Call for abstracts: Poster competition
The Institute for Research on Migration and Society at Concordia invites submissions for the Poster Competition held as part of the Migrant Integration in the Mid-21st Century: Bridging Divides annual conference.
Overview
As part of the Bridging Divides Annual Conference, this poster competition aims to provide students and early-career researchers with an opportunity to present emerging research, receive feedback from an interdisciplinary audience, and engage with scholars, practitioners, and policymakers working on migration, technology and social inclusion.
Submission
Applicants must submit an abstract describing their research.
Posters and requirements
Submitted posters must align with the Bridging Divides research agenda and the 2026 conference theme. Interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral approaches are strongly encouraged.
We seek projects whose research examines how emerging technologies, including AI, are reshaping migration, work, and community life, and whose work aligns with one of our four interdisciplinary focus areas:
- Citizenship and civic participation
- The future of work
- Healthcare
- Responsible and ethical use of advanced technologies in migration
A particular attention will be paid to projects on:
- Digital technologies and migration decision-making
- Algorithmic governance, surveillance, and mobility control
- Online immigration and asylum processes
- Digital labour platforms and migrant work
- Technology, integration, and belonging
- Algorithmic bias, exclusion, and digital inequality
- Prepare a poster based on the accepted abstract
- Be present during assigned poster sessions on May 20 and May 21, 2026
- Engage with conference participants during the poster sessions
- Detailed poster format and display instructions will be shared with selected candidates.
Abstract requirements
- Maximum length: Abstracts must be no longer than 2 pages excluding reference
- Clearly state the research question, methods, and relevance to the Bridging Divides theme
- Include title, author name(s), institutional affiliation(s), and contact information
Eligibility
The poster competition is open to:
- Master’s, PhD students affiliated with the Bridging Divides initiative
- Early career scholars affiliated with Bridging Divides initiative, including:
- Postdoctoral fellows
- Research associates
- Assistant professors
- Concordia University graduate students
Applicants must be the primary investigators of the research presented. Supervisors, advisors, and collaborators may be acknowledged as co-authors where appropriate.
Selected candidates must be available to present their posters in person, in Montreal, on May 20 and May 21, 2026.
Please note that all costs associated with attending the conference are the responsibility of the selected candidates, excluding the poster printing costs, which will be covered by event organizers.
Important dates
- Call launches: January 12, 2026
- Online poster training session: March 11, 2026
- Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend, as this session will provide guidance on designing effective academic posters and communicating research to diverse audiences. Please send an email to irms@concordia.ca for details
- Abstract submission deadline: March 20, 2026
- Results announced: April 15 2026
- Final poster-ready abstract due: May 18, 2026
- Poster presentations: May 20–21, 2026
Awards
Awards will be granted to the top three presenters, as selected by a jury composed of members of the conference organizing committee.
Evaluation criteria will include:
- Relevance to the Bridging Divides research themes
- Clarity and quality of research presentation
- Visual design and accessibility of the poster
- Ability to communicate research to an interdisciplinary audience
Contact information
For questions regarding the poster competition or submissions, please contact: irms@concordia.ca
