synergy! innovation. sexuality. tradition. - a movement towards and an understanding of how cultures, philosophies, identities, spiritualities, sexualities, ethnicities, practices, disciplines, etc., influence our lives and form our experiences by weaving together the various parts of humanity, even in places where conflict and contradiction rule, to create a better way of life that is more compassionate and promotes social justice through hard work, collaboration, and coalition-building. Austin is a city that on the surface appears to be a place of contradictions but is in reality a place of hybridity and duality - rock n roll/country music, Tex-Mex culture, a liberal island in a conservative state, the rustic glory of the wild west meets the shining gleam of technology, and where new ideas sprout from established traditions. We request proposals that strive to celebrate cultural and ethnic diversity, promote the emergence of new ideas and technology out of tried and true approaches, and recognize that our best work will be born out of intergenerational and interdisciplinary collaboration.