Conference Climates: International Rhetoric Workshop and Inclusive Learning Practices.

Conferences can be sites for learning about contemporary research, socializing, and developing projects. However, they can also orbit around already established forms of knowledge-making, dividing the academic dialogue along sociocultural, racial, gendered, and national lines. Through the concept of conference climate, this article explores the International Rhetoric Workshop (IRW)—an alternative conference site that has sought to empower international and early-career scholars. IRW is designed to address not only the intellectual, but also the social, emotional, and physical dimensions of the conference environment. The article concludes with ways to design interactive and inclusive conferences while sustaining a less hierarchical organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]