Theme:Interwoven Worlds: Anthropological Engagement with the Global and Local Challenges of Climate Change and Migration

Overview

WAAC 2026 invites submissions that explore how anthropological insights—grounded in socially and culturally relevant empirical research—address the pressing challenges of climate change and migration. We especially welcome presentations that not only highlight problems but also demonstrate how research findings have been or could be applied to create positive, sustainable, and actionable solutions.

The congress centers around the broader theme of the conundrums of human life and seeks to showcase innovative ways of resolving them through anthropological engagement.

Submission Types

Organizers invite proposals in one of the following five formats:

• Full Panels
• Round Tables
• Individual or Co-authored Papers
• Posters
• Lightning Talks (short, theme-focused presentations)

All proposals must be submitted by the time the Scientific Committee finalizes the program—deadline : 15 August, 2025.

Full Panels

At the core, panels consist of groups of presentations, usually 12-20 minutes in length, that are organized around a common theme or topic. After the final presentation, a period of 12-20 minutes should remain either for a discussant (if included) to respond or for the Chair to facilitate questions from the audience. It is expected that these panels clearly indicate the joint intellectual merit and broader impact of the panel, while each individual presenter is responsible for demonstrating these dynamics.

The organizer (or co-organizers) will submit a session abstract (no more than 500 words) with a list of participants, titles for each presentation, and an abstract (no more than 250 words) for each presentation. The proposal may also include the name of the designated chair. A panel organizer(s) may (but is not required to) name a discussant. Discussants and chairs need to register, but they do not need to submit an abstract.

[Roles: Organizer(s); Chair; Participants; Discussant]

Round Table Session

A round table brings together 4–6 participants (scholars, practitioners, policymakers, etc.) to discuss a specific topic, debate key questions, and share experiences, practices, or research findings. It is designed to foster collaborative exploration rather than deliver individual research papers.

Basic Rules for Conducting a Round Table at a Congress

1. Purpose and Format

• Focused on open discussion, not individual presentations.
• Each participant may speak for 5–10 minutes to introduce their perspective or key points.
• The remainder of the time (typically 60–90 minutes total) is for moderated discussion among participants and with the audience.

2. Composition

• 1. Moderator or Chair: Facilitates the discussion and manages time.
• 3–5 Discussants or Contributors: Bring different perspectives to the topic.
• Audience: Encouraged to participate during the Q&A segment.

3. Proposal Requirements

• A session title and theme (clearly defined and relevant to the congress topic).
• Abstract (max. 500 words) explaining the theme, importance, and format.
• Names and affiliations of moderator and participants.
• Suggested guiding questions or issues for discussion.

4. Time Allocation (Example: 90 minutes)

• 10–15 min: Opening remarks and framing by the Chair/Moderator.
• 30–40 min: Each participant shares brief input (5–10 min each).
• 30 min: Open discussion, including audience Q&A.
• 5 min: Summary and closing remarks.

Single Papers (Individual or Co-Authored)

These presentations showcase the findings of an individual (or, in the case of co-authored works, a group). The abstract should be no more than 250 words and include:

• The big picture problem or hotly debated topic in the field
• The gap in the scholarship that the research addresses
• How the research addresses the gap
• The specific data sets used
• The original thesis/argument
• For more guidance on writing conference abstracts, please consult this site. How to write a conference abstract

[Role: Participant]

Posters

"Poster authors create, in advance, a graphic presentation, which is then displayed during the session time in the poster room. These sessions provide the opportunity for more informal discussion and feedback about your work" (Miller and Trainor n.d.). See the linked document for more practical tips on creating a poster. These presentations are primarily based on text, posted images, and the author's explanation. Though intellectual merit and broader impact still matter, the manner of preparation and presentation and the interaction with your "audience" differ from a traditional paper given on a panel.

Posters should be 36" x 48" (92 x 122 cm) or vice versa. Here is a template to consider using.

[Role: Participant]

Lightening Talks

These presentations are engaging performances of current projects or concepts through a few slides with images or sound (accompanied by brief descriptions) and dynamic and reasonably paced spoken content. Total presentation time is speedy (like a flash of lightning), lasting no more than five minutes per presenter. Talks should present works in progress or upcoming projects.

Though intellectual merit and broader impact still matter, the manner of preparation and presentation and the interaction with your "audience" differ from a traditional paper given on a panel.

[Role: Participant]