XXI ISA World Congress of Sociology

This section outlines the roles involved in the development of the scientific programme and their respective responsibilities. It identifies the main actors — Programme Coordinators, Session Organisers, and Authors — and clarifies their roles within the process.

Detailed tasks and actions associated with each role are provided in the Duties and Deadlines section.

3.1    Programme Coordinators and Session Organisers

The Programme Coordinator for each RC/WG/TG is responsible for organising a high-quality programme of sessions.

In cooperation with the RC/WG/TG Board, the Programme Coordinator defines session themes and, where appropriate, an overall theme for the group’s programme, and selects Session Organisers who will ensure the academic quality expected at a World Congress.

The Programme Coordinator serves as the main point of contact with the ISA Secretariat on all matters concerning the group’s programme and relays relevant information to Session Organisers as needed.

Following the Call for Abstracts, the Programme Coordinator supports Session Organisers in the evaluation of submissions and may transfer abstracts between sessions where appropriate.

The Programme Coordinator monitors the progress of session organisers, determines the final programme structure, and is responsible for the scheduling of sessions.

Session Organisers are responsible for all correspondence related to their sessions and for ensuring that session information in the Conference System is accurate and up to date. All changes must be made through the system.

Programme Coordinators and Session Organisers are expected to comply with all deadlines set for the Congress. No extensions will be granted.

3.2    Authors

Authors are responsible for submitting abstracts in accordance with ISA rules and within the deadlines indicated in the Duties and Deadlines section. All deadlines are enforced at 23:59 UTC/GMT, and no extensions will be granted.

Each abstract must be submitted to one specific session. Authors are responsible for selecting the session that best aligns with their proposal and ensuring their abstract fits within the theme of that session. Authors are encouraged to explore sessions by Research Committee (RC), Working Group (WG), Thematic Group (TG), or by keyword.

Abstract requirements

Abstracts must not exceed 300 words.
Abstracts must be submitted in one of the languages accepted for the session. Authors are responsible for verifying the language(s) indicated in the session description before submission.

The title and abstract text must be carefully reviewed prior to submission. The ISA does not provide proofreading or editing services, and abstracts are evaluated as submitted. They may be edited on the platform up until the submission deadline; after this deadline, no further changes can be made. 

Submission of an abstract does not guarantee its acceptance.

Participation limits

A participant may be included as author or co-author on a maximum of two abstract submissions. Each abstract may include up to seven authors. The submitting author is responsible for entering all co-authors’ details correctly into the Conference System.

Participants may also take on additional roles in the programme (such as chair or discussant), in accordance with ISA rules. A participant may not serve as chair (or co-chair) and present a paper in the same session.

These limits are enforced automatically by the Conference System at the time of submission.

Registration requirement

Acceptance of an abstract does not constitute confirmation of participation in the Congress. To be included in the programme, at least one author of each accepted abstract must complete registration by the deadline indicated in the Duties and Deadlines section.

3.3 Rules for All Presenters

A participant may appear in the programme in the following roles:
•    up to 3 times as a Session Organiser
•    up to 2 times as author or co-author (including oral and poster presentations, distributed papers, and roundtable presentations)
•    up to 2 times as chair or co-chair, panellist, critic, or discussant

A participant may not serve as chair (or co-chair) and present a paper in the same session.

RC/WG/TGs may apply stricter limits within their own sessions and must clearly communicate these requirements to participants in advance.
The following limits also apply:
•    a maximum of 3 Session Organisers per session
•    a maximum of 7 authors per abstract

All limits are enforced by the Conference System.