06/26/2025

CSCA 2026 Convention - Communication & Technology Interest Group Interest Group Call for Submissions

COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY INTEREST GROUP
Call for Papers and Panels

Central States Communication Association (CSCA)
Annual Conference - Minneapolis, MN
April 14 – 19, 2026

Translate!

The Communication & Technology Interest Group (CAT) invites submissions of competitive papers, extended abstracts, and panel proposals for the 2026 CSCA Convention in Minneapolis. In keeping with this year’s conference theme Translate!, we especially encourage submissions that explore how communication technologies, platforms, and theories can be made accessible, actionable, and ethical across academic, public, and professional settings.

Suggested Paper Topics and Panel Themes

We welcome submissions that address communication technology through a wide range of perspectives. Possible topics include (but are not limited to):

• Theory to Practice: How can communication and technology theories be translated into daily life, pedagogy, policy, or workflow improvements?
• Translating Experience Through Technology: How do communication technologies mediate or alter how people interpret, navigate, or respond to messages, relationships, or social issues?
• Ethics and Literacy in Emerging Tech Use: What are the ethical, pedagogical, or institutional challenges in building AI literacy and guiding responsible tech use across academic or public contexts?
• Cross-Sector Collaboration: How can communication technology research and practices be translated to non-academic partners in education, healthcare, or public sectors?
• Human Actors as Translators: How do individuals (e.g., students, educators, or professionals) help bridge technology and practice in meaningful, ethical, or impactful ways?

Emerging Tech Tools Showcase: Special Call for Panel Participation

Additionally, we are planning a panel or roundtable to highlight emerging technology tools that help translate complex academic or professional work into more effective, accessible, or engaging forms, whether for students, colleagues, or collaborators.

Submissions should prepare to showcase at the panel AI tools or data visualization/management platforms that support productivity in research, teaching, learning, or workflow design. This may include 1) A new or lesser-known application, or 2) A widely used tool employed in a particularly creative or impactful way.

Faculty and graduate students are invited to submit an abstract that includes:

1. The specific tool to be demonstrated and the context(s) in which it is used.
2. A short explanation of how the tool enhances productivity, insight, or collaboration.
3. A statement confirming that the presenter can access and operate the tool during the session, as a live demonstration or walk-through will be expected.

Please refer to the “Special Note: Showcase Panel Abstract Guidelines” below for formatting and submission requirements.

Depending on the number and type of submissions, we may organize separate sessions for AI applications and for data visualization or research infrastructure tools.

Awards & Instructions

The Communication & Technology Interest Group presents the following annual awards. Only FULL papers are eligible.

1. ComBotLabs Top Paper Award honors the most outstanding full paper submitted to the interest group. No separate application is needed; all eligible full papers submitted to the interest group will automatically be considered. To remain eligible, submissions must fully comply with formatting, anonymization, and submission requirements. Final award selections will be made from among full papers accepted through the peer-review process.
2. Top Student Paper Award recognizes the best full paper authored solely by graduate student(s). To be considered, type “STUDENT” in the upper right-hand corner of the title page. Papers co-authored with faculty are not eligible. Review and selection follow the same process as the Top Paper Award.
3. Inclusive Scholarship Award (CSCA-wide) recognizes scholarship that explicitly engages historically marginalized communities or populations. To be considered: a) Type “INCLUSIVE SCHOLARSHIP” in the upper right-hand corner of the title page; b) In the abstract, include at least one paragraph explaining how the work addresses equity and inclusion; c) select the “Inclusive Scholarship” option when submitting. For further information, please consult the general CSCA Convention Guidelines.

For detailed submission formatting and eligibility criteria, please refer to the Full Paper Submission Guidelines below.

CAT Submission Guidelines

CAT accepts the following types of submissions:

I. Full Papers:

1. May use any methodological or theoretical perspective.
2. Preferred citation style: APA 7^th edition (other consistent styles also accepted).
3. Must include a title and a brief abstract.
4. Length: Maximum 30 double-spaced pages, including references, tables, and figures.
5. Indicate if author(s) are active CSCA members.
6. Remove ALL identifying information before submission, including from file properties.
7. Top-right of title page should include any applicable labels:
   • “STUDENT” for graduate or undergraduate student authors (not co-authored with faculty members),
   • “DEBUT STUDENT” for single-authored papers by a graduate student presenting at CSCA for the first time,
   • Or “INCLUSIVE SCHOLARSHIP” if eligible (see “Awards and Instructions” section above).

II. Extended Abstracts:

Extended abstracts are ideal for works-in-progress that may benefit from early feedback, especially those using emerging or complex theoretical frameworks. This format allows scholars to share developing ideas and receive constructive input prior to full paper development. We particularly encourage submissions from graduate students, early-career scholars, and those seeking to grow toward journal publication.

1. May use any methodological or theoretical perspective.
2. Length: Maximum 10 double-spaced pages, including all content (e.g., references, tables, figures).
3. Must include a title and a brief abstract (between 150-250 words, summarizing the core idea).
4. Minimum content: Submissions must clearly include:
   • A well-formulated research question or objective
   • Theoretical framework
   • Proposed or ongoing methods
   • Expected contributions or significance

Please remove ALL identifying information before submission, including from file properties.

Note: Extended abstracts are not eligible for the ComBotLabs Top Paper Award.

III. Paper & Discussion Panels:

We welcome 1) Paper Panels (collections of completed papers on a shared topic) and 2) Discussion Panels (4-5 participants offering brief remarks followed by open discussions). Preference is given to panels with contributors from multiple institutions or institutional types.

Panel submissions must include 1) Title, 2) Description (≤75 words), 3) Rationale (≤75 words), 4) Full list of participants with institutional affiliations, contact information (address, emails, phone numbers), and their CSCA membership status.

For paper panels, also include the title and an abstract (≤100 words) for each individual paper.

IV. Special Note: Showcase Panel Abstract Guidelines

Submissions to the Emerging Tech Tools Showcase panel must adhere to the following:

1. Each abstract should focus on one primary tool (maximum two tools per submission; up to two presenters per abstract).
2. Must include the following components:
   • Abstract title.
   • Description and rationale (≤150 words; include a direct link to the official website or documentation for the app/tool).
   • Full list of participants, including institutional affiliation, email and phone contact， and CSCA membership status.
   • For graduate student presenters: Label the top-right of the title page with “STUDENT.”

Submissions should follow the general panel submission process through the CSCA system. Demonstration abstracts that do not meet these requirements may not be considered.

Deadline: October 10, 2025, by 11:59 PM (CDT).

All technology requests must be made at the time of submission.

All submissions must be made through the CSCA online submission portal. We recommend setting up your profile in advance to streamline the process and ensure a smooth submission experience.

About CAT

CAT brings together scholars, researchers, and practitioners who explore how communication interacts with technology across contexts, whether through theory-building, practical application, critical inquiry, or innovation. We aim to foster a collaborative network that supports both academic inquiry and professional relevance. To learn more about the Communication & Technology Interest Group and connect with fellow members, we invite you to join our CAT Interest Group Facebook page.

We also call for CSCA members who are willing to serve as paper or abstract reviewers. If you're interested in helping with this year's review process, you’re welcome to sign up here.

For questions about this call, please contact Dr. Xialing Lin (xialing.lin@ucf.edu), CAT Chair and Program Planner.