Programme

Speakers at The Washington Conference on the Social Sciences (WCSS) will provide a variety of perspectives from different academic and professional backgrounds. This page provides details of featured presentations, the conference schedule and other programming. For more information about presenters, please visit the Speakers page.


Conference Outline

Wed, April 15, 2026Thu, April 16Fri, April 17Sat, April 18Sun, April 19Mon, April 20

Conference Venue: Walter E. Washington Convention Center

16:00-16:30: Conference Check-in

16:30-17:15: Conference Information Session
This session provides an overview of what to expect at the conference, including guidance on preparing your presentation, publishing opportunities, and ways to engage with IAFOR. You will receive practical tips on setting up your presentation, understanding your role at the conference, including how to attract a larger audience to your session. We will also outline the publishing opportunities available, including how to submit your work to be included in the Conference Proceedings or IAFOR Journals. This session also offers a chance to explore the opportunities for deeper engagement, whether through networking with fellow delegates or getting involved more with IAFOR. Join us, and get ready to present, publish, and participate.

17:30-19:00: Conference Welcome Reception
Join us after the plenaries for the conference dinner at a local restaurant, where you reconvene with fellow delegates and our keynote presenters to continue conversations from the conference over a meal. This is a ticketed event.

Conference Venue: Walter E. Washington Convention Center

09:15-10:00: Conference Check-in & Coffee

10:00-10:10: Announcements

10:10-10:30: Welcome Address & Recognition of IAFOR Scholarship Winners
Joseph Haldane, IAFOR & University College London, United Kingdom

10:30-11:00 Special Welcome Address

11:05-11:25: Keynote Presentation
11:25-11:35: Q&A Session

11:40-12:00: Keynote Presentation
12:00-12:10: Q&A Session

12:10-12:20: Conference Photograph

12:20-13:40: Lunch Break

13:40-14:40: Plenary Panel Discussion

14:45-15:45: Forum Discussion

15:45-16:45: Conference Poster Session 1

19:00-21:00: Conference Dinner
Join us after the plenaries for the conference dinner at a local restaurant, where you reconvene with fellow delegates and our keynote presenters to continue conversations from the conference over a meal. This is a ticketed event.
This is an optional ticketed event

Conference Venue: Walter E. Washington Convention Center

09:30-10:00: Conference Check-in & Coffee

10:00-10:15: Welcome Address

10:15-10:35: Keynote Presentation
10:35-10:45: Q&A Session

10:45-11:00: Coffee Break

11:00-11:20: Keynote Presentation
11:20-11:30: Q&A Session

11:30-12:45: Lunch Break

12:45-13:05: Keynote Presentation
13:05-13:15: Q&A Session

13:20-13:40: Keynote Presentation
13:40-13:50: Q&A Session

13:55-14:15: Keynote Presentation
14:15-14:25: Q&A Session

14:25-14:45: Coffee Break

14:45-15:05: Keynote Presentation
15:05-15:15: Q&A Session

15:20-15:40: Keynote Presentation
15:40-15:50: Q&A Session

15:55-16:55: Conference Poster Session 2

16:00-16:45: Special Seminar Session

Conference Venue: Walter E. Washington Convention Center

09:30-10:00: Conference Check-in

10:00-11:40: Onsite Parallel Session 1

11:40-13:10: Extended Break

13:10-14:50: Onsite Parallel Session 2

14:50-15:05: Coffee Break

15:05-16:20: Onsite Parallel Session 3

Conference Venue: Walter E. Washington Convention Center

09:30-10:00: Conference Check-in

10:00-11:40: Onsite Parallel Session 1

11:40-13:10: Extended Break

13:10-14:50: Onsite Parallel Session 2

14:50-15:05: Coffee Break

15:05-16:20: Onsite Parallel Session 3

16:25-16:45: Onsite Closing Session

Venue: Online via Zoom
All streamed presentation times are Eastern Daylight Time (UTC-4)
Use the time converter tool to show times in your timezone.

17:50-18:00: Message from IAFOR

18:00-19:15: Online Parallel Session 1

19:15-19:25: Break

19:25-20:40: Online Parallel Session 2

20:40-20:50: Break

20:50-22:05: Online Parallel Session 3

22:05-22:10: Closing Message from IAFOR

The above schedule may be subject to change.


Featured Speakers

To be announced

Featured Presentations

To be announced


Conference Programme

The draft version of the Conference Programme will be available online on March 09, 2026. All registered delegates will be notified of this publication by email. The Conference Programme contains access information, session information and a detailed day-to-day presentation schedule.


Important Information Emails

All registered attendees will receive an Important Information email and updates in the run-up to the conference. Please check your email inbox for something from "iafor.org". If you can not find these emails in your normal inbox, it is worth checking in your spam or junk mail folders as many programs filter out emails this way. If these did end up in one of these folders, please add the address to your acceptable senders' folder by whatever method your email program can do this.