View the Proposal Submission Form here.

• First-round proposal deadline:  Friday, March 20, 2026
• Final proposal deadline:  Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Who is eligible to present at the symposium?

• Individuals and Groups of Seniors (finishing in 2025.5, 2026, or 2026.5)
• Faculty, Staff, and Graduate Students (Master’s, PhD, and Medical students) collaborating with a senior or a group of seniors.
• Faculty, Staff, and Graduate Students (Master’s, PhD, and Medical students) serving as academic advisors, coaches, or mentors to seniors or other undergraduates.
• Seniors, faculty, staff, and graduate students interested in a supporting role, serving as a session respondent or facilitator for a roundtable discussion

Proposals for participation are open to individuals and groups, including clubs, student organizations, labs, and academic classes.  Presenters will have opportunities to learn about best practices in presentation and public speaking.  Individuals in a roundtable/panel session will collaborate as a group to create a cohesive session around a common theme.

In addition to the senior Independent Concentrators (who are required to present their senior capstones), we hope seniors and their faculty/staff mentors from these communities will partake in TiA this year:

• Interdisciplinary and double concentrators, certificate programs
• GISPs & other interdisciplinary curricular classes
• Advising/Coaching/Mentoring programs
• Learning while away from Brown
• Passion projects and student groups
• Wayfinding & meaning projects

Presentation Formats

In the submission form, applicants will choose between the following formats:

• Roundtable/Panel Discussion:  A 75-minute session featuring a moderator and three to five presenters.  The panelists identify a common theme; each has 10 minutes to present their research or project, followed by a group discussion on the theme and a Q&A session.
  • This format can be especially engaging for seniors sharing their senior thesis or capstone project, or for groups seeking to engage an audience in a meta-discussion about a learning experience or passion project.
• Poster Session:  A 90-minute or two-hour event with 10 to 20 presenters; during the event, each presenter will talk about their poster for one to two minutes. The CRC will cover the poster’s cost and offer guidance on its design.
  • This format works well for students presenting about their academic research or passion projects; a poster seeks to convey salient information, analysis, and findings.
• Pecha Kucha-style Lightning Talks on the theme, “A Moment at Brown:  The Path I Chose.”  This storytelling event gives each presenter 7–10 minutes to share a moment from their time at Brown and reflect on their choices and experiences, whether successful or unsuccessful. 
  • Presenters are encouraged to enhance their stories with images that communicate meaning without text.
• Contributor to the TiA Vlog/Blog about the symposium theme, “Critical Connections and Reflecting on the Journey.”  New this year, the TiA Vlog/Blog will provide contributors with a platform for sharing scholarly, creative, or reflective content (written or video entries) related to the conference topics.  A small committee of editors will review submissions before publication.
  • Submissions may include scholarly writing, creative expression, or reflections.

Additionally, seniors, faculty, staff, and graduate students can choose to participate in TiA 2026 as moderators for a Roundtable Discussion.

We welcome first-time presenters at TiA 2026, as well as students who have shared their work in other settings.  We will offer support for presenters on speaking, facilitation, and presentation skills, along with workshops and guidance on various methods for sharing work, including individual and group discussions, posters, short visual talks, and v/blog posts.

Proposal Deadlines

• First-round submission deadline:  Friday, March 20, 2026
• Final submission deadline:  Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Information Sessions & Office Hours

Information sessions will take place at the CRC (167 Angell Street, Lower Level) on Wednesday, February 18, at 6:30 pm, and on Tuesday, March 3, at 6:30 pm. Interested students can also visit the TiA 2026 Program Coordinator, Ariti Gani ‘28, during her office hours, or Janet Isserlis by scheduling an appointment.

Email your questions to theoriesinaction@brown.edu.

Ready to propose something?

Go to the Proposal Submission Form here.

• First-round proposal deadline:  Friday, March 20, 2026
• Final proposal deadline:  Tuesday, March 31, 2026