Clone of Emerging Scholars Network Section

Call for Proposals

The Environment, Science and Risk Communication (ESR) Section invites the submission of papers for IAMCR 2027, which will be held in São Paulo, Brazil, from 18 to 22 July 2027, hosted by the School of Communications and Arts at the University of São Paulo (ECA/USP) in partnership with the Associação de Apoio à Arte e Comunicação (ARCO).

The deadline for submission is 12 February 2027 at 23:59 UTC.

Download this call for papers as a PDF file

ESR focus and themes

In response to this year's main conference theme “Multilateralism, Democracy, Diversity: Communication for a More Just World”, the IAMCR Environment, Science and Risk Communication (ESR) Section invites contributions that critically explore multilateralism, democracy, and diversity in relation to environmental, risk, and science communication and ecological and climate justice.

Consult a detailed description of the main theme

In São Paulo, we are looking forward to foregrounding diverse voices and approaches that navigate the role of communication and media in either legitimizing or contesting intersecting political and ecological crises including the rise of climate policy rollbacks, violent state policing of climate and environmental protesters, deepening of ecological and societal injustices, and social fragmentation.

We are particularly interested in contributions that address:

Theories of democracy and political cultures in environmental, science, and risk communication research
How multilateralism is understood and represented by environmental actors across borders
Imaginaries and visions of an ecologically and socially just world from diverse coalitions of climate and environmental activists
The privileging or questioning of scientific expertise in (anti-)democratic discourse
Representations of complex socio-environmental crises and “polycrisis” in risk communication

While we welcome panels and papers on the main theme and sub-themes for IAMCR São Paulo 2027, papers from the full range of Environment, Science and Risk Communication topics and perspectives are also welcomed, such as:

Environmental and science communication, activism, and journalism
Social, cultural, and political constructions of nature
Public relations, corporate social responsibility and sustainability reporting
Spin and news management in environmental conflicts and scientific controversies in different political contexts
Public understanding, participation, and engagement with science
Risk and disaster communication
Indigenous perspectives on nature, ecology, and the non-human

IAMCR 2027 is an opportunity to build meaningful connections across disciplines, geographies, and generations – connections that are especially needed amidst ongoing, deepening, and emergent global threats to strong and diverse democracies and ecologies. We look forward to being in dialogue with you and to your contributions, collaborations, and collective visions for a more just world. To this end, we will also be organizing two special sessions for IAMCR 2027 (detailed below).

Joint sessions

This year, ESR will hold two joint sessions – the first with the Communication, Social Justice and Democracy (CJD) Working Group and the second with the Participatory Communication Research (PCR) Section.

These joint sessions will provide an opportunity for enhanced intellectual exchange across research fields, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue around shared areas of interest between CJD and ESR and PCR and ESR.

Please carefully follow the directions below if you wish to submit an abstract to one of these joint sessions (note: the directions differ slightly between the two sessions).

Joint ESR-CJD session

ESR will host a joint session with the Communication, Social Justice and Democracy (CJD) Working Group.

If you would like your proposed paper to be included in this joint session, please submit your abstract to ESR and select the "Topic" ESR/CJD joint session on the submission platform. Please also indicate this in the “Comments to the Chairs” section of your submission.

Joint ESR-PCR session

ESR will also partner with the Participatory Communication Research (PCR) Section in a joint session.

If you would like your proposed paper to be included in this joint session, please submit your abstract to PCR and choose the "Topic" ESR/PCR joint session on the submission platform. Please also indicate this in the “Comments to the Chairs” section of your submission.

Guidelines for abstracts

Abstracts should be between 800 and 1000 words, and must be submitted through IAMCR's submission system from 9 December 2026 through 12 February 2027 at 23:59 UTC. Abstracts submitted by email will not be considered.

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.

Guidelines for panel proposals

A pre-constituted panel proposal should focus on a single theme that is addressed by multiple and diverse authors. A complete panel proposal must include (1) a panel description (of no more than 1000 words) and (2) an abstract for each paper/presentation in the panel (of no more than 800 words each). Panels should include four to five papers and a chair, with an optional discussant. Please note that there are special procedures for submitting multi-paper sessions. You can find the detailed procedures when submitting your abstract online in the abstract submission system.

Student submissions

We will only accept abstract and panel submissions from advanced graduate students who are enrolled in a PhD program. We will not accept any submissions from undergraduate or master’s students in which they are the primary or presenting author.

Evaluation criteria

Submitted abstracts and panel proposals will be evaluated on the basis of:

Theoretical and methodological 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 ESR section and current trends or controversies in the field

Languages

The ESR Section accepts abstracts in English, Spanish, or French.

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.

Accepted papers must be presented in person by the authors designated as PRESENTING authors in the submission platform. For co-authored papers, at least one of the authors must attend and present the paper. Only authors or co-authors of an accepted paper are permitted to present it. If none of the authors is able to attend and present, the paper will be removed from the conference programme.

Deadlines and key dates

The deadline to submit proposals is 12 February 2027, at 23:59 UTC.

Other key dates to keep in mind. Dates are subject to change.

About the Environment, Science and Risk Communication Section

Learn more about the work and scope of the Environment, Science and Risk Communication Section.

Contact the Section

For any inquiries, please contact the ESR co-chairs Claire Konkes (claire.konkes@utas.edu.au) and Hanna E. Morris (hanna.morris@utoronto.ca) via email.