CONFERENCE CALL FOR PAPERS

Environmental Communication Division

Denver, Colorado, USA | 12-16 June 2025

Hang Lu, Vice Chair
Assistant Professor
Department of Communication and Media, University of Michigan
E-mail: hanglu@umich.edu

The Environmental Communication Division (ECD) invites high-quality submissions situated at the interface of the natural environment and human communication at any level of analysis (interpersonal, group, inter-group, organizational, mass, global). Topics include visual, aural, and textual representations in (new) media and popular culture; behavioral change and campaigns; political communication; civic engagement; green marketing; public opinion; rhetoric and discourse; the role of communication technologies; justice and equity issues; and globalization. Importantly, these topics should be studied in the context of environmental communication, including research on climate change, human-nature interaction, sustainability, and planetary health/boundaries. Research on health, risk, and science communication issues related to the environment is also welcome. 

In line with the 2025 ICA theme “Disrupting and Consolidating Communication Research,” we especially encourage submissions that speak on this topic regarding environmental communication. This can include papers on case studies of transformational environmental campaigns; historical analyses of environmental communication that have disrupted or been influenced by other fields; resilience and adaptation in environmental discourses; the cross-fertilization of environmental communication research through internal and external disruptions; digital activism and environmental advocacy; and other topics.

More generally, we welcome work from any disciplinary, theoretical, and methodological focus motivated by meaningful research questions or hypotheses in environmental communication. More details about our Division’s mission are available on our website: http://www.icahdq.org/group/envirocomm and Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/290772487977547/?fref=ts 

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Important General Guidelines:

1. Your submission may not be submitted yet to a journal at the time of submitting it to ICA.

2. Submissions have to be anonymous (except for panel proposals). Submissions containing identifying information will *not* undergo review (we will have to reject the paper: ICA-wide policy). Please also check the meta-data of your submission when uploading, such that no identifying information is included.

3. Always make sure to attach an anonymous PDF file to your submission. Submissions without attachments will be desk rejected (ICA-wide policy). 

4. Make sure to include a title page (except for panel proposals), including the title and the word count.

5. Make sure that you choose two-four topical keywords and at least one method keyword in the electronic submission system when submitting. 

6. Due to the competitive nature of having papers accepted in the ECD, only one first-authored submission can be submitted. 

7. Since the review process heavily relies on reviewers, you are required to review for the division when submitting a submission (fairness principle). 

8. Submit papers, panel proposals, and/or extended abstracts electronically via ICA’s paper submission website. 

9. The ECD especially encourages participation from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

We welcome the following types of submissions:

1. FULL PAPERS. Submissions will be accepted with a maximum 8,000 words excluding tables, charts, and references, 10-point type minimum (include a word count on the title page). Authors who prefer to present their research as an interactive poster are encouraged to note this when submitting their manuscript by emailing the vice-chair. 

2. EXTENDED ABSTRACTS. The goal for extended abstracts is to present and discuss current research where: (1) data have already been collected and (2) at least some preliminary analyses have been conducted to provide an initial view of key results (please note that abstracts are not appropriate for exclusively methodological or theoretical papers without any empirical findings). Extended abstracts are limited to 850-1,000 words (references, tables & figures do not count against this total; include a word count on the title page) and should clearly state how the work is situated within environmental communication scholarship. In general, extended abstracts will be paneled in high density sessions or as interactive paper presentations (posters). Extended abstracts are not eligible for top paper awards. 

3. PANEL PROPOSALS. Include a justification (maximum of 400 words) explaining the importance of the topic, panelists’ names and background, and abstracts for each paper (150 words per paper). Also include a 75-word panel description for the conference program. Each panel can contain up to five papers. Space for panel proposals is limited. Successful panels will likely be those that encourage racial, ethnic, or geographic diversity in the discipline; mentor junior scholars; promote graduate student research projects; or explore novel or emerging areas of research. Panel proposals should include contributions from at least two different countries, they should also feature gender balance, and they should include not more than one contributor from a single faculty, department, or school.

AWARDS

Top faculty paper(s), Top student paper(s), Top poster and Rock-star reviewer will receive recognition awards at the ECD’s Business Meeting. 

Some travel funding awards are available. To be eligible, student authors must indicate their status (see the EC Division web site, http://www.icahdq.org/group/envirocomm).

VOLUNTEER TO REVIEW

1. In fairness to everyone, all authors, and co-authors of submitted proposals are required to review. If a submitter does not review, their own submission cannot be accepted for presentation. Be sure to click “Volunteer to be a Reviewer” on the ICA paper submission site at the time of submitting your papers. Please also update your research interests in your 200-word ICA member profile and select 3-5 keywords that describe your subfield and your methodological and theoretical orientations. The ECD makes reviewer assignments based in part on your profile and keywords. Once you are approved as a reviewer, you will be assigned 3-5 papers based on your research areas. Please try your best to provide qualitative comments in addition to quantitative feedback.

2. The division is also seeking session chairs. Should you be interested in chairing any sessions, please email the vice-chair. 

If you have any questions about the ICA 2025 Environmental Communication Division submission process, please contact Hang Lu, the ECD Vice Chair at hanglu@umich.edu.