The UI English Graduate Association is excited to announce our 2026 conference theme “(k)no(w) books, (k)no(w) people: Multidisciplinary Studies of Narrative, Media, and the Anthropocene.” At the forefront of our conference is the power of narratives. Humans are storytellers by nature, and for thousands of years we have used stories to remember our pasts and envision our futures. We have used them to entertain and inspire us, to empower us in the face of oppression, and to understand the world around us. And, as the Anthropocene makes strikingly clear, human stories have shaped the world, to an irreversible degree. And yet, in an era dually defined by technological proliferation and environmental volatility, it has become increasingly apparent that humans are not the only authors writing the planet's future. More-than-human agents, from artificial intelligence to rising seas, are taking center stage in the storied world, both as characters and as narrators. In reckoning with this shift, we have an obligation to broaden our understanding of who (or what) can tell these stories while expanding our notion of what a narrative can be. 

Our objective for this conference is to create dynamic conversations about the role of narratives in our world, from the cultural myths that prop up hegemony to the stories librarians have lost their livelihoods over, from penned literary masterpieces to scenes that shimmer on screens to the tales whispered by the slow crash of an ocean wave. Stories are everywhere, though many have historically not been recognized as such. By inviting diverse modalities and perspectives into this space, we hope to foster collaboration and open dialogue in order to see these stories from a different side.  

We are excited to showcase the work of our fellow graduate students. We are asking for abstracts for submissions that focus on the conference theme “(k)no(w) books, (k)no(w) people: Multidisciplinary Studies of Narrative, Media, and the Anthropocene.” This year’s theme is intended to foster interdisciplinary conversations among scholars whose work engages with fields such as literary studies, transmedial studies, (new) materialism, posthumanism, the environmental humanities, and education studies, and beyond, while also acknowledging the complex times we live in. As such, we welcome would-be presenters to engage with the theme in a variety of different ways, including but not limited to: 

no books (and/or) no people: In the wake of narratology's “transmedial turn” and in response to new materialist discourse, submitters may explore narratives that take forms other than books (film and video game narratives, etc.) or that involve non-human narrators or characters (e.g. tree rings or geological strata as narratives). 

(to) know books (is to) know people: In a more traditional vein, submitters may reflect on the connections between literacy/literature and identity. 

(with) no books (there are) no people: The current political climate, characterized by book bans and the suppression of free speech, has once again emphasized the fact that words have power. Submitters may engage with the impacts of censorship, the importance of expression, or the revolutionary power of storytelling. 

Other relevant interpretations of this theme are welcome as well. 

The conference will be held on April 11 at the Integrated Research and Innovation Center (IRIC) at the University of Idaho (685 Line St in Moscow, Idaho). The conference will feature an interdisciplinary roundtable discussion, a keynote presentation from Washington State University's Jon Hegglund, presentations from graduate students, and workshops. We invite you to participate in as much of the conference as possible. Proposals will automatically be considered for both individual presentations and themed group (panel) discussions, which will be led by University of Idaho faculty and graduate students. 

We invite graduate students from all degrees to send an abstract for individual papers, roundtable discussions, original creative work, or other presentation formats. We encourage students working on their master’s projects or theses to share their work in this space. To apply for an individual 10 - 15 minute presentation followed by a 5 - 10 minute Q&A, please submit a titled proposal or abstract of approximately 250 words. Please include your name, affiliations, contact information, and a 1 - 2 sentence biography. You are also welcome to include any essential graphics in your abstract. We also encourage pre-organized panel proposals, which should be 250 words in length, and provide the names and titles of each presenter. Abstract submissions are due no later than January 31st, 2026.

FOLLOW LINK TO APPLY: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScHu-yGs7UvFOOH-ujAJnuR9jKPYeRT...  As you may still be in the process of completing your creative or analytical work, we encourage presenters to mention how they will adapt or evolve their work. Please contact uienglishgradassociation@gmail.com with questions. 

There is no cost for submitting to or attending this conference.