Call for Proposals

Communicating Environmental Justice: Many Voices, One Planet

Photo: Gardens by the Bay (Singapore Tourism Board)

See the calls for proposals of IAMCR's 37 thematic sections and working groups.

The International Association for Media and Communication Research –IAMCR– invites the submission of abstracts for its 2025 conference to be held in Singapore from 13 to 17 July 2025 hosted by the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information at Nanyang Technological University.

The deadline for submission is 7 February 2025 at 23h59 UTC.

IAMCR conferences cover many different topics defined by our 37 thematic sections and working groups. We also propose a single central theme to be explored throughout the conference with the aim of generating and exploring multiple perspectives in plenary and special sessions as well as in many of the section and working group sessions. The 2025 central theme is Communicating Environmental Justice: Many Voices, One Planet.

In an era marked by environmental crises and social inequalities, the need for effective communication to promote championing environmental justice has never been more urgent. The theme highlights the critical intersection of diverse voices from different stakeholders and their collective action in addressing the pressing challenges of our time.

Singapore, a vibrant city-state renowned for its cultural diversity and sustainability programmes, serves as an ideal backdrop for this discourse. Despite its small geographic footprint, Singapore is uniquely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, including rising sea levels and extreme weather patterns. By hosting this conference in Singapore, we also aim to tap into the diversity of perspectives that reflect its multicultural society and its many environmental initiatives. Here, we can explore how diverse voices can drive inclusive communication strategies that resonate with different communities, and advocate for equity and justice in the face of environmental crises.

Topics to be addressed could include, among others:

The Role of AI in Environmental Communication: How artificial intelligence can enhance communication strategies around environmental issues, from predictive modelling to targeted outreach. What are the ethical implications of its use?
Promoting Environmental Journalism: Explore the challenges faced by environmental journalists in various contexts. Evaluate the importance of journalistic professionalism and of promoting the role of journalists in fostering informed discourse on key public issues.
Diversity in Sustainability Campaigns: How do diverse perspectives enrich sustainability initiatives? Examine case studies that illustrate the importance of representation in campaigns, ensuring that all voices are included in the dialogue around environmental justice.
Community Engagement and Activism: What role do grassroots movements and community-driven initiatives play in advocating for environmental justice? Explore effective communication strategies that empower local voices and foster collective action.
Cultural Narratives and Environmental Awareness: How do cultural narratives shape perceptions of environmental issues and influence behaviour? Explore participatory methods such as storytelling as tools for promoting environmental justice and sustainability.

Communicating Environmental Justice: Many Voices, One Planet reflects the richness and complexity of the landscape of media and communication studies today. We encourage an inclusive and interdisciplinary approach to research and dialogue, fostering collaborations that address the multifaceted challenges facing our planet, our communities, the diverse life forms that share our world, and the various eco-systems on Earth.

We invite all scholars to contribute their unique insights, ensuring that the voices of diverse communities are heard and valued in the ongoing conversation about our planet's future. Together, let’s elevate diverse voices and forge pathways toward a sustainable future.

Not all submissions have to address the central theme. See the calls for proposals of individual sections and working groups for additional information about their themes.

Guidelines for abstracts

Abstracts must be submitted to a section or working group exclusively through IAMCR’s submission system from 3 December 2024 through 7 February 2025 at 23:59 UTC.

Abstracts should be between 800 and 1000 words, unless the Section or Working Group establishes its own guidelines in this respect.

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 part of any group of authors and authors should not submit more than one abstract to any single section or working group. The same abstract, or a version with minor variations in title or content, must not be submitted 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.

Specific technical guidelines, if any, are defined by the individual Sections and Working Groups. Before submitting, consult the specific CfP of the Section or Working Group or contact the heads of the Section and Working Group.

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
Relevance to the section or working group and current trends or controversies in its field
Depth of knowledge of the research, theory and/or literature related to to the proposed topic as evidenced in the submission

Acceptance of proposals may also be conditioned by programme diversity and balance criteria. Sections and Working Groups may use additional criteria and may assign different weights to the above criteria. Consult the specific CfP or contact the head of the Section and Working Group you want to submit to if you have questions.

Languages

Different sections and working groups have different policies regarding languages. Some accept abstracts and programme sessions in English, French and Spanish while others conduct their programmes in only one or two languages. Consult the CfP of your section or working group for details of its language policy.

Statement on use of AI tools

IAMCR does not encourage or condone the use of generative AI tools to create 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.

Deadlines and key dates

The deadline to submit abstracts is 7 February 2025, at 23.59 UTC. For other key dates see https://iamcr.org/singapore2025/keydates . Dates are subject to change.

Conference hosts

Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information

Established in 1992, the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI) is a school within Nanyang Technological University (NTU). WKWSCI is the only full-fledged communication school in Singapore and a world-class centre of excellence with an international faculty, state-of-the-art research laboratories, and global institutional affiliations. It is home to one of the world’s top four communication studies programs according to QS ranking 2024. Twenty-five years ago, in 2000, WKWSCI also had the experience of hosting the annual conference of IAMCR. It will be a unique celebration as we host IAMCR again in 2025, marking a quarter century since we last welcomed the conference. There are three research centres at WKWSCI: Centre for HEalthy and Sustainable citieS (CHESS), Centre for Information Integrity and the Internet (IN-Cube), and Asian Communication Research Centre (ACRC). Together we address environmental, health, and information issues through rigorous scholarship and public engagement.

Nanyang Technological University

Inaugurated on 1 July 1991, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) started out as a teaching university which has today transformed into a research-intensive global university. As one of the two largest public universities in Singapore, NTU is among the world’s top 20 universities according to the QS 2023 World University Rankings. NTU has built its strengths in sustainability over the years through a wide range of efforts in education, research and innovation. In 2023, NTU won the Whole Systems Approach Excellence Award conferred by the International Sustainable Campus Network (ISCN) as well as the EuroCham Sustainability Award 2023 in the Environmental, social and governance (ESG) Investments category. These awards recognise the university’s sustainable practices in the areas of research, education, community engagement, and infrastructure development.