Abstract Deadline May 1st 2026
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION
We welcome traditional academic read papers, as well as installations, dance, music, poetry, films, messy text, collaborations and multimedia presentations around this year’s conference theme. This year we offer special sessions including a running/walking session outdoors, a poetry and music session, and a number of round tables
SPECIAL ROUND TABLES AND PANEL CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS
Hosting Difference Special Round Table Discussion
Autoethnographic spaces, such as this conference, facilitate sharing personal experience with others. Each person’s experience is undoubtedly rooted in their unique and emergent pathway in the world. Since no pathway is exactly the same as another, autoethnographic experience and, by implication, autoethnographic spaces are characterised by difference. At the same time, we recognise our own experience in the voices of others. Others’ experiences resonate with our own – we recognise resonant similarities across difference.
But what happens when difference becomes problematic? Does the cultivation of a reflexive autoethnographic sensibility exclude the possibility of problematic difference? Or do we, as Autoethnographers sometimes also need to deal with what happens when our own way-of-being in the world (to which we are seeking to be authentic) meets with another way-of-being in the world – even within an autoethnographic community – which we find problematic, or vice versa? What do we do with such difference? How can such encounters be navigated? Do they just remain difficult, or can fruitful things emerge? This roundtable session
This roundtable session invites discussion around these themes. If you would like to be actively involved in this discussion, for example (a) through attending the session, or (b) contributing to the panel, please write to Jamie Barnes explaining why the theme piques your interest and what you might bring to the discussion. Jamie.Barnes@sussex.ac.uk
Poetry, songs and music
Once again if you have written poems, songs or music please submit to this organic session. Delegates aren’t required to provide lengthy explanations for why they use poetry or songs, please think about joining in this “open mic” type session in the round.
Movement session: Session on the move
Have you ever asked yourself why we all sit down for so long at conferences and in lectures? Those of us (like me) who earned their living out doors find it really difficult to be indoors all day. Not just that, being indoors and being sedentary isn’t very good for your health. With this in mind, three doctoral students are taking their presentation to the streets and outdoor spaces. While we are not sure exactly how this will work yet Nadia Portelli, Chloe Norton Lamb and Neil Stander (all ultra distance runners) aim to support the sharing of research ON THE MOVE. If you would like to join this “movement” you don’t have to be a runner, or need to walk long distances, your skills and interests will be catered for. Additionally, if you have ideas for making this session work, please contact Nadia at admin2@boomerang-project.org.uk
Pause for thought
In recent years a number of high profile organisations have dropped power-point presentations (some even banning them) in favour of other ways to communicate and share information, ideas, and knowledge.
We also encourage presenters not to use powerpoint as a matter of course, if there is an artistic or aesthetic reason behind showing an image then using powerpoint presentations is understandable, but it seems this media (in particular) has been over used to the detriment of sharing, reading, and performing.
Please take the following into consideration before submitting your abstract and presenting your work at the conference
- The word limit is up to 200 words, (reviewers will stop reading at 200 and additional text will be cut)
- We review on a rolling basis, allowing authors to receive notification regarding their submission within two weeks of submission.
- If accepted, your contribution will be scheduled into the draft programme and information will be available on the ‘sneak preview’ page of this website.
- We cannot provide you with the content of your abstract so please save a copy. Last year several people asked us “can you send me my abstract”
- When registering, please add your first and last names as you would like them to appear on the programme. Last year a considerable amount of time was taken up with requests to “change my name”.
- If you have failed to received notification from the conference committee within three weeks of submitting your abstract please contact Nadia admin2@boomerang-project.org.uk
- If your abstract is accepted, and you intend to present a film or pre-recorded submission, we require you to either send an Mp4. file, or a link to YouTube/Vimeo before the 1st June 2025.
- Live presentations, papers of all kinds are welcome.
- Last year two delegates sent us their presentations at 2am on the day of their presentation at the conference. This is unfair to all volunteers helping run the event and we want to avoid this type of stress. We have also found PowerPoint presentations frequently break the flow of a session and can often introduce delays during the sessions when a delegate has not submitted their presentation for pre-loading, or due to incompatibility issues, or when they fail to load, or if there are issues with security. With these issues in mind, might we ask if you intend for your work to be published as “journal article / paper” or “text article” (written publications) there is little need to use PowerPoint at this conference. Please consider reading or performing your work.
- Further advice on what is expected at ICAE. How should I present my work at the ICAE conference? There is (fortunately) not an unequivocal answer to this. We encourage you to present your work in a manner that communicates with the audience, in a form you feel comfortable with. We want this to be an inspiring experience for you and the audience. The ICAE is not an “ordinary research conference” where the aim is to present research findings in a scientific IMRAD structure. Thus, PowerPoint presentations with bullet points might not be the best way to share your work. We encourage you to find other ways of presenting – for example reading, performing, photo or film. Important to the overall running of the conference, and to respect those who will follow you, please stick to the time frame!
Abstract submission is now open.
To submit your abstract or artist statement, please complete the following form (which includes your name, contact details & affiliation). If you are unsure about how to describe your work or you experience problems submitting the form, please contact the conference administrator admin2@boomerang-project.org.uk
Please note All participants are required to register for the conference before being included in the final programme.
- Please submit your proposals as soon as possible to secure your place in the programme. We will read and review your contribution based on the first 200 words used.
- We use a “rolling review” process and attempt to review abstract and provide authors/presenters feedback/outcome of the review within two weeks of submission.
- Should you not hear from the conference committee within three weeks of submitting your abstract please contact us: admin2@boomerang-project.org.uk