(Apologies for cross-posting) *Diversifying Persona Studies: Online International Conference and Special Issue* -What is persona studies? What should persona studies be? -How can the field be as inclusive and diverse as possible? -What are possible futures for persona studies research and scholarship? In 2021 we wish to ask hard questions about the assumptions and the scope of study that have hitherto grounded the field. We see this as a crucial opportunity to destabilise and to interrogate what we do and why we do it, to make space for new voices and areas of study, and to actively facilitate inclusive scholarship. *Participation in the online conference is in two parts. Accepted presenters pre-record a 10 minute research presentation and submit with an extended abstract of 800-1000 words. These will be collated into themed playlists, equivalent to a conference session. These playlists, extended abstracts and author bios will be circulated in a program to registered presenters and other participants for viewing throughout July and August. Presenters will then be invited to participate in a webinar with others from their playlist or theme. The webinar will be broadcast live and be equivalent to a panel and Q&A discussion. Those watching the livestream will be able to ask questions, through the webinar chair, both before and during the panel. The webinars will be crucial opportunities to discuss, develop, and grow our work. All presentation proposals can also be considered for inclusion in the special double issue of Persona Studies. This issue will be, as always, online and open-access, with no APCs. All topics relate to Persona Studies will be considered but we particularly encourage and welcome submissions that address: -understudied theories of persona -challenging persona studies -queering personas -activism and persona -indigeneity and persona -race and persona -disability and persona -age and persona -gender and persona -exceptional personas -contested personas -personas and the banal -persona and migration/diaspora -other considerations of difference, diversity, and justice with a persona studies framework *Call for Papers:* Abstracts: In the first instance, submit a 300-500 word abstract outlining the proposed presentation and its connection to the theme of diversifying persona studies. Please include title, brief author biography, and indicate whether you’d like to be considered for the 2021 special issue. Send abstracts to personastudies [at] gmail [dot] com with the subject heading “Diversifying Persona Studies” by 31 March 2021. Special Issue: Building on the pre-recorded presentations and the webinar discussions, Persona Studies will be issuing a special issue on the theme of Diversifying Persona Studies in late 2021. Invitations to submit full length (6000 words) papers will be based on abstracts submitted to conference. Full papers will be due 16 August 2021. Key dates: -Abstracts due: 31 March 2021 -Notification of acceptance to present, invitation to submit full paper; Registration opens: 15 April 2021 -Pre-recorded presentation and extended abstract due: 14 June 2021 -Registration closes: 5 July 2021 -Curated playlists and programs released: 5 July 2021 -Discussions with authors, livestreamed and recorded (dates indicative only): 16 July 2021, 23 July 2021, 30 July 2021, 6 August 2021 -Full papers due for peer review: 16 August 2021 -Special issue released: October 2021 Costs: This conference and webinar series is being run on a volunteer basis. We are asking a nominal registration fee for participants of AU$50 to offset the costs of administrative support. Contingent, unwaged, and student presenters can apply to have this cost waived upon notification of acceptance. Your capacity to pay will not impact your ability to participate.