Comm Horizons @UCD 2025
We are excited to announce the second annual Communication Horizons Conference at UC Davis. This year's theme is "Media, Health, and Society: Exploring Wellbeing Across Lifespans and Diverse Communities."
The conference will take place at UC Davis May 16 - 18, 2025.
As the media landscape rapidly evolves and integrates deeper into our daily lives, understanding its impact on health and societal wellbeing becomes increasingly essential (Valkenburg, Beyens, Meier, & Abeele, 2022). This conference is dedicated to examining the intricate relationships between media and the mental, physical, and social health of individuals and communities across all ages and diverse backgrounds.
Call for Papers:
Our aim is to foster groundbreaking research and stimulate insightful discussions that delve into how media influences health and wellbeing throughout the lifespan, from childhood to old age, and among varied cultural and socioeconomic groups. We seek to explore both the positive and negative effects of media on individual psychology, community cohesion, and the health of our societies, including democratic processes. By bringing together experts from diverse academic disciplines, we are creating a platform for sharing innovative research, methodologies, and comprehensive analyses. This conference offers a unique opportunity for scholars to shape the discourse on media's role in health and societal wellbeing and to share valuable insights that will influence the future of our interconnected world.
Suitable topics are not limited to, but include:
- Media’s Influence on Health Across Different Age Groups
- Digital Disconnection and Societal Outcomes
- The Role of Media in Shaping Societal Wellbeing and Democratic Health
- Impact of Media on Health Among Diverse Cultural and Socioeconomic Groups
- Media Literacy, Media Consumption, and Social Cohesion and Community Health
- Technological Interventions for Promoting Wellbeing via Media
- Media Representation and Its Impact on Identity and Self-Perception
- Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Media Use, Health, and Wellbeing
Submission Guidelines:
We invite original empirical research, theoretical arguments, methodological advances, data donations, and research syntheses in the following format:
Extended Abstract: A 500-word (excluding title page, references, tables, figures) summary of the research. Empirical submissions should describe a project where data collection has been completed and should include a presentation of preliminary results. Works where data collection is in progress will not be considered.
Submissions may be invited as a research presentation or a poster.
Important Dates:
- Submission Deadline: March 2, 2025, Anywhere on Earth (AOE)
- Decisions: March 17, 2025
- Conference Dates: May 16 – 18, 2025
Submission Process:
Please email submissions to the Conference Organizers (Richard Huskey; Heather Jane Hether; Soojong Kim) at horizonconf@ucdavis.edu. Please submit a .pdf file. Submissions do not need to be blinded.
Agenda*:
- Friday May 16, 2025:
- Mohrman Lecture: Dr. Dana Mastro, UCSB
- No-Host Reception
- Saturday May 17, 2025:
- Invited Keynote (TBA)
- Presentations and posters
- No-Host Reception
- Sunday May 18, 2025:
- Wine Tasting at Ashes & Diamonds in Napa (Optional)
*A more detailed agenda will be released along with decision notifications.
Contact:
For inquiries, please email Conference Organizers (Richard Huskey; Heather Jane Hether; Soojong Kim) at horizonconf@ucdavis.edu.
Conference Organizers:
This conference is organized by Drs. Richard Huskey, Heather Jane Hether, and Soojong Kim. Support for the conference itself is generously provided by the Department of Communication at UC Davis.