Congratulations to the Sociology Department, Maynooth University on a very successful 51st SAI Annual Conference.
The Sociological Association of Ireland (SAI) held its 2024 Annual Conference at Maynooth University on May 10-11. The conference, themed "Sociological Imagination: Creating Hopeful Futures," attracted sociologists and scholars from various fields to discuss pressing social issues and explore future possibilities through a sociological lens.
The event featured a series of keynotes, panel discussions, and workshops. A highlight was the keynote address by Professor Henrike Rau from LMU Munich, who presented on sustainable consumption and the sociology of everyday practices. Her talk emphasized the importance of transforming daily routines to achieve sustainable resource consumption.
Panels covered diverse topics such as the sociology of the environment, race and ethnicity, migration, and decolonization. Discussions included the effects of Brexit on EU nationals in Northern Ireland, the decolonization of social metabolism, and the challenges of integrating climate change into social sciences curricula.
The conference also featured a postgraduate poster exhibition, providing a platform for students to showcase their research. Social events, including a wine reception and a conference dinner, fostered networking and collaboration among attendees.
Overall, the conference was a dynamic and engaging event that brought together a wide array of sociological perspectives to address current social challenges and envision hopeful futures
A big thank you to staff and the postgraduate community for their work and contributions, with special thanks to Anne Hamilton Black, Orla Dunne, Mary Corcoran, Pauline Cullen, Paul Ryan and Anne Fitzgerald.
