Futuring Poetic Inquiry: A Return and Renewal
10th International Symposium for Poetic Inquiry (ISPI)
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
October 8-12, 2026
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
October 8-12, 2026
We are delighted to announce the 10th International Symposium for Poetic Inquiry, returning to the UBC Botanical Garden to mark 20 years of collective engagement in our community. This gathering will provide an intergenerational sharing of poetic scholarship. It will serve as fertile ground for poetic inquirers to share scholarship, build new connections, and future the field. As we round the second decade, we look forward to a new generation of inquiry.
The 2026 Symposium is designed as a poetic (un)conference—that is, a gathering focused on co-creation, reflection, and co-meaning-making in a place of nurturing growth, of nature, of culture, of new ways of living and relating poetically. We invite you to linger, listen, and create so as to unearth ideas, plant seeds, and tend connections across borders and disciplines. To future our field, we are intentionally sidestepping the relentless pace of academic productivity in favour of attending to emergence, embodiment, and poetic exchange. We are taking what is commonly experienced at the margins of a conference (rich and unexpected exchanges) and placing them at the centre.
With this in mind, the ISPI 2026 (un)conference will emphasize engagement and working groups over traditional academic presentations. The event will feature workshop-style facilitated poetic provocations where spontaneous collaborations can take root. Further, a primary goal for this symposium is to support and showcase the work of graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, emphasizing and reflecting on new directions and methodical applications of poetic inquiry. In a departure from typical conference hierarchies, student and postdoc work will be shared with the entire collective. Meanwhile, poetic provocations and conversations by everyone, except graduate students/postdocs, will be shared in small groups to foster exchange, mentorship, and potential collaborations.
Anticipated* Conference Cost: $375 CAD (lunches included)
*Please note that this total may change, depending on the number of attendees.
Selection Process:
Poetic Inquiry is a research approach or research practice that uses poetry to explore, analyze, and represent data and experience, transforming academic research into evocative, emotional, and accessible forms.
The planning committee will shape the conference based on the submissions, possibly grouping like-applications together for collaborative delegate provocation sessions. Attendance will be limited due to venue constraints.
Proposed Schedule:
May 11, Monday: Call for Proposals Due
June 1, Monday: Notification of Acceptance
October 8-12: Conference Dates
Oct. 8: Thursday, 4-9
Oct. 9: Friday, 9-5
Oct. 10: Saturday, 9-5
Oct. 12: Sunday, 9-12 (noon)
Stay Connected: For updates, please join our Facebook community or check the ISPI website regularly. We look forward to seeing you in Vancouver!
Contact: [email protected]
ISPI 2026 Committee:
Dr. Amber Moore
Dr. Kedrick James
Dr. Pauline Sameshima
Dr. Alexandra Fidyk
Dr. Kathryn Ricketts
Contact: [email protected]
ISPI 2026 Committee:
Dr. Amber Moore
Dr. Kedrick James
Dr. Pauline Sameshima
Dr. Alexandra Fidyk
Dr. Kathryn Ricketts
Information Needed for the Proposal on the Google Form
First Name
Surname
Email
Affiliation
Academic Rank (Graduate student, postdoc fellow, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Full Professor, Independent Scholar, Contract Lecturer, Other)
Presenter Biography: (50 words max)
Poetic Creative Expression: One poem responding to the question “What is the future of poetic inquiry?” Please note that these poems may be shared with attendees, such as in an activity. 1-page max.
Poetic Statement: A short statement explaining your poetic process, finding inspiration, and your scholarly interests in poetic inquiry. 50 words max.
Choose One Option:
First Name
Surname
Affiliation
Academic Rank (Graduate student, postdoc fellow, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Full Professor, Independent Scholar, Contract Lecturer, Other)
Presenter Biography: (50 words max)
Poetic Creative Expression: One poem responding to the question “What is the future of poetic inquiry?” Please note that these poems may be shared with attendees, such as in an activity. 1-page max.
Poetic Statement: A short statement explaining your poetic process, finding inspiration, and your scholarly interests in poetic inquiry. 50 words max.
Choose One Option:
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Poetic Presentations (for graduate students/postdocs only)
Please submit an abstract about your work using/living Poetic Inquiry (7-minute session max, 7-minute discussion). This will be presented to the entire conference group. 200 words max. Poetic Provocations (everyone) Please provide a description of a 20-minute interactive activity, using/living Poetic Inquiry that you lead, designed to engage groups of attendees in a shared making-session. This will be presented in small groups (numbers to be finalized after acceptances). Please indicate whether you wish to do your activity inside or outside (weather depending). 200 words max. Poetic Conversations (everyone except graduate students/postdocs; theme-based) Please provide a description of a 20-minute poetic conversation that you lead, designed to engage a group of attendees in a shared meaning-making session. This will be co-lead (bundled by proposals) in small groups (numbers to be finalized after acceptances). Please indicate whether you wish to hold your conversation inside or outside (weather depending). 200 words max. Poetic Participation (Non-presenting, numbers permitting) |