Call for Papers

Overview

We invite proposals for papers relevant to the ISIC 2026 conference themes presented in the Call for Papers above. Accepted papers will be published in Information Research.

All authors agree that their articles will be published as conference proceedings in the Information Research journal. A signed Consent-To-Publish form is required for all final accepted papers.

If your work is accepted for presentation at the conference, at least one co-author will need to register during the Early Bird Registration period and present the work at ISIC 2026 in Montréal, Canada. The organisers reserve the right to withhold publications if these conditions are not met.

Guidelines

The maximum length for full papers is 5,500 words (excluding references, figures and tables).

The Information Research submission guidelines apply to all ISIC submissions. Please view the guidelines. Please submit your paper using the template (the template is on the Information Research website, listed as item #9). The paper should be submitted in pdf format.

We urge authors to submit their data collection instruments as supplementary digital materials, such as questionnaires, codebooks, interview guides, and informed consent forms. Since ISIC 2026 is a scholarly conference, appropriate references are important; the state of the field should be reflected by references to the most recent literature.

Submitting your paper

Paper submission through ConfTool Pro will open early September.

Contact

Final decisions on acceptance in the conference programme will be made by the ISIC 2026 Paper Chairs together with the General Chairs:

pam.mckenzie [at] uwo.ca (Pam McKenzie), University of Western Ontario, Paper Co-Chair ISIC 2026
sarah.polkinghorne [at] ualberta.ca (Sarah Polkinghorne), University of Alberta, Paper Co-Chair ISIC 2026

rebekah.willson [at] mcgill.ca (Rebekah Willson), McGill University, Conference Chair ISIC 2026
owen.stewart-robertson [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Owen Stewart-Robertson), McGill University, Conference Chair ISIC 2026

Overview

We invite proposals for papers relevant to the ISIC 2026 conference themes presented in the Call for Papers above. Accepted papers will be published in Information Research.

All authors agree that their articles will be published as conference proceedings in the Information Research journal. A signed Consent-To-Publish form is required for all final accepted papers.

If your work is accepted for presentation at the conference, at least one co-author will need to register during the Early Bird Registration period and present the work at ISIC 2026 in Montréal, Canada. The organisers reserve the right to withhold publications if these conditions are not met.

Guidelines
The maximum length for full papers is 2,000 words (excluding references, figures and tables).

The Information Research submission guidelines apply to all ISIC submissions. Please view the guidelines. Please submit your paper using the template (the template is on the Information Research website, listed as item #9). The paper should be submitted in pdf format.

We urge authors to submit their data collection instruments as supplementary digital materials, such as questionnaires, codebooks, interview guides, and informed consent forms. Since ISIC 2026 is a scholarly conference, appropriate references are important; the state of the field should be reflected by references to the most recent literature.

Submitting your paper

Paper submission through ConfTool Pro will open early September.

Contact

Final decisions on acceptance in the conference programme will be made by the ISIC 2026 Paper Chairs together with the General Chairs:

pam.mckenzie [at] uwo.ca (Pam McKenzie), University of Western Ontario, Paper Co-Chair ISIC 2026
sarah.polkinghorne [at] ualberta.ca (Sarah Polkinghorne), University of Alberta, Paper Co-Chair ISIC 2026

rebekah.willson [at] mcgill.ca (Rebekah Willson), McGill University, Conference Chair ISIC 2026
owen.stewart-robertson [at] mail.mcgill.ca (Owen Stewart-Robertson), McGill University, Conference Chair ISIC 2026

Overview

Poster submissions are an opportunity to present early-stage research or work that is more suited to an interactive, informal, graphical presentation to conference attendees. Presenting a poster is also a good way to discuss and receive feedback on a work in progress that has not been fully developed into a paper.

If your proposal is accepted, your poster will be displayed in a poster session during the conference. At least one author for each accepted poster must register for and attend the conference since you will be expected to present your poster at the time set aside for poster presentations. A list of the poster titles and authors will be included in the conference program; however, poster proposals are not published in Information Research.

If your work is accepted for presentation at the conference, at least one co-author will need to register during the Early Bird Registration period and present the work at the ISIC 2026.The organisers reserve the right to withhold a publication if these conditions are not met.

Guidelines

The Information Research submission guidelines apply to all ISIC submissions. Please view the guidelines. Please submit your poster using the template ( template_poster_isic2026_final.docx). Please limit your proposal for the poster to two pages. The poster proposal should be submitted as a pdf.

Proposals should include the following information; please use these as subtitles in your submission:

• Poster title
• Abstract – a short description of your poster (max. 200 words)
• Problem statement/research questions
• Significance/relevance of the topic
• Content – a clear description of the expected content of the poster
• Recommendations (if applicable)
• Conclusion

Submitting your proposal

Paper submission through ConfTool Pro will open early September.

Contact

Final decisions on acceptance in the conference programme will be made by the ISIC 2026 Poster Chairs:

africaha [at] buffalo.edu (Africa Hands), University at Buffalo, Poster Co-Chair ISIC 2026
Rebecca.Noone [at] glasgow.ac.uk (Rebecca Noone), University of Glasgow, Poster Co-Chair ISIC 2026

If you have any questions or comments concerning the poster submission, please feel free to contact the poster chairs or for administrative issues Rebekah Willson (rebekah.willson [at] mcgill.ca).

Overview

ISIC 2026 invites proposals for panels that engage critically with dimensions of the conference themes and bring together participants with a diverse range of voices to collectively offer debate and new insights. A panel should have at least three, but not more than five participants. Note that panels are expected to involve the active exchange of ideas, rather than sessions consisting of a series of paper presentations. To that end, in addition to panel discussions, ISIC 2026 also welcomes other forms of interactive scholarly events. Please contact the track chairs if you are unsure if your planned submission fits within the scope of this track. Panels are scheduled for 90 minutes.

If panels are accepted for presentation at the conference, at least two panel members must register during the Early Bird Registration period and present the work at the ISIC 2026. All panel members must register for and attend the conference. It is not possible to have hybrid panels where some panel members participate virtually. The organizers reserve the right to cancel panels if these conditions are not met.

A shortened version of the panel proposals will be available in the conference program; however, panel proposals are not published in the official conference proceedings.

Guidelines

The Information Research submission guidelines apply to all ISIC submissions. Please view the guidelines. Please submit your poster using the template ( template_panel_isic2026_final.docx). Please limit your proposal for panels to a maximum of 3-5 pages. The poster proposal should be submitted as a pdf. Panels are scheduled for 90 minutes.

Proposals should include the following information; please use these as subtitles in your submission:

• Title of panel
• Names, affiliations, and email addresses of the panel organisers
• Proposed format: draft schedule, explanation of how it will engage with the audience
• Purpose and contribution to the conference theme
• Summary of content
• References
• Special requests/equipment needs

Submitting your proposal

Paper submission through ConfTool Pro will open early September.

Contact

Final decisions on acceptance in the conference programme will be made by the ISIC 2026 Panel Chairs:

anna.mierzecka [at] uw.edu.pl (Anna Mierzecka), University of Warsaw, Workshop & Panel Co-Chair ISIC 2026
vanscoy [at] buffalo.edu (Amy VanScoy), University at Buffalo, Workshop & Panel Co-Chair ISIC 2026

If you have any questions or comments concerning the panel submission, please feel free to contact the panel chairs or for administrative issues Rebekah Willson (rebekah.willson [at] mcgill.ca).

Overview

We invite half-day workshop proposals related to the conference themes. We are especially interested in workshops on innovative research methods for information behaviour studies, theories and methodological issues and workshops relevant to practice theory. Note that workshops are expected to involve the active exchange of ideas, rather than sessions consisting of a series of paper presentations. To that end, in addition to workshops, ISIC 2026 also welcomes other forms of interactive scholarly events. Please contact the track chairs if you are unsure if your planned submission fits within the scope of this track.

If a workshop is accepted for presentation at the conference, at least one (co-)presenter will need to register during the Early Bird Registration period. The organisers reserve the right to cancel workshops if these conditions are not met.

A shortened version of the workshop proposals will be available in the conference program; however, workshop proposals are not published in the official conference proceedings.

Guidelines

The Information Research submission guidelines apply to all ISIC submissions. Please view the guidelines. Please submit your poster using the template ( template_workshop_isic2026_final.docx). Please limit your proposal for workshops to a maximum of 3 pages. The poster proposal should be submitted as a pdf. Workshops are scheduled for half a day (approximately 4 hours).

Proposals should include the following information; please use these as subtitles in your submission:

• Workshop title
• Names, affiliations, and e-mail addresses of the workshop organisers
• Key issues addressed by the workshop (maximum one page)
• Proposed workshop format: draft schedule, explanation of how it will engage with the audience
• Discussion of:
  • Relevance of the workshop to ISIC 2026 themes
  • Significance of the topic of the workshop
  • Number of attendees that can be accommodated
  • Requirements for participation (e.g., prior knowledge, skills)
  • Special needs: venue layout, equipment
  • Confirmation that the workshop can be covered in half-a-day

Submitting your proposal

Paper submission through ConfTool Pro will open early September.

Contact

Final decisions on acceptance in the conference programme will be made by the ISIC 2026 Workshop Chairs:

anna.mierzecka [at] uw.edu.pl (Anna Mierzecka), University of Warsaw, Workshop & Panel Co-Chair ISIC 2026
vanscoy [at] buffalo.edu (Amy VanScoy), University at Buffalo, Workshop & Panel Co-Chair ISIC 2026

If you have any questions or comments concerning the workshop submission, please feel free to contact the workshop chairs or for administrative issues Rebekah Willson (rebekah.willson [at] mcgill.ca).

Overview

Doctoral students are invited to submit an application to participate in the Doctoral Workshop to be held in conjunction with the Information Behaviour Conference ISIC 2026 hosted in Montreal, Canada (1-4 June 2026).

During the Doctoral Workshop, scheduled for 1 June, 2026, doctoral students will be invited to share their current dissertation work-in-progress with their peers and with an international panel of research mentors invited to take part in the workshop.

The workshop has the following objectives:

• To provide a setting for mutual feedback on participants’ current dissertation research, and guidance on future research directions;
• To develop a supportive community of scholars and a spirit of collaborative research; and
• To contribute to the conference goals through interaction with other researchers and conference events.

The Doctoral Workshop is free of charge. Participants in the workshop are required to attend the ISIC conference (student registration is discounted). The Doctoral Workshop will be held in person in Montreal. No remote attendance is possible.

Timeline

• Submission to the Doctoral Workshop: Friday 16 January, 2026 (all time zones)
• Notification of acceptance: Monday 16 February, 2026
• Deadline for final modified submission and supplemental information as required: Thursday 16 April, 2026
• Doctoral Workshop: Monday 1 June, 2026

Guidelines

Criteria for selection
Participants for the Doctoral Workshop will be selected based on their anticipated contribution to the workshop goals. Emphasis will be placed on forming a diverse group of approximately 16-20 engaged students working on projects relevant and/or related to (the field of) information behavior research. We invite students who are in the early to middle stages of their dissertation, and who have not yet progressed to writing-up. Typically, participants have settled on thesis directions, usually with a research proposal accepted by their thesis committee or departmental research committee. Further details on workshop activities will be available closer to the event.

How to apply
To apply as a student participant in the Doctoral Workshop, prepare a submission package consisting of the following:

1. Thesis Summary: Prepare a two-page thesis summary, which outlines the problem being addressed, the proposed work plan and a description of your progress to date. Considering the topic of the ISIC conference, position your work in relation to the information behavior field. Include in your summary research problems you have encountered and would like to discuss at the workshop. Use Times New Roman font, size 12; single spacing; left side alignment; paragraph indenting of 1.5 cm. It may contain diagrams or pictures only if necessary.
2. Short CV: This should include information typically found in a curriculum vitae, plus additional information on your background and relevant experience which may indicate your potential contribution to the workshop.
3. Contact details: Full name, e-mail address of the participant as well as for the advisor/supervisor with their institution included.
4. Short Letter of Recommendation from your thesis advisor or principal supervisor. This should include details of the current status of your thesis research, and an expected date for thesis submission.

All Doctoral Workshop submissions should be submitted electronically to the ISIC ConfTool Pro submission system (submission will be open in September 2025).

Two files should be uploaded.

1. The first file must be a PDF document containing: the thesis summary, a short CV, as well as all contact details.
2. The second file to be uploaded is the letter of recommendation from your thesis advisor or principal supervisor. It should be signed and sent as a .pdf file.

Please note, the abstract field is mandatory in the submission system, however, no abstract is necessary. Write "doctoral workshop submission" instead.

Further Information
Students accepted to participate in the Workshop will be asked to provide supplemental information prior to the Workshop that will help other participants understand the context of their research and the research challenges they wish to discuss at the session. We do not intend to publish the Doctoral Workshop thesis papers as these are works-in-progress.

Literature
Prospective applicants feeling still somewhat new to information behavior literature can explore prior ISIC conference publications. And, the following texts and materials provide a good starting point to the information behavior literature and research area:

Bates, M. J. (2010). Information Behavior. In Encyclopedia of Library and Information Sciences, 3rd Ed.; Bates, Marcia J.; Maack, Mary Niles, Eds. New York: CRC Press, vol. 3, pp. 2381-2391. Available at http://pages.gseis.ucla.edu/faculty/bates/articles/information-behavior.html

Given,L., Case, D., & Wilson, R. (2023). Looking for Information: Examining Research on How People Engage with Information. Emerald Publishing, Limited. Leeds, England. (See sample chapter at https://bookstore.emerald.com/looking-for-information-hb-9781803824246.html#)

Hartel, J. Information Behaviour Playlist at INFIDEOS (a collection of educational videos on information behavior) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZp7Vke_WTVoMYOBuDlzIWJan3vj1je2z

Contact

For additional information, contact the Conference Chair (Rebekah Willson, rebekah.willson [at] mcgill.ca) or the Workshop Chairs:

lisa.given2 [at] rmit.edu.au (Lisa Given), RMIT University, Doctoral Workshop Co-Chair ISIC 2026
heidijul [at] buffalo.edu (Heidi Julien), University at Buffalo, Doctoral Workshop Co-Chair ISIC 2026