Europe Chapter: Information Science Trends (IST) 2026: Celebrating Theory and Practice

Description

Information Science Trends (IST) 2026:
Celebrating Theory and Practice
Call for Participation

June 25-26, 2026
Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
and viewable on Zoom

The Europe Chapter (EC) of the Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T) seeks participation in this year’s IST conference on Celebrating Theory and Practice. The conference will be held in Barcelona, Spain, and presentations will also be viewable on Zoom.

• Conference dates:
  • June 25: networking & dinner, 8.00pm CET
  • June 26: keynote(s) & presentations, 10.00am-5.00pm CET
• Submissions (abstract of 400-750 words): on EasyChair [here], using this abstract template
• Deadline for submissions: Wednesday 6th May, 2026
• Notification of acceptance: Wednesday 20th May, 2026
• Registration (possible without a submission): here.

We invite researchers, practitioners and students to submit abstracts for talks (15 minutes presentation + discussion time, using the template linked above). Students also have the option to submit proposals for posters rather than presentations, if they wish. We welcome proposals from ASIS&T members and non-members alike. The main conference day will consist of an opening keynote, paper sessions, lunch and networking, and posters. Further, all attendees are invited to join for dinner the night before the conference (self paid); registrants can indicate interest during registration.

For this event, themed Celebrating Theory and Practice, we invite submissions within information science/studies (broadly construed) covering research (completed or in progress), practical projects or examples, and conceptual work. Inspired by the addition of SLA members to the Europe Chapter, the theme encourages a celebration of the nexus of theory and practice; this includes for example ongoing changes in digitality and digital environments, benefits and risks of emerging information technology and functionality, and information seeking and use as it can help (or hinder) people in meeting their information-related needs in the information society (including but not limited to the European region). We welcome broad interpretations on the conference theme, example topics include:

• Information Access, Use and Understanding in Transforming Contexts
  • Evaluating the value and validity of information (incl. source critique): challenging assumptions, tradition, and stereotypes
  • Research on changing information behaviour/practices that respond to theory and practice, including personal and professional information management contexts
  • Ethical concerns in the use of data, information and information technologies (e.g., education informatics, health informatics) for benevolent or malevolent purposes
  • Literacies for empowerment to address issues of information/data uses/abuses incl. privacy, democracy, responsible computing, digital sovereignty…
  • Literacies for emerging technology e.g. information seeking and (un)critical thought with AI
• Digital Transformation, Digital Culture and Everyday Experience
  • Research on digital inequalities, such as digital poverty and the digital divide, revealing exclusions or limitations faced by certain groups
  • Equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in information studies: maintaining and defending representation of participants to promote equality and diversity in the digital society
  • Relevant theories that promote the preservation or dissemination of digital and marginalized cultures and communities
  • Digital culture and links to sustainability of all kinds (via information, technology, practices, politics…)
  • Media and technology for transformation (good and bad): AI, Machine Learning; AR, VR, XR; Digital media; Online platforms in practice
  • Continuity and frictions in everyday information experience: exploring the dynamics of transitioning between online and offline realms in different aspects of life such as education, work, healthcare, and leisure in theory or practice
• New Perspectives on and Links Between Theory and Practice
  • Uses and abuses of theory in practice in public, business, academic, and other libraries and archives
  • Analysis of notable or ongoing gaps between theory and practice in real world contexts
  • Promising approaches to addressing such gaps
  • New (or adapted) concepts for further developing theory and/or practice

We interpret Information Science broadly to include all kinds of information research including but not limited to information management, information behaviour and literacy, information retrieval and processing, data science, information ethics and governance, information/knowledge organisation, and ways of knowing. If you are not sure whether your idea fits in with our theme do please email the conference co-chairs (see emails below).

The Information Science Trends (IST) conference series – background:

The event is part of the series on Information Science Trends (IST). The events focus on current research topics, including invited speakers from research and industry. Our first event in Hamburg (April, 2019) focused on the topic Search Engines and Information Retrieval. Our second, online, event focused on Health Information Behaviour (June, 2020) and our third on Information Science Research During COVID-19 and Post-Pandemic Opportunities (June, 2021), and our fourth on Untold Stories (June, 2022). Our fifth event was hybrid and focused on Information Science Perspectives on Documenting Processes and Practices (June, 2023), whereas the sixth was online and explored Living Online and Offline in Darkness and Light (July, 2024). Last year’s meeting theme was Creativity, Transformation, and Empowerment (June, 2026), held in Manchester UK and online. The IST conferences have been awarded the ASIS&T Chapter Event of the Year multiple times. Our events provide an opportunity to network and share ideas and interests from the different fields of information science and related disciplines.

Submission requirements

For both presentations and posters, we request an informative, structured abstract:

• 400-750 words, in English
• Use standard scholarly headings that fit the nature of the work conducted and the short format, e.g. Background / Goals, Methods, Results & Discussion, References [in APA7]

You will find our template at https://tinyurl.com/IST25template. You must submit via Easychair. All abstracts will be peer-reviewed by at least two reviewers. All presenters must register for the conference (see below for rates.) See the submission due date in the timeline above.

If your submission is accepted, we strongly encourage you to later upload your revised abstract with a CC-BY 4.0 International License to the conference proceedings series that has long been published on Zenodo (community: Information Science Trends - ASIS&T European Chapter Series).

Opportunities for all researchers and practitioners

You may submit proposals for presentations (presentation of 15 minutes + 5 minutes for questions). Please submit your abstract and choose the submission type “presentation” in the submission form. Multimodal presentations, as well as traditional presentations, are welcome as long as they fit in the time limit.

Additional opportunities for students

Posters – In addition to the possibility to submit presentation proposals, students attending in-person may submit poster proposals. If a sufficient number of posters are present, all posters will be entered in a Best Poster competition, to be judged by the conference committee based on the quality of the presented research and efficacy of the visual presentation. To be eligible, students must be present with their posters on the day of the conference. Students are defined as BA/BSc, MA/MSc, or PhD students within Information Science (including related areas such as Data Science and Information Management). Please submit an informative, structured abstract (using this template https://tinyurl.com/IST25template), and be sure to choose the submission type “poster” in the submission form, and mention your student status and supervisor(s). Posters should be A1 size.

About the hybrid format and ‘viewable online’

This year’s conference is primarily an in-person event and consequently all presentations must be made in person to be included in the conference programme. There is also an online option exclusively for those who wish to watch the presentations remotely; for that a Zoom link will be provided after registration but please note that scheduled events beyond the presentations (e.g. networking, workshops) may not be viewable and handling of questions from online participants will be done on a best-effort basis.

Cannot Give a Talk But Plan to Attend?

Participation is not restricted to those presenting! Registration fees are:

• For in-person attendance (includes lunch on the 26th):
  • ASIS&T members: US $20
  • ASIS&T student members: Free
  • Other non-members: US $40
  • Student non-members: US $20
• For online-only attendance (note: remote presentations are not possible! See above.):
  • ASIS&T members (incl. students): no charge (but registration still required)
  • Student non-members: US $10
  • Other non-members: US $20

Register here (if you are an ASIS&T member, log into the ASIS&T website to enable your discount).

For more information:
We are happy to answer any questions you might have regarding this event. Please send an email to the IST conference co-chairs / ASIST Europe Chapter officers

Alicia Takaoka, takaoka@rsm.nl, Chair

Tsveta Rafaylova, tsveta.rafaylova@gmail.com, Chair elect

Jesse Dinneen, jesse.dinneen@hu-berlin.de, Past Chair

Juanjo Boté, juanjo.botev@ub.edu, Chapter Officer

Tanja Merčun-Kariž, tanja.mercunkariz@ff.uni-lj.si, Chapter Officer

Hillary Oakley, hilary.oakley@sunderland.ac.uk, Chapter Officer

Sophie Rutter, s.rutter@sheffield.ac.uk, Chapter Officer

Sheila Webber, s.webber@sheffield.ac.uk, Chapter Officer