Big Thinking Summit 2026: Call for proposals
Big Thinking Summit: Inflection Point
Call for proposals
June 9-11, 2026 | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Please note that if you have submitted to the call-for-proposals, status notifications will be sent shortly. Accepted presenters are eligible for the early-bird rate through April 3.
The Big Thinking Summit 2026, hosted by the Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences, is a bilingual (English/French) three-day event that showcases how humanities and social sciences (HSS) research and practice drive change across disciplines, sectors, and communities, and generates real-world action. This is a pivotal moment for the HSS to shine, demonstrating its value in a time of uncertainty.
Under the theme Inflection Point, the Summit calls on academics, community partners, and policymakers to bring forward pressing issues, share their HSS knowledge, and forge new collaborations that generate solutions Canada urgently needs.
We invite proposals that cross disciplinary and institutional boundaries and show the impact and relevance of the HSS across diverse contexts, including policy-relevant analysis, creative practice, experimental methods, and community-based research.
We welcome submissions from academics and from those applying HSS knowledge in community organizations, publishing, policymaking, industry, the arts, and other fields.
Applicants do not need to be affiliated with a scholarly association or an institution that is a member of the Federation.
Streams
Submissions should align with at least one of the following thematic streams, which reflect the Summit’s focus on collaboration, innovation, and multi-sectorial impact (including the private, public, civic, political, economic, academic and other spheres):
How can creative partnerships across disciplines, sectors, and communities result in responsive and impactful research? This theme highlights interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral partnerships that expand the reach and urgency of the HSS. Topics may include:
Knowledge mobilization and co-creation across academia, government, and civil society
Cross-sector collaboration in areas such as policy development, healthcare, education, and justice
Collaborations that advance equity, reconciliation, or other forms of community-led change
Ethical engagement and relationship-building
How are scholars rethinking the ways they teach, research, and share knowledge to expand the horizons of the HSS? This theme explores bold methodological and pedagogical innovations that shape how knowledge is created, disseminated, and valued. Topics may include:
Development of curricula and pedagogical frameworks to meet contemporary challenges
Critical archival work and historical recovery
Creative, artistic, and embodied research methods
Innovations in digital scholarship and data storytelling
What role can the HSS play in rebuilding trust, navigating mis/disinformation, and strengthening democracy? This theme invites work that addresses historical and contemporary challenges to knowledge, legitimacy, and public discourse. Topics may include:
Public trust in institutions and science
Artificial intelligence and algorithmic authority
Disinformation, misinformation, and media literacy
Polarization and democratic backsliding
Formats
Proposals are invited from academic, community, policy, industry, and cultural presenters, highlighting the many ways humanities and social sciences knowledge and methods are put into practice.
We welcome diverse presentation styles that support engagement, knowledge mobilization, and accessibility.
Note: Full papers are not required. We welcome applied or practice-based contributions, exploratory projects, and works in progress. Presenters are encouraged to focus on communicating key ideas, insights, and impacts in an engaging and accessible way, rather than delivering formal academic papers to an expert audience.
Proposals may take the form of:
Interactive conversations among scholars, community leaders, policymakers, and practitioners. These sessions emphasize dialogue and exchange rather than formal, individualized presentations. Proposals may outline a full roundtable with confirmed participants or suggest a topic that the organizers can help shape into a session.
Papers, reports, case studies, posters, or talks shared by presenters. Individual submissions may be grouped by the organizers into thematic panels with time for audience discussion.
Short presentations (e.g. 5 minutes) designed to spark discussion and connections across topics. This format is ideal for sharing emerging research, new initiatives, or works in progress that would benefit from feedback and dialogue.
Presentations that use film, visual art, performance, or storytelling to engage audiences in new ways. This format highlights the power of creative practice to generate dialogue, shift perspectives, and expand the reach of HSS knowledge.
Hands-on sessions where participants co-create something tangible together. Outcomes might include a policy statement, teaching resource, toolkit, or collaborative document. Workshops emphasize collective problem-solving, co-design, and producing a shared output.
Interactive sessions proposed by participants that focus on developing attendees’ skills, networks, or strategies. Labs may include mentoring opportunities, training in policy engagement or grant-writing, or strategies for building collaborations.
A poster session features visual displays presented on large boards in a shared, open space. Presenters stand by their posters and engage in informal, one-on-one or small group conversations, offering a brief three to five minute overview of their work and responding to questions. Poster sessions create a welcoming environment for dialogue, feedback, and connection with others who are interested in your topic or approach. Posters will be scheduled during dedicated program time, with no concurrent sessions.
Submission Details
Proposals should:
Be no more than 500 words
Clearly outline the session’s focus, format, and intended outcomes
If applicable: identify all confirmed or proposed presenters and collaborators
Submit your proposal by Monday, November 24, 2025, at 24:00 ET.
If you have questions about your submission or require support, please contact events@federationhss.ca.
Thank you to all who submitted to the Call for proposals. We are delighted by the breadth of ideas put forward by scholars and leaders from across the academy and beyond. Together, they reflect both a shared vision and the calibre of impact that defines the HSS community. Following the extended submission period ending on November 24, the Program Committee will be hard at work assessing all entries with care. We expect to share their selection by the end of February.
Evaluation
Proposals will be reviewed by an interdisciplinary program committee representing diverse fields, sectors, and perspectives. Committee membership will reflect disciplinary diversity across the humanities and social sciences. Submissions will be assessed according to the following criteria:
Relevance: Alignment with a thematic stream and the overall goals of the Summit.
Impact: Demonstrated or potential contribution to advancing understanding, practice, or policy across disciplinary, sectoral, or institutional boundaries.
Reach: Inclusivity and accessibility of approaches to knowledge sharing for a diverse audience.
Collaboration: Involvement of diverse voices, including cross-sector, community, or practitioner partners.
The committee will reserve space for:
Research by equity-denied group members
Research and collaborations conducted in French and/or in francophone contexts
Disciplinary diversity
Different organizational roles and affiliations
Registration and fees
Presenters must register for the Summit two weeks after their proposal acceptance. Pricing details, including information on fees and supports, will be available in November. We encourage you to check back for updates before the submission deadline.
Location
Edmonton Convention Centre
9797 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, AB
Canada, T5J 1N9
Contact us
If you have any questions, please contact events@federationhss.ca