The Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics is seeking papers from scholars to be presented at its upcoming conference on cross-cultural connections.

The call for abstracts of papers is focused on the Midwest, but Robin Hinders, special assignment secretary for the center, said the center also sent information to national publications that are associated with political science and communication.

“Civic Discourse in a Global Community: Creating Cross-Cultural Connections” will be the topic of the conference, to be held October 2-3. This will be the Catt Center’s sixth annual conference.

Dianne Bystrom, director of the Catt Center, said the topic was chosen to address current issues and to add a more interdisciplinary focus to the conference.

“[Civic discourse] seemed like a timely topic and one that had both national, and international dimensions,” Bystrom said. “This topic really cuts across academic lines.”

Papers exploring how intersections of race, gender, ethnicity and class affect civic discourse, public policy and political processes in the United States and abroad will be of particular interest, according to a press release.

The center is also seeking nominations for the 1998 Carrie Chapman Catt Prize for Research on Women and Politics. Hinders said this $1,000 award goes to further the recipient’s research.

“The person who wins the prize will also present his or her paper or research at the conference,” Hinders said.

Bystrom said the Catt Prize is unique because it doesn’t present any restrictions on how the money may be used.

“It can be used in any way that supports their research on women and politics, and there’s just not a lot of those kind of prizes around,” she said.

Papers received will be evaluated by the conference committee, and some will be selected for presentation at the conference. Hinders said people have been invited to serve as keynote speakers for the conference, but the center has not yet received any confirmations.

Bystrom said the conference will feature four panel presentations, with three to five papers discussed at each.

Although the deadline is over three weeks away, Bystrom said she has been pleased with the response they have received so far.

“One thing I’ve been struck by this year is how many people from out-of-state have submitted papers,” she said.

Scholars at any level, including graduate students and junior faculty members, can submit research proposals for Catt Prize consideration. Proposals for the prize and abstracts of papers are both due July 1.

Guidelines for proposals and more information can be obtained from the Catt Center by calling 294-3181, or by e-mailing [email protected].