1. Empirically based studies

Research examining how academia is evolving, including studies of mental health, academic labour, career trajectories, precarity, citation practices, publication pressures, coping strategies, prestige-building mechanisms and other aspects of contemporary academic life.

2. Critical analyses of academic practices

Papers exploring (un)ethical academic practices, the commercialisation and exploitation of academia by extra-academic actors, predatory publishing, paper mills, research evaluation systems and their consequences, open science, research integrity and related issues. While recognising important initiatives such as Plan S and OpenAIRE, we are also interested in discussions of how they might be extended or strengthened.

3. Policy-oriented contributions

Papers proposing practical responses to the challenges outlined above, whether at institutional, national or global levels, including reforms to research evaluation systems, academic governance and the protection of academic freedom. We welcome reflections on stakeholders, governance arrangements, incentive structures and possible reforms that would allow researchers to focus on scientific quality, intellectual creativity and making a positive contribution to society, rather than primarily on gaming metric performance.

We welcome contributions from all world regions. National case studies, comparative analyses and cross-regional perspectives are particularly encouraged.

• Online presentations are welcome.
• Meals will be provided for all in-person participants.
• Accommodation (two nights in Riga) may be covered for participants without institutional support (please check with your institution first, since that would allow us to fund those with no support).
• Up to eight travel bursaries (€250) will be offered to selected speakers who do not have institutional support.