The International Big History Association (IBHA) defines its purpose as “to promote, support and sponsor the diffusion and improvement of the academic and scholarly knowledge of the scientific field of endeavor commonly known as “Big History” by means of teaching and research and to engage in activities related thereto.”

The theme for the 2014 conference is “Teaching and Researching Big History: Big Picture, Big Questions.” The conference seeks to continue the dialog begun at the first IBHA conference in 2012. In addition IBHA seeks to create a forum for the articulation, discussion, and distillation of questions central to Big History. Among the topics that are to be addressed at the conference through a series of panels, roundtables, and discussions are:

• Big History and energy
• Big History in education
• Big History pedagogy
• Big History scholarship
• Big History research agenda
• Evolution of complexity
• Identification and analysis of thresholds
• Continuity and Contingency in our Universe
• Big History: interdisciplinary, multidisciplinary,
or trans-disciplinary?
• Big History and the future
• Big History and meaning
• Big History outcomes and assessment
• Politics and Big History
• Little Big Histories

Along with regular panels and roundtables, presentations might consist of:
• Question and answer sessions – where Big Historians will be able to answer questions and discuss research questions that are worth pursuing
• Brainstorming sessions – with very short, provocative papers
• General discussion panels – where different points of view about Big History can be addressed in 5 minute increments, specifically addressing the different cultural perceptions of Big History
• Workshops – where participants will view short film fragments and other art forms chosen by Big
Historians, and presentations on Big History from the artistic point of view from artists, musicians, and
storytellers
• Conference roundup – with a keynote address that summarizes the most important things outcomes of the conference

We encourage proposals on any topic related to Big History. A select group of papers will be included in a compilation of Big History Research that will be published after the 2014 conference.

The time limit for presenting papers will be 20 minutes, and the deadline for submitting papers to the session moderator is three weeks in advance of the conference. Individual paper proposals must include a 250 word abstract with the title of the paper, name, institutional affiliation, e-mail address, phone and fax numbers, and brief curriculum vitae, all integrated into a single file, preferably in MS-Word. Proposals for complete sessions or panels must contain the same information for each participant, as well as contact information and a brief C.V. for the moderator if you suggest one. (The program committee can help find moderators, if necessary.) Please submit your paper or panel proposal by clicking on one of these links, which allow for submission information. The deadline for paper and panel submissions is February 10, 2014.

All presenters at the conference must be members of IBHA. Presenters may become members at www.ibhanet.org and will need to do so prior to registration for the conference.

The IBHA Conference will convene on the campus of Dominican University of California in San Rafael, which is located twelve miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. Attendees will have the option of selecting from one of several hotels in San Rafael and the surrounding area or staying in on-campus accommodation.  San Rafael is a wonderful destination in Marin County surround by woods and beaches. For all things San Rafael go to http://www.sanrafael.com. For a complete guide to San Francisco and its many attractions, visit http://www.sanfrancisco.com/. And if you have more time to explore the larger Bay Area, see http://www.visitcalifornia.com/Explore/Bay-Area/.

Please find more details on the conference at www.ibhanet.org. We hope you can join us for this fantastic second IBHA conference!