RETURN TO THE ROOTS: HOW WE MOVE FORWARD

10th Annual Graduate Conference in Religion and Ecology

Yale Divinity School: February 19-20, 2026

Logistics:

The 10th Annual Graduate Conference in Religion and Ecology has opened its Call for Submissions. Submissions for papers and creative/artistic works are due December 1, 2025. The conference will be held in-person on Friday, February 20, 2026 at Yale Divinity School in New Haven, CT with an optional Gallery Walk Thursday, February 19, 2026 from 7-9pm. We encourage submissions from graduate students globally and welcome content related to any spirituality, religion, traditional knowledge system, or lack-thereof.

This Year's Theme:

The theme of this year's conference is: "Return to the Roots: How We Move Forward." This theme serves as inspiration, but is not a prescription.

We will wrestle with several critical questions this year. How do roots inspire us in the midst of crises, whether they be environmental, within our communities, or in our own personal, spiritual lives? How can our ancestral and unfolding place-based relations tether us to hope? How do emerging roots allow us to move forward through intercommunions of persons, communities, religions, spiritualities, and scientific practices? And ultimately, we ask, what if everything we need is right below our feet?

What Can I submit?

Papers & Artistic Submissions:

We encourage you to submit creative works relating to this year's theme, including written word (e.g. poetry, traditional papers, fiction, creative nonfiction), musical compositions, two-dimensional visual art (e.g. photography, painting, drawing, collages), performance proposals, participatory workshops, videos, etc. Accepted submissions will be presented or performed at the conference, or displayed at our Thursday evening Gallery Walk. All accepted presenters and performers will be invited to attend the conference in-person or online, with a preference for the former. Those who submit artistic works for the gallery are strongly encouraged to attend the conference in-person or accompany the shipment of their work.

If you are making multiple submissions, please repeat the form.

Contact gcre@yale.edu with questions or concerns.

Submission Types & Guidelines

You are invited to submit 1 - 2 creative works!

20-minute Presentations:

  • For Papers: Abstract (150-300 words)
  • For Artistic Works: Description (150-300 words) and sample of work
  • For Both: Presenter biography for the conference program (50-100 words, third person)

1-hour Workshops/Performances:

  • Extended description (~1 page) -- A brief outline of the workshop or performance components that includes the relevance to conference theme and how the audience will be invited to engage.
  • Space and material needs
  • Abstract & Presenter biography for the conference program (50-100 words each, third person)

Gallery Submissions:

  • Written submissions may be up to 3 pages
  • Video or recording submissions up to 5 minutes, but we are open to accepting exemplary longer works
  • For visual and material arts submissions , provide photos and written description (150-300 words)
  • Submissions should be .PDF, .PNG, .JPG, .DOC, .DOCX, .MP4, .MOV, or .MP3 files.
  • Abstract & Presenter biography for the conference program (50-100 words each, third person)


We highly encourage submissions from graduate students globally!

Please be aware that this is an in-person conference taking place in New Haven, CT. Presenters are welcome to be on Zoom, but we encourage audience members to come in person. We are unable to provide funding for the shipment of artwork and/or conference-related travel expenses.

Please submit proposals here: https://forms.gle/okvr5Nei9zzap4Zr9