5/2/2026 - 5/3/2026
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Eastern
Event
The Rotman Institute of Philosophy is pleased to announce the 2026 Rotman Graduate Student Conference, taking place on Saturday, May 2, and Sunday, May 3, 2026, at the University of Western Ontario. This year’s theme is “Philosophical Issues in the Life Sciences.” We invite submissions addressing metaphysical, epistemological, and conceptual questions that arise within and across the life sciences. Graduate students working at the intersection of philosophy and the empirical sciences are especially encouraged to apply.
We welcome papers of up to 5,000 words and poster abstracts of up to 300 words.
Submission Deadline: January 15, 2026
CALL FOR PAPERS AND POSTERS: ROTMAN GRADUATE STUDENT CONFERENCE (RGSC)
The Rotman Institute of Philosophy is pleased to announce the 2026 Rotman Graduate Student Conference, to be held on Saturday, May 2, and Sunday, May 3, 2026, at the University of Western Ontario. This year’s conference theme is “Philosophical Issues in the Life Sciences.” We are delighted to host two keynote speakers: Lauren N. Ross (University of California, Irvine) and Dani S. Bassett (University of Pennsylvania). We invite submissions addressing metaphysical, epistemological, and conceptual questions that arise within and across the life sciences. Graduate students working at the intersection of philosophy and empirical sciences are especially encouraged to apply.
Examples of topics may include but are not limited to:
- Causation and causal inference in the life sciences
- Modeling, explanation, and understanding in neuroscience, biology, and ecology
- The conceptual and methodological role of simulations in research practice
- Biases in conservation and their ethical, social, and epistemic implications
- The impact of genetic enhancement on autonomy
The 2026 RGSC Organizing Committee is currently seeking funding to provide travel support for graduate students whose participation depends on it. Applicants will be asked on the submission form whether they require such support to attend the conference. Responses to this question will not influence the review process or the acceptance of papers or posters. Please note that the availability of travel funding is contingent upon securing external support, and details will be confirmed once funding is finalized.
Submission Guidelines:
Submissions are accepted through the following form: Submission Form
We invite submissions for both papers and posters addressing the conference theme.
Papers:
- Maximum length of 5,000 words, including footnotes and appendices (but excluding references).
- If the paper includes tables, figures, or equations, an appropriate number of words should be subtracted from the limit.
- Each paper should be accompanied by an abstract of no more than 300 words.
- Papers must be prepared for anonymous review (i.e., the author’s name and identifying information should not appear in the file).
Posters:
- Abstracts of no more than 300 words.
- Poster submissions should also be prepared for anonymous review.
Submission Deadline: January 15th, 2026
Authors of accepted papers will be allocated for a 45-minute session, consisting of approximately 30 minutes for presentation followed by 15 minutes for discussion.
Authors of accepted posters are expected to design and print their posters in advance and display them during the conference at designated poster sessions.
Please send any questions to the RGSC Committee: rgsc@uwo.ca
All the best,
The 2026 RGSC Organizing Committee
Kardelen Küçük, Kawthar Fedjki, Sara Varón Echeverri
| 1/15/2026 |    | |
| 5/2/2026 - 5/3/2026 | |