome to apply for the scholarship opportunities described below.
Scholarship Opportunities
We offer two types of scholarships: Life Paths Promising Scholar Award and Life Paths Promising Advocate Award. Full scholarships include conference registration and a $200 housing allowance for people who travel to Nashville from outside the area. We will pay full scholarship winners a $200 housing reimbursement after a submission of a receipt from a hotel, Air BNB, or other forms of housing is received.
Scholarship winners are expected to attend the entire conference, April 14-16, 2024.
A limited number of honorable mentions are also available (50% off registration).
For full application details, click here.
Life Paths Promising Scholar Award. We offer 4 scholarships for presentations that focus on under-served or marginalized communities. Scholarships include conference registration. Eligibility is limited to current students (graduate and undergraduate), post-baccalaureate fellows, and post-doctoral fellows. Click here to to apply for a Promising Scholar Award.
Life Paths Promising Advocate Award. We also offer 4 scholarships for advocates who are currently working at a non-profit organization serving people/communities who are underserved or have experienced violence, marginalization, or distress. Scholarships include conference registration. Click here to apply for a Promising Advocate Award.
*We will give preference to people in full-time advocacy, first responder, and practitioner positions.
Exhibitor & Sponsorship Opportunities
We will be offering the opportunity for advocates and other service providers to have provide materials to attendees at ResilienceCon, helping to create networks between researchers and advocates. If we are able to meet in person, we will offer the opportunity for exhibitors to set up booths during ResilienceCon. Other sponsorship opportunities will also be available. Please email lifepaths@lifepathsresearch.org for inquiries, or click here.
Conference Setting: Resilience Inside and Out
The Scarritt Bennett Center offers an exceptionally beautiful and serene environment right in the heart of Nashville. The campus has historic buildings (on the National Register of Historic Places) and tree-lined green spaces. The Scarritt Bennett Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to social justice. The environment supports ResilienceCon goals by providing space (literally) to reflect on our roles as researchers and practitioners.
Scarritt Bennett, near Vanderbilt University, is within easy walking distance of restaurants and shops in the vibrant West End and Midtown areas. It is a short drive to Broadway music venues.
There are many local hotels and housing options near the Scarritt Bennett Center. In addition, Scarritt Bennett offers low-cost housing that is consistent with their mission to provide a place for reflection. The Scarritt-Bennett Center underwent renovations a couple years ago. They offer private suites (one bedroom, private bathroom; these often sell out first), or options where you have your own bedroom but may share a bathroom with someone (great for folks traveling together).
If you prefer a conventional hotel, we have a list of nearby options on our website. There are also many Airbnb and VRBO (vacation rental by owner) options in the area.
Nashville is Music City USA and one of the most vibrant cities in the United States. Experience live music, an increasingly fantastic restaurant scene, world-class shopping, and many museums and landmarks in the vicinity. There are many family-friendly activities as well.
Chairs of ResilienceCon
Sherry Hamby, Ph.D. (Life Paths Research Center and University of the South)
Nicole Yuan, Ph.D., MPH (University of Arizona)
Susan Yoon, Ph.D., MSW (The Ohio State University)
Victoria Banyard, Ph.D. (Rutgers University) – Founding Chair
Click here if you would like to become involved in the ResilienceCon program committee, see information on eligibility requirements, responsibilities, and benefits.
Contact Us
Inquiries can be sent to the Conference Director, Liz Taylor, at lifepaths@lifepathsresearch.org
ResilienceCon and the ResilienceCon logo are trademarks of Life Paths Appalachian Research Center, LLC.