Call for proposals 2026
The Emerging Scholars Network (ESN) Section invites the submission of abstracts for its 2026 conference, to be held from 28 June to 2 July 2026 in Galway, Ireland, hosted by the University of Galway.
The deadline for submission is 3 February 2026 at 23:59 UTC.
Theme
IAMCR conferences cover a wide range of topics defined by our thematic Sections and Working Groups (S/WG). Each year, a central theme invites participants to engage in shared reflection across these diverse areas, fostering dialogue and collaboration.
The 2026 central theme, Peripheries and Connections: Media, Communication, and Transformation, addresses the complexities of contemporary media systems in a polarised and interconnected world. By interrogating the tensions between centrality and marginality—whether geographical, cultural, political, or conceptual—this theme aligns with IAMCR’s commitment to fostering critical and inclusive dialogues across diverse perspectives.
Consult a detailed description of the main theme
Authors are encouraged to submit proposals related to the conference’s central theme; however, not all submissions are required to address it.
As a section dedicated to the support and development of emerging scholarship, our section welcomes works in progress, work that creates frameworks for new ideas in research and teaching, and panels and special sections addressing publishing, mentoring, academic work and academic jobs, innovative research methodologies, and language barriers in academia.
Joint sessions
We also welcome submissions for ESN joint sessions thematically linked to the Community Communication and Alternative Media, Communication Policy and Technology, Gender and Communication, or Participatory Communication Research sections. These joint sessions provide discussants and a mentorship-focused environment, encouraging early career scholars to engage beyond ESN and build connections across other sections.
If you would like to be included in one of the joint sessions, submit your abstract to ESN and identify the corresponding "topic" in the submission platform, (CAM/ESN joint session, CPT/ESN joint session, GEN/ESN joint session, or PCR/ESN joint session) and in the space provided for comments to the chairs.
Guidelines for abstracts
Deadline: Abstracts must be submitted exclusively through IAMCR's submission system from 28 November 2025 through 3 February 2026 at 23:59 UTC.
Length: Abstracts should be between 800 and 1000 words. Accepted authors will be invited to submit full papers prior to the conference at a later stage, though submission will remain optional.
Number of submissions: It is expected that each person will submit only one abstract. However, no author’s name should appear on more than two abstracts, either individually or as co-author. Authors may not submit more than one abstract to any given section or working group nor may they submit the same abstract, or a version with minor variations in title or content, to more than one Section or Working Group. Such submissions will be deemed to be in breach of the conference guidelines and will be rejected. Authors submitting the same work to multiple Sections or Working Groups may be removed entirely from the conference programme.
Peer-review: Participation in the peer review of abstracts is expected from authors, although it is not a condition for submission or acceptance.
Evaluation criteria
Submitted abstracts will generally be evaluated on the basis of:
- Technical merit
- Readability
- Originality and/or significance
- Use of or contribution to theory
- Depth of knowledge of the research, theory and/or literature related to the proposed topic as evidenced in the submission
- Relevance to the section and current trends or controversies in its field
Acceptance of proposals may also be conditioned by programme diversity and balance criteria.
Languages
The Emerging Scholars Network accepts abstracts in English and in French. We encourage our members to include subtitles to their slides in the official languages of IAMCR, where possible.
Statement on use of AI tools
IAMCR does not encourage or condone the use of generative AI tools to prepare abstracts submitted for consideration for our conferences. IAMCR values originality, integrity, and transparency in academic work, and believes that human-authored contributions best support rigorous and innovative scholarship in media and communication research. Should an author choose to use a generative AI tool in the preparation of an abstract, we require that they include a clear statement within their submission disclosing the tool's use. This statement must specify: (1) the name of any AI tool used; (2) how the tool was used in preparing the abstract, and; (3) the reason for using the tool. Failure to disclose the use of generative AI in accordance with these guidelines may impact the evaluation and acceptance of the submission.
Intention to attend
Each abstract submitted to IAMCR represents a real cost to the Association and contributes to the workload of volunteer reviewers and organisers. As the number of submissions each year far exceeds the available presentation slots, we ask authors to submit only if they genuinely intend to attend and present their work at the conference if accepted.
Deadlines and key dates
The deadline to submit proposals is 3 February 2026, at 23:59 UTC. Other key dates. Dates are subject to change.
About the Emerging Scholars Network Section
Learn more about the work and scope of the Emerging Scholars Network Section.
Contact the Section
Steph Hill
sh903@leicester.ac.uk
Wafa Khalfan
Wafa.Burenqain@Alumni.AUS.Edu
