The wide variety of sessions on the Annual Meeting program reflects the ASA's commitment to facilitate intellectual communication and the transmission of knowledge, information, and skills relevant to the field of sociology and aligned social sciences. Special Sessions focus attention on a variety of critical questions facing the world today, including urban change, racial equality, immigration policy, issues of social identity, labor markets, and education. Workshops and Seminars provide the opportunity to learn about cutting-edge developments in research, teaching, practice, and theory. Authors Meet Critics sessions highlight recent scholarly publications of major importance to social scientists. These interactive sessions encourage discussion by attendees as well as the invited panelists, making them one of the most interesting program activities.
Poster Sessions provide another means to disseminate useful information.
There will be spotlights on current research, immigrant children, data and funding opportunities, research by new PhDs, computer resources for use in research and teaching, modes of visual research and analysis, and a special poster event on graduate programs. Regional Spotlight Sessions probe the rich heritage of Chicago for the social sciences and the special importance of the site for Sociology. Video Screenings of current films enable attendees to update video libraries and add to teaching resources for the coming year. Open Submission Paper Sessions provide opportunities for researchers to share knowledge and new directions in research and practice. Submissions were welcomed from all realms of the social sciences.