22 June - 3 July 2009, London School of Economics
In 2008, PhD students at Melbourne Law School had the opportunity to participate in an international symposium hosted by the Association of Transnational Law Schools (ATLAS) for the first time. This opportunity will be offered again in 2009. This is a unique chance for the best PhD students from some of the world's elite universities to meet, receive critical feedback on their work, and to attend lectures by leading legal scholars. Melbourne Law School is proud to be a founding member of ATLAS as part of our on-going commitment to foster outstanding researchers and research degrees of international relevance. ATLAS is a consortium of institutions of higher education from around the world dedicated to the intellectual formation of highly talented doctoral students and fostering reflection and research on issues broadly related, but not limited, to comparative legal and regulatory responses to various forces of globalization, international governance challenges and the evolution of transnational law. Click here for further information about this program and the partner institutions.
Each year Atlas will hold an academic event called the Agora featuring Dissertation Research Seminars; General Courses (with participants being required to choose one); Methodology Workshops; Occasional Seminars; Informal Discussion Evenings; and Film Evenings each weekend. The focus of the substantive presentations is on international, transnational and comparative law (both public and private). There will also be a Distinguished ATLAS Lecture series, with leading academics or policy-makers delivering major addresses on topics tying into ATLAS themes. Participants will have a chance to formally present and receive feedback on their own work and to also engage in informal discussions with their peers from around the world.
The Melbourne Law School has the opportunity to nominate several doctoral candidates to attend this year’s ATLAS Agora. Applications are open to any candidate who is either confirmed or scheduled to be confirmed in the first half of 2009.
Participants at the Agora will need to find funding to cover the costs of return airfares to London, accommodation and most meals. LSE has limited accommodation available for £40 per night (which is a very good price in London). Any candidate who is accepted for the Agora can apply for funding from the internal Research Support Fund and the University MATS scheme. If you have funds remaining in your Research Support Fund, you are guaranteed that you will be given approval to use them for the Agora if you are selected. The MATS process is university wide and competitive, but the Law School will support your application.
To apply, please write a letter (not exceeding 500 words) that outlines your thesis topic, explains the progress that has been made so far and outlines how you would benefit from participating in the ATLAS Agora. The letter should be signed by your supervisor or your supervisor should email a separate letter of support to the Research Office. If you have any further questions about the ATLAS organisation or your application to attend this academy, please do not hesitate to contact Carolyn Evans, Associate Dean (Research).
If you are interested in attending the Agora in 2009, please submit an application to the Office for Research (room GM28) by Friday 27 February 2009.
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