This one-day event highlights the research of George Mason's graduate student community.
The conference - hosted by the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GAPSA) and Graduate Student Life - opens avenues of discussion across disciplines and showcases scholarly research. This year's conference will be held at George Mason University on Friday, March 27, 2026. This one-day in-person event will showcase graduate student scholarly research and creative works across disciplines through posters, oral presentations, and creative, visual, and performing arts.
Call for Proposals
GAPSA invites George Mason graduate students to participate in the 2026 George Mason Graduate Interdisciplinary Conference by submitting a proposal. Applicants must be current graduate and professional students at George Mason University. Team presentations must include at least one current George Mason graduate student. An abstract (250 words maximum) for poster, oral, or creative, visual, and performing arts presentation should be submitted electronically through our electronic submission form, opened in Fall 2025.
The Call for Proposals closes Sunday, February 8, 2026 at 11:55pm.
The George Mason Graduate Interdisciplinary Conference gave me the opportunity to articulate work-in-progress research to a professional environment, receive useful feedback which guided revisions of my research at the time that ended up with the final product being published in Film Criticism, an internationally renowned journal. This experience was vital in shaping my perspective with my research and I’m so grateful for all of the ways other George Mason students and faculty showed their interest and support in my work.
- Maillim Santiago, PhD Student, Cultural Studies
Communication Academy
The Communication Academy is a communication and performance workshop series introducing graduate students to the techniques used by professionals and speech writers, helping them learn to perform, communicate, improvise, and respond dynamically to an audience. The Communication Academy provides a rich opportunity to prepare for presenting at the George Mason Graduate Interdisciplinary Conference or any other academic/professional setting.
Students will enhance their abilities to vividly articulate their research and inspire audiences. Communication Academy participants will incorporate storytelling, metaphor and gestures while practicing techniques to prepare them to communicate of their research.
For more information, click here.