Technology for Good: An Early Career Research Conference

The Walker Institute of International and Area Studies at the University of South Carolina invites proposals for the early career conference on “Technology for Good,” to be held on March 27-29, 2026, in Columbia, South Carolina. This event is designed to bring together emerging scholars whose work critically and creatively explores the potential of technology to address critically urgent global challenges, to advance fairness and wellbeing, and to contribute to new modes of human and humane flourishing.

We welcome proposals from across the disciplines that engage with questions at the nexus of technology, society, policy, and ethics, with an emphasis on practical applications that promote a just society and a greater good. Possible areas of inquiry include but are not limited to

·       The intersections of technology and globalization;

·       The humanitarian applications of emerging technology;

·       Explorations of how AI might be deployed for the public good;

·       Humanistic perspectives on emerging technologies and their capacity to drive social change and improve public health;

·       The ways emerging technologies can be mobilized to save lives, shape policy, and advance humanity’s collective wellbeing; and

·       The intersection of emerging technologies and the limits of human imagination, creativity, and problem-solving

While the conference emphasizes research in the social sciences with a particular focus on scholarship on the intersections of society, global affairs, and technology, applicants from all fields are encouraged to apply. We especially encourage contributions that cross disciplinary boundaries, forge radical new synergies, and foreground international or comparative perspectives.

The conference is open to scholars who are no more than five years past the completion of their PhD. Advanced graduate students who have reached ABD status will also be considered. The program committee will select approximately twelve applicants. Participants will be given up to $1000 in reimbursement for allowable expenses related to travel and lodging, and select meals will be provided throughout the conference.

Proposals should consist of a 300–400 word abstract and a short curriculum vitae (no more than two pages). Submissions should clearly outline the central research question, methodological or conceptual approach, and the project’s connection to the conference theme. Materials should be submitted electronically to Dr. Jonah Steinberg ([email protected]), with a copy to Natasha Thomas ([email protected]), no later than January 10, 2025. Applicants will be notified of decisions by February 2, 2026.

The conference is sponsored by the Walker Institute of International and Area Studies, which promotes global understanding through interdisciplinary teaching, research, and outreach. The Institute supports scholarship that addresses the world’s urgent challenges and builds partnerships across regions and disciplines. It is housed within the University of South Carolina’s McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. The College fosters innovation, critical inquiry, and interdisciplinary collaboration across the humanities, social sciences, and sciences, with a commitment to research, teaching, and community engagement.

For further information about the conference or the submission process, please contact [email protected]