Theory and Practices in Sociological Inquiry:
Conversations between Peking University and The University of Hong Kong
Saturday, 24 January 2026 at 1:00:00 am UTC
As the third event of the long-term collaboration between the sociology departments at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and Peking University (PKU), this conference aims to bring together sociologists from PKU and HKU to discuss new challenges in sociological research. The conference will explore a wide range of topics, including theory and history, digital media, political and moral narratives, family in China, and etc. By launching a platform for exchange and collaboration, the conference seeks to strengthen the academic exchange between the two sociology departments at PKU and HKU and foster a deeper understanding of the evolving landscape of sociological research.
Theory and Practices in Sociological Inquiry: Conversations between Peking University and The University of Hong Kong
📅Date: 24 January, 2026 (Saturday)
🕑Time: 9:00am – 5:30pm
📍Venue: CPD LG.34 (Keynote speeches and Panel 1,3,5) and CPD 2.45 (Panel 2,4,6), The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
🔗 Register here: https://hkuems1.hku.hk/hkuems/ec_hdetail.aspx?guest=Y&ueid=104775
Time | Panel |
9:00-9:10 | Registration and Welcome Coffee (CPD LG.34) |
9:10-10:45 | Opening Remarks and Keynote Speeches (CPD LG.34) |
09:10-09:25 | Welcome Remarks Tarani Chandola, Department Head, Sociology Department, HKU Qiu Zeqi, Professor, Sociology Department, PKU Group Photo |
09:25-9:50 | Keynote Speech 1 (in Putonghua)：Zeqi Qiu (PKU) (CPD LG.34) The Limits of Machine Intelligence: A Comparative Analysis of Knowledge Production Moderator: Sida Liu (HKU) |
9:50-10:05 | Discussion 1 |
10:05-10:30 | Keynote Speech 2 (in English): Paul Joosse (HKU) (CPD LG.34) The Less Agreeable Side of Charisma: Incredulous Onlooking and Anti-structural Power Moderator: Feiyu Sun (PKU) |
10:30-10:45 | Discussion 2 |
10:45-11:00 | Coffee Break |
11:00-12:15 | Parallel Panel Discussion 1: Social Theory and History Beyond (CPD LG.34) Moderator: David Palmer (HKU) |
11:00-11:15 | Feiyu Sun (PKU) Wu Wenzao's Reading in 1960s and 1970s: the Pre-history of Reconstruction of China's Sociology |
11:15-11:30 | Sida Liu (HKU) Time as Violence |
11:30-11:45 | Gordon Brett (HKU) A Pragmatist Framework for the Study of Reflective Cognition |
11:45-12:15 | Discussion |
11:00-12:15 | Parallel Panel Discussion 2: Mediated Life in Online World (CPD 2.45) Moderator: Cheris Shun-ching Chan (HKU) |
11:00-11:15 | Tianyu Qiao (PKU) Friendship among Generation Z: The Transformation of Social Interaction Patterns from Offline to Online |
11:15-11:30 | Xiaoli Tian and Dan Liu (HKU) Navigating Mismatches: Educated Chinese Women’s Quest for Aspirational Gender Norms through Online Romance Fictions |
11:30-11:45 | Isak Ladegaard (HKU): Contentious Platforms |
11:45-12:15 | Discussion |
12:15-14:30 | Lunch Break |
14:30-15:45 | Parallel Panel Discussion 3: Political and Moral Narratives (CPD LG.34) Moderator: Isak Ladegaard (HKU) |
14:30-14:45 | Geng Tian (PKU) Testing Loyalty for What? Micro Political Dynamics in Bureaucrats’ Self-examination, 1725–1726 |
14:45-15:00 | Ioana Sendroiu (HKU) “About the carbon and then the people”?: Managing Negative Externalities across Market Field Boundaries |
15:00-15:15 | Cheris Shun-ching Chan & Mingjing Yin (HKU) Who Cares? Understanding Urban Citizens' Participation in China's Social Credit System |
15:15-15:45 | Discussion |
14:30-15:45 | Parallel Panel Discussion 4: Social Institutions and Culture (CPD 2.45) Moderator: Linyan Li (Southeast Univ.) |
14:30-14:45 | Peng Ling (PKU) Fengshui, Society, and Judicial Adjudication: A Sociological Analysis of a Fengshui Case in the Qing Dynasty |
14:45-15:00 | David Palmer (HKU) Confucianism and Embodiment in a Contemporary Chinese Civic Group: The Case of Yidan Xuetang |
15:00-15:15 | Peng Wang & Mengyi Wang (HKU) Social Order in Inmate Society: Hierarchies within a Chinese Women’s Prison |
15:15-15:45 | Discussion |
15:45-16:00 | Coffee Break |
16:00-17:15 | Parallel Panel Discussion 5: Changing Family Demands in China (CPD LG.34) Moderator: Peng Wang (HKU) |
16:00-16:15 | Xiang Gao (PKU) Governance Tools of Children’s Policies in Mainland China |
16:15-16:30 | Lai Wei (HKU) Does College Education Mitigate Assortative Mating by Family Origin |
16:30-16:45 | Yang Zhang (PKU) Strategic Family Resilience: Health Declines and Intergenerational Relationships |
16:45-17:15 | Discussion |
16:00-17:15 | Parallel Panel Discussion 6: Theory and Methodology Revisited (CPD 2.45) Moderator: Geng Tian (PKU) |
16:00-16:15 | Taolue Shen & Paul Joosse (HKU) Charisma Interrupted: A Study of Trump’s 2025 Death Rumor |
16:15-16:30 | Wen Xie (PKU) Dongbei as Method: Industrial Order and the Study of Chinese Regions |
16:30-16:45 | Xiaoli Tian (HKU) The Legitimacy Problem of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Modern China |
16:45-17:15 | Discussion |
17:15-17:30 | Concluding Remarks (CPD LG.34) Geng Tian (PKU) Xiaoli Tian (HKU) |