#EUSEA27 Gallus Glasgow
Date: 19 to 20 May 2026, with a pre-conference programme on 18 May.
Venue: University of Glasgow, Scotland.
The Call for Proposals
is Now Open!
Public Engagement For the Brave and the Bold!
Glasgow is not the place for the conventional; it is home to the radical, the sensational and often the mischievous. This is what we are hoping to bring to #EUSEA27!
For those not native to Glasgow or to Scotland, we may need to explain our conference strapline a little. Gallus is a Scottish slang word for someone who is bold, daring, cheeky, or mischievous. In a time where systems often work against community participation in science and research, we are looking for session ideas hallmarked by boldness and risk-taking, perhaps even tiny acts of rebellion, to achieve small and large outcomes for researchers and the public.
We invite contributions that challenge established ways of working, experiment with new forms of engagement, and embed creative ways to achieve impact despite institutional, political, or financial constraints.
To help focus ideas, we’re offering 6 session themes (below) and you’ll be asked to select up to 2 when submitting your proposal.
1. Here Be Monsters:
Scotland is famously home to unicorns, selkies, the Loch Ness Monster – even aliens (ahem). However, folklore and traditions can powerfully influence what people believe and how they think, and can offer an insightful window into the past. We’re looking for session ideas that explore tradition and culture in the context of science engagement and bring the voices of native communities to the fore.
2. Creative Disruption:
Effective public engagement sometimes arises from unconventional paths. We invite contributions that explore playful or disruptive approaches to engaging with audiences. It could be a creative format or an immersive experience. Maybe it’s championing an idea despite institutional or other constraints. We’d love to hear your session proposals that feature such creative disruption.
3. Tiny Acts of Resistance:
Scotland is known for its commitment to what is fair and true and sometimes standing up for that requires just a touch of rebellion. We’re interested in session ideas that tell a story of how you’re fighting for what’s right in your corner of public engagement. It could be about challenging outdated practices, punching through institutional norms, or just resisting doing things the way they’ve always been done just because it’s easier!
4. Advocacy and Democracy:
A well-informed and connected society is vital for democracy and freedom of speech, but it also brings challenges: conflicting views, misinformation, and often polarised debate. A healthy science and research sector depends on public involvement and support, and we’re interested in session proposals that activate and sustain community participation and dialogue, helping build trust in the scientific process.
5. Knowledge Exchange (Valorisation):
Knowledge exchange, or valorisation, turns research outputs into outcomes by translating data and knowledge into solutions that benefit society. Meanwhile, many actors outside the academy bring valuable experience and expertise to research. We’d love to hear about initiatives that support knowledge exchange between different parties, helping research journeys come alive beyond any one setting or group.
6. Underdog Science Engagement:
We can all empathise with a plucky underdog story, where determination can help us strive towards a goal. We’re inviting sessions hallmarked by doggedness and perseverance that tell a story of achieving a public engagement ‘win’ against the odds. It could be a grassroots project that punched above its weight or a creative workaround in the face of limited resources. Perhaps it’s about not being afraid to share failure and learning from things that didn’t work out.
Submission Guidelines:
We encourage contributions from a wide range of disciplines and perspectives. Proposals should address the conference theme by exploring various facets of public engagement, such as cultural, socioeconomic, and disciplinary intersections. Share your insights, research findings, and best practices in science communication, citizen science, participatory research, and other engagement initiatives.
Proposals can be submitted in the following formats:
- 8 Min Horizon Talks: Short, engaging presentations offering insights, researchfindings, or practical examples related to the conference theme.
- 90 Min Scenario Workshops: Interactive and participatory workshops involving hands-on activities, discussions, or collaborative exercises. Focus on specific tools, methodologies, or strategies for effective public engagement.
- 45 Min Dialogue Sessions: Sessions featuring multiple speakers and perspectives, with at least 50% of the time dedicated to discussion and reflection.
- Poster Pitches: Visual presentations plus 3-minute pitches showcasing projects, research, or innovative ideas.
- Networking Sessions: Ideas for interactive gatherings for newcomers or long-term EUSEA members who want to explore the growing EUSEA community.
- EUSEA Marketplace – The EUSEA Marketplace is an opportunity for projects and organisations to promote services or products of interest to the public engagement community.
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- Please note that selected market stalls will be charged an additional €400 on top of registration fees, paid at the time of registration.
Submission Process:
Submit your proposal online: EUSEA26 Submission via PreTalX by completing the online submission form, which requires:
- Title of the proposal (This will be used in the conference programme)
- Type of submission (presentation, workshop, or poster)
- Abstract (maximum 1000 characters – this will be used as a description for your event on the conference programme)
- Keywords (up to five relevant keywords)
- Presenter(s) information (name, affiliation, email address)
Important Dates:
- Proposal submission open: October 12, 2026
- Proposal submission deadline: December 7, 2026
- Notification of acceptance: End of January 2027
- Early bird registration: February 2027 – March 31, 2027
- Registration opens: Early February 2027
- Registration closes: April 30, 2027
Conference dates: May 19-20, 2027, Pre-Conference Programme on 18 May
EUSEA is delighted to be partnering with the UK’s national funding agency UKRI to provide bursaries to support attendance for UK-based professionals and researchers and/or community representatives working in engaged research. Please indicate if you satisfy one or more of the following criteria to be considered for support:-
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- I do not have funding to attend
- I would like to support the attendance/participation of a community partner or underrepresented group
The call for proposals is open from October until 7 December 2026. Please submit your contributions via the button below.
You will receive our feedback by the end of January 2027.
Please note that all speakers are required to register for the conference. Information about registration fees is available here. Submit your contributions via the button below.
We look forward to your innovative ideas and insightful discussions at the EUSEA Conference 2027.
We look forward to receiving your proposals and welcoming you to the EUSEA Conference 2027 in Glasgow. Together, let us explore how we can learn from each other’s experiences and cultures to drive public engagement to new horizons.
For any inquiries or further information, please contact the conference organising committee at info@eusea.info.
For the EUSEA Conference Committee