Call for Abstracts

Thriving in Context: Child Wellbeing Across Environments

The Planning Committee for the 2026 International Society for Child Indicators (ISCI) is pleased to invite abstract proposals for oral presentations, interactive poster presentations, and panels relating to the process and findings of child indicators research. This conference presents researchers, practitioners, policy makers, and child advocates the opportunity to share and discuss innovations in research methods and the latest research findings and implications for policy and practice. We encourage submissions related to research, policy, and program initiatives dealing with diverse populations. Submissions that are culturally or ethically relevant relative to a global context are particularly welcomed.

The theme of the 2026 conference is “Thriving in Context: Child Wellbeing Across Environments”. This theme highlights the importance of understanding and supporting children within the diverse settings that shape their daily lives. From homes and schools to neighborhoods, digital spaces, healthcare systems, and natural environments, each context plays a vital role in influencing a child’s physical, emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing. This theme invites exploration of how intersecting environments—urban or rural, structured or informal, supportive or challenging—affect children’s experiences and outcomes. By recognizing the complexity and richness of these varied contexts, we aim to foster inclusive, responsive strategies that help all children thrive. We are inviting abstracts that examine the following domains, themes, and subthemes. We ask that submissions clearly identify the domain, theme, and subtheme of the proposal:

Domains

  • Research
  • Policy
  • Practice

Themes

  • Child-focused indicators of social trends, policies, and child wellbeing
  • Child poverty, inequality, and child welfare research
  • Innovations in research design and measurement
  • The use of administrative data in child indicators work
  • Evidence-based practice models
  • Global issues on policies, measurement, and child wellbeing
  • Child wellbeing development practices
  • Social support and education outcomes
  • Social media and wellbeing
  • Children’s rights indicators
  • Children in situations of armed conflict

Subthemes

  • Poverty, deprivation, material well-being, and inequality
  • Physical and mental health
  • Subjective wellbeing
  • Disabilities
  • Early childhood and adolescent development and education
  • Maltreatment
  • Violence
  • Care arrangements
  • Participation and children’s voices
  • Indigenous issues
  • Migration and refugees
  • Climate change and environment
  • Sexual identity and gender orientation

ISCI 2026 seeks to highlight excellence and innovation in original research with policy and practice implications. Scholars working on child indicators research in any country and from any theoretical framework are invited to submit abstracts for unpublished research. Submissions in all substantive areas using scientifically sound qualitative, quantitative, and/or mixed methods are welcomed. Panel presentations featuring evidence-based initiatives and participants from different sectors are welcomed.

Abstracts will be accepted via electronic submission:

The deadline for abstract submissions is 5 November 2025.
Upon request, submissions up to September 5, 2025, can receive expedited review to facilitate visa applications.
Contact the committee at [email protected].

Call for Abstracts Submission

General Abstract Guidelines

All abstracts must be submitted in English. Please structure abstracts of 350-500 words in the following format and do not include diagrams or list of references:

  • Thematic relevance and sub-topic: Include a brief discussion of how your submission relates to the conference topic of: Thriving in Context: Child Wellbeing Across Environments. Clearly identify whether the presentation relates to research, policy, or practice, as well as the theme and sub-theme (listed above) most relevant to your study;
  • Background and Purpose section: problem description, study objectives, research question(s) and/or hypothesis(es);
  • Methods section: explanation of the study design, including a description of the participants and sampling methods, procedures for data collection, measures, and analytic and/or statistical approach;
  • Results section: summarize findings;
  • Conclusions and Implications section: describe the outcomes of the study as well as the practice and policy implications, and include suggestions for further research.

As part of the online submission, a 50-75 words bio must be provided for each co-author. Please write bios in the 3rd person.

Presentation Formats are as Follows

  • Interactive Poster: A display area will be provided. It is expected that the author(s) will be present at the poster location during the specified presentation time(s) to discuss the contents with the conference participants. Further instructions will be provided at a later date.
  • Oral Presentation: The time allocated for oral presentations is 20 minutes (15 minutes for the presentation and 5 minutes for discussion and questions). Oral presentations will be grouped together in a chaired session according to topic and theme.
  • Panel Presentation: A panel presentation is a session [lasting 60 or 90 minutes] organized by applicant(s) that includes three to five papers that address a common theme and includes at least three presenting authors. Panel submissions are particularly encouraged.

Authors will be asked to identify their preferred presentation format. However, the Conference Scientific Committee may propose an alternative presentation format for proposed oral presentations/poster abstracts.  All abstracts will be subject to a blind peer review by 2 members of the Conference Scientific Committee. In order to accommodate as many and varied presenters as possible, the organizers have limited presenting authors to two (2) abstract submissions as first author and presenter. This limit applies to presentations of oral papers, panel contributions, and posters. However, the limit does not apply in the case of co-authorship. Presenters may also volunteer to chair panels and moderate oral presentations. By submitting an abstract the author(s) are agreeing to the print and electronic publication of the abstract.