Call for Panels
The World Anthropological Union (WAU) Congress 2025 invites scholars, practitioners, and activists from around the world to submit panel proposals for this landmark event, which will take place in Antigua, Guatemala, from November 3–8, 2025. This congress seeks to provide an inclusive and dynamic platform for exploring critical global challenges and redefining our collective understandings of humanity.
Promoting Diversity and Inclusion
In keeping with the Congress’s commitment to fostering diversity and equity, we encourage panel proposals that bring together organizers and participants from diverse nationalities, institutions, and perspectives. Proposals featuring interdisciplinary approaches, early-career and senior scholars, and representation from traditionally underrepresented regions and groups are particularly welcome.
To further ensure diversity, applicants are encouraged to apply for In-Person and Online scholarships.
Diversity is not just a guideline—it is a strength. Panels reflecting a broad range of voices are better equipped to tackle complex, global issues with creativity and depth.
Submission Guidelines
– Panel Structure: Proposals should outline a 120-minute session with 4–6 participants (including a discussant and/or moderator). We can accommodate panels with up to 18 participants by dividing them into consecutively numbered sessions.
If your panel includes more than 18 participants, or if you wish to propose a larger panel structure, please contact us directly to explore possible options. Our goal is to ensure flexibility while maintaining a coherent and engaging schedule for all attendees.
– Institutional Diversity: It is essential that panels include participants from multiple institutions. Panels organized around contributions from a range of institutions will be given priority. We strongly believe that cross-institutional participation is critical for fostering a broad exchange of perspectives and ensuring the relevance and rigor of the discussions. Proposals that do not reflect this diversity will not be considered.
– Qualifications of Proposers: At least one proposer should hold a PhD or equivalent advanced degree. This requirement ensures that the panel is grounded in scholarly expertise and contributes to the overall academic rigor of the congress.
– Congress Tracks: Panels should be designed to align with one of the congress’s thematic tracks, ensuring that the content of the panel contributes to the exploration and discussion of the key themes outlined for the event. The tracks are:
- Epistemic Justice: Inclusivity and Representation in Anthropological Research
- Interdisciplinary Approaches: Bridging Anthropology with Other Sciences
- Global Challenges and Local Realities: Anthropological Responses to
- Technology and Society: The Anthropological Implications of Digital Transformation
- Future Directions in Anthropological Theory and Practice
- Heritage and Memory: Preserving Tangible and Intangible Culture
- Urban Spaces and Cultural Dynamics: How Urban Spaces Shape and Are Shaped
- Migration, Diasporas, and Mobilities: Contemporary Dynamics of Displacement and Belonging
- Histories of Anthropology: Local to Global Perspectives on Knowledge and Practice
- Anthropology of Climate and Environment: Understanding Human Adaptation and Advocacy in the Age of Crisis
- Ethics in Anthropological Practice: Navigating Power, Identity, and Responsibility
- Decolonizing Methodologies: Redefining Research Paradigms in a Multipolar World
- Anthropology of Health: Cultures of Medicine, Wellbeing, and Care
- Language, Communication, and Power: Anthropological Perspectives
- Performing and Visual Arts in Anthropology: Expressive Cultures and Identity
– Proposal Submission: Panel proposers can also propose an individual paper at this stage. Each individual may submit only one paper for consideration. This policy ensures a broad and diverse range of contributions while allowing an equal opportunity for all participants to share their work. We encourage authors to carefully consider their most relevant and impactful paper for submission.
– Languages: Presentations may be in English or Spanish. Unfortunately, simultaneous translation services will not be available.
– Presentation Time: Each paper presentation will be allocated 20 minutes, which includes time for the speaker to present their research, findings, and key arguments. Presenters are encouraged to structure their presentation to fit within this time frame, ensuring they have adequate time to cover the essential points of their paper while keeping the audience engaged.
– Discussant/Moderator: The discussant ideally will have 15 minutes to provide thoughtful commentary and facilitate discussion. This time should be used to engage with the presenters’ papers, highlight key themes, and offer critical reflections that foster deeper dialogue among panelists and the audience. The discussant’s role is essential for creating a dynamic and enriching exchange, and this time allocation ensures that their insights contribute meaningfully to the overall panel experience.
– Paper Submission for Congress Proceedings: Authors will have the opportunity to submit a finished version of their paper to be included in the WAU Congress 2025 repository, which will serve as the official congress proceedings. These submissions will be assigned permanent identifiers and metadata, ensuring long-term accessibility and scholarly recognition. Detailed guidelines for submitting the final versions of papers will be provided once the call for papers opens. This allows presenters to contribute to the lasting academic impact of the congress and ensures their work is accessible to the broader academic community.
Important Dates
– Call for Panels Opens: December 2 (Monday), 2024
– Submission Deadline: February 15 (Saturday), 2025
– Results Announced: March 17 (Monday), 2025
Scholarships for the WAU Congress 2025
Scholarships are available only to panel proposers who also submit a paper. No scholarships will be granted for individual paper submissions.
In-Person Participation Scholarships
– Opens: December 2 (Monday), 2024
– Deadline: February 15 (Saturday), 2025
– Results: March 17 (Monday), 2025
Online Participation Scholarships
– Opens: December 2 (Monday), 2024
– Deadline: February 15 (Saturday), 2025
– Results: March 17 (Monday), 2025
We look forward to receiving panel proposals. Let’s work together to redefine the future of anthropology!