[CMS] Call for Participation: Intersecting Histories of the Greater Bay Area (1820-1940) Research Paper Workshop

[澳門研究中心] 2026「粵港澳大灣區的歷史交叠（1820 ─1940）」學術論文工作坊

 2025-12-19     CMS     Bulletin / 公告 

The Centre for Macau Studies (CMS) will conduct the ” Intersecting Histories of the Greater Bay Area (1820-1940) Research Paper Workshop“, aims to provide a platform to aid graduate students in choosing a research topic, with the following results:

  • write an original research paper
  • make the paper presentable at our annual conference
  • aid students in revising the paper for publication

Topics that can lead to an MA or PhD thesis will be given priority, with an emphasis on “Intersecting Histories of the Greater Bay Area (1820 to 1940)”.

 

Our Team: Agnes Lam, Paul Van Dyke, Sheyla Zandonai, Dennis Tam

Application details and requirements:

  1. Students must complete the application form as attached, in which the applicant is required to submit a summary, and return it to cms.conference@um.edu.mo before 5 January 2026.
  2. Language of the workshop: English
  3. for enquiry: please feel free to contact Dr. Dennis Tam at 8822-8138 or send email to cms.conference@um.edu.mo

 

Day 1: Wednesday, 14 January 2026, 14:00 to 17:00

14:00 Introduction

  • Welcoming Ceremony: Agnes Lam, Dennis Tam
  • Introduction to Intersecting Histories: Paul Van Dyke
  • Objective of the Workshop with Q&A: Sheyla Zandonai

15:00-15:15 Refreshments

15:15-17:00 Getting Started: Choosing Your Research Topic

  • Determining the potential of a topic
  • Finding potential sources
  • Assembling and organizing data
  • Structure and conceptualizing the research
  • Choosing the right methodology

Goal of Day 1: All students have one or more potential topics to explore over the next two weeks

 

Day 2: Wednesday, 28 January 2026, 14:00 to 17:00

Topic Presentations (15-20 minutes per student) and Examining its Potential

  • Discuss the procedures you went through over the past two weeks and your findings
  • Group Discussion: Examining your topic with our team

(Agnes Lam, Paul Van Dyke, Sheyla Zandonai, Dennis Tam)

  • Determining the topic’s potential: is it worthwhile doing?
  • Exploring the secondary sources: has it already been done?
  • Exploring the primary sources: are there enough data?
  • What methodology might work best?

Goal of Day 2: All students have a path forward

 

Day 3: Wednesday, 11 February 2026, 14:00 to 17:00

Data Presentations (15-20 minutes per student)

  • Discuss what you have learned about your topic over the past two weeks. What are its strong points and weak points?
  • Group Discussion: Examining your data with our team

(Agnes Lam, Paul Van Dyke, Sheyla Zandonai, Dennis Tam)

  • How to move the project forward?
  • Is the methodology a good match with the topic?
  • What is needed to make the paper presentable at a conference?
  • What is needed to make the paper publishable?

Goal of Day 3: All students have a topic that has potential for our conference in May.

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Appendix

The following are topics that have much potential for further research, but these are only suggestions. All topics students present will be considered.

  1. Ethnic/National Groups
  • East: Muslims, Parsees, Armenians, Hindus, Indians, SE Asians
  • West: Portuguese, Spanish, Italians, French, North and South Americans, or by country, India/Delta Interactions, etc.
  1. Business Histories
  • Businesses with multiple branches throughout the Delta
  • Comparative analysis of like businesses in Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macao
  1. Family Histories (Chinese & Foreign)
  2. Biographies
  3. Political Exchanges between Canton, Hong Kong and Macao
  4. Delta Commerce
  • Shipping
  • Banking
  • Marine Insurance
  • Chambers of Commerce
  • Dockyards
  • Sea Shops
  • Seamen and organizations connected to them
  1. Tourism
  • Hospitality (hotels, restaurants, souvenirs, snack shops, etc.)
  • Tourist Sites
  • Booking Agencies
  • Advertising & Business Cards
  1. Transportation (local and intercity)
    • Ferry Services
    • Sedan Chairs & Palanquins
    • Rickshaws
  2. Currency Exchange
  • Shops
  • Money Changers (Shroffs)
  • Licensing
  • Freelance
  1. Postal Services & Infrastructure

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For Word file of the application form, please send your request to Dr. Dennis Tam at cms.conference@um.edu.mo.