The CHS AI Research Summit brings together faculty, researchers, graduate students, practitioners, and institutional leaders exploring how artificial intelligence is reshaping research, creativity, communication, institutions, and knowledge production across the humanities and sciences. Hosted at Virginia Commonwealth University, the summit centers on the theme, Exploring Human-Centered AI in the Humanities and Sciences, through interdisciplinary panels, research presentations, applied workshops, interactive roundtables, and collaborative networking.
Proposal Opportunities
- Featured Leadership Panels: Large-scale plenary discussions focused on AI research strategy, governance, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration in higher education.
- Panel Sessions: Moderated discussions exploring shared research themes, emerging challenges, and interdisciplinary perspectives on AI.
- Paper and Project Presentations: Traditional conference-style presentations featuring empirical studies, theoretical work, applied projects, creative scholarship, and works in progress.
- Research Roundtables and Workshops: Interactive, discussion-centered, and hands-on sessions focused on AI methods, workflows, experimentation, tools, and collaborative inquiry.
- Networking and Collaboration: Structured opportunities to connect with scholars, institutional leaders, and interdisciplinary research partners.
Call for Proposals Now Open!
Priority submission through July 1
Proposal submissions are now being accepted for the CHS AI Research Summit.
Important Dates
- Priority Submission: July 1, 2026
- Submission Deadline: July 15th, 2026
- Proposal Review Period: Through August 15, 2026
- Proposal Notifications: Rolling notifications beginning shortly after July 1, 2026
- Summit Registration Opens: July 2026 ($75 regular registration, $25 student registration)
- CHS AI Research Summit: October 16, 2026, at Virginia Commonwealth University
Travel and Accommodations
Hotel recommendations and travel information for out-of-town participants will be shared as the summit approaches. Suggested accommodations will include options near Virginia Commonwealth University and downtown Richmond.
Hosts and Sponsors
- The College of Humanities and Sciences
- The Media + AI Initiative
For sponsorship opportunities or partnership inquiries, please contact Dr. Joshua Smith (smithjj4@vcu.edu.)
Proposal Opportunities
✅ Paper / Project Presentations
Paper and Project Presentations provide a traditional conference-style format for faculty, researchers, graduate students, and interdisciplinary collaborators presenting scholarship or applied work related to human-centered AI in the humanities and sciences.
- 15-minute presentation (in a 60-minute session)
- Up to 30 attendees
- Presentation followed by audience discussion
✅ Propose a Panel Session
Panel Sessions provide an opportunity to engage in a moderated discussion focused on a shared research theme related to human-centered AI in the humanities and sciences.
- 60-minute session
- Up to 40 attendees
- Recommended structure: 3–4 panelists and 1 moderator
- Moderated discussion with audience Q&A
✅ Propose a Workshop
Workshops provide an opportunity to lead smaller, hands-on sessions focused on AI research tools, methods, workflows, or applied experimentation related to human-centered AI in the humanities and sciences.
- 60-minutes
- Up to 30 attendees
- Hands-on, interactive format
- Standard classroom AV will be available
✅ Present at Roundtable Discussions
Roundtable Discussions provide an opportunity to participate in quick, interactive, high-energy conversations focused on ongoing research, emerging ideas, methodologies, or works in progress.
Presenters will host a table discussion for approximately 12 participants per rotation. Audience groups will rotate between tables throughout the session, and presenters should expect to briefly re-present their work multiple times.
- Quick 15-minute rotating discussions
- Up to 12 participants per table rotation
- Fast-paced, interactive discussion format
- No AV provided
Proposal Submission Information
All proposals should clearly connect to the summit theme, Exploring Human-Centered AI in the Humanities and Sciences, and may represent completed scholarship, emerging research, applied projects, creative inquiry, interdisciplinary collaboration, or works in progress.
Proposal submissions will include:
- Proposal category
- Proposal title
- Proposal overview / abstract
- Learning outcomes, audience engagement, and session expectations
- Participant names, affiliations, roles, and contact information
Outcomes, Audience Engagement, and Session Expectations
Describe how your session will be organized and how attendees will engage with the session. Explain the intended outcomes or takeaways for participants and include relevant methods, tools, workflows, technologies, discussion structures, or project components as applicable.
Responses may be used in summit programming and attendee-facing session descriptions if accepted.
Participants and Contributors
List all participants associated with the submission who will attend and participate if selected. Include first and last name, title or position, institutional affiliation, email address, and role in the session.
Review Process
All proposals will be reviewed by summit organizers and reviewers. Evaluations will consider relevance to the summit theme, clarity and organization, interdisciplinary engagement, audience value and participation, originality, and contribution to conversations surrounding human-centered AI research.