8th i-Rec Conference: Reconstruction & Recovery for Displaced Populations & Refugees

General

The main goal of i-Rec conferences is to contribute to disaster reconstruction and recovery knowledge and its applications in disaster impacted populations through interdisciplinary research and information sharing with various stakeholders. The 2017 i-Rec conference seeks to understand how disaster recovery and reconstruction knowledge and practice can contribute to the recovery and reconstruction of displaced and refugee populations.

In particular, the conference seeks to push the boundaries of knowledge on recovery and reconstruction and develop new areas of inquiry that help to solve the complex problems related to forced displacement. The conference is expressly designed to bring researchers, practitioners, and policy makers together to collaborate in moving this critical issue forward, and to bring it to the attention of decision makers faced with the realities of forced displacement.

Conference Main Theme

According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the total number of people forcibly displaced worldwide in 2015 reached a total of 65.3 million. An estimated 12.4 million of these were newly displaced in 2015 as a result of conflict or persecution. Many of these displaced populations may never be able to go back and rebuild their houses, communities, and businesses. Therefore, it is important that recovery and reconstruction professionals, researchers, and policymakers examine how displaced populations can rebuild their life in new locations and recover from disasters that have impacted their lives, livelihoods, and communities. Therefore, the main theme of this year's symposium, Reconstruction and Recovery for Displaced Populations and Refugees reflects the need to better understand the multidimensionality and complexity of population displacement and the role that reconstruction and recovery knowledge and practice can play in this regard.

Conference Tracks

Abstracts and session proposals are accepted for the main theme and the following tracks:

• Recovery and reconstruction & forced displacement caused by wars, conflicts, climate change, development projects, and land speculation;
• Life, Livelihoods, Settlement and Space for internal and international displaced populations;
• Long-term impacts and effects of displacement;
• Design for refugee spaces, refugee camps and temporary spaces;
• The first critical step in post-disaster recovery and reconstruction;
• The whole community (inclusive) post-disaster recovery and reconstruction;
• Recovery and reconstruction of cultural and historic sites and community spaces;
• Green reconstruction and indigenous architecture;
• Post-disaster recovery and reconstruction experiences of businesses and firms;
• Learning from Canadian post-disaster recovery and reconstruction experiences;
• Post-war and conflict housing reconstruction (refugee camps and temporary housing processes);
• Post-disaster monitoring, mapping, data mining (big data), modelling and simulation;
• Theoretical issues and models of post-disaster reconstruction policies and planning;

Abstracts related to other areas of post-disaster recovery and reconstructions are also welcomed.

Abstract Submission

We invite researchers and practitioners to submit 300-400 word abstracts, by February 15, 2017 to [email protected] following the abstract format found on the related page. Abstracts and session proposals should include:

• a short title;
• the name(s) and email(s) of author(s) or the panelists;
• an indication of the relevant track;
• an explanation of the state of the issue to be addressed;
• a clear explanation of the methods used or sources information;
• a clear explanation of the results found and their practical and/or theoretical implications.

All abstracts will be reviewed by the i-Rec 2017 Scientific Committee and accepted abstracts will either be given a space in the programme for oral presentation or within a round-table session or invited to submit a poster. All authors whose abstracts have been accepted for presentation are invited to provide an extended abstract or a FULL paper of maximum 7000 words to be published in i-Rec 2017 peer reviewed conference proceedings. Formatting guidelines will be provided. All accepted abstracts will be published on the i-Rec website.

Important Dates

• Call for papers announced: October 15, 2016
• Abstract and Session proposal submission deadline: February 15, 2017
• Registration opens: January 15, 2017
• Notification of acceptance: March 1, 2017
• Full paper submission deadline: May 1, 2017
• Early bird registration deadline: April 1, 2017
• Conference dates: June 1-2, 2017

The i-Rec Student Competition 

Every two years, i-Rec organizes an international student competition of architectural and urban solutions for post-disaster reconstruction and disaster prevention. Participating projects must address: architectural and urban design, logistics and process-related solutions. The students are therefore encouraged to think about both the products and the processes of intervention. The interested participant may visit the related page.