UIGPS Graduate Student Conference

The University of Iowa Graduate Philosophical Society (UIGPS) is hosting their annual graduate student conference at the University of Iowa.

Date: April 5th & 6th, 2024

Keynote: Dr. Sara Bernstein (Notre Dame University), Friday, April 5th, 3:30-5:00 pm CDT Submission deadline: February 1st, 2023

Submissions should be sent to [email protected] 

Submissions are welcome from any area of philosophy.

Paper length: maximum 3,000 words (excluding bibliography & footnotes)

Abstract length: maximum 400 words

Please include any additional or supplementary material (e.g., PowerPoints, Images, Handouts) as a separate document in the submission email.

Free lodging may be available with Iowa graduate students. A small breakfast will be served the morning of the conference. The keynote will be delivered by Dr. Sara Bernstein on Friday afternoon, with all accepted papers being presented on Saturday, April 6th. 

Papers on any topic of interest in philosophy are welcome. Submissions should be prepared for blind review and formatted as either .doc, .docx, or .pdf.  Include two documents.  (1) The paper.  (2) A title page with the paper's title, abstract, author's name, email address, and institutional affiliation.  

Notifications of acceptance will be sent out during the last week of February.

Accepted paper presentations should be 25 minutes long, with a 10-minute commentary presented by an Iowa graduate student. Presenters will then have 5 minutes to respond, followed by a 15-minute question period. 

Our department has a MAP (Minorities and Philosophy) chapter. As such, we especially encourage submissions from members of groups underrepresented in the philosophy profession including, but not limited to: people of color, women, queer and gender non-conforming people, people from economically disadvantaged groups, and people with disabilities. We also especially encourage submissions on areas that closely engage with MAP’s mission. MAP’s mission is to address structural injustices in academic philosophy and to remove barriers that impede participation in academic philosophy for members of marginalized groups. Through our international organizing team and graduate student-led network of autonomous chapters around the world, we aim to examine and dismantle mechanisms that prevent students from marginalized groups from participating in academic philosophy, as well as to promote philosophical work done from marginalized perspectives, and help improve working conditions for scholars from marginalized backgrounds.  The conference venue is fully wheelchair accessible.  Individuals in need of visual or auditory accommodations are encouraged to attend.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected].