Submissions are now closed
The APSA Virtual Research Meeting welcomed proposal submissions for virtual panels scheduled throughout the two-day event, Thursday, April 10th and Friday, April 11, 2025. The virtual format of this meeting offers an opportunity for submitters to rethink traditional approaches and explore innovative topics and alternative formats for impactful sessions. The deadline was Friday, February 14, 2025, 11:59 PM Pacific Time.
Examples include incorporating topics such as pedagogy, academic freedom, teaching and learning, or AI in political science, as well as creative formats like debates on current political science issues or 3-minute dissertation elevator pitch workshops. If you have a suggestion for a non-traditional panel type or format, please email us at meeting@apsanet.org.
Find all available full and individual session submission options below:
Full Session Submission Options
The Virtual Research Meeting will include 5 standard virtual session submission types:
Virtual Paper Panels (90 min):
These include both Full Paper Panels – a fully formed panel session submission with all panel details, including panelist names, paper titles, and abstracts – and Created Panels – panel sessions comprised of individually submitted papers compiled into one session. All paper panels can have a maximum of five (5) papers. Each paper panel requires 1 session chair and 1-2 discussants. All panelists must agree that they will participate if the panel is selected.
Associated Roles: Author, Non-presenting Co-author, Chair, Discussant
Virtual Roundtables (90 min):
A roundtable proposal is for a discussion format session. Roundtables facilitate participants to discuss and debate on a specific topic. You must submit a session title and all participants. You may submit up to 10 participants, and all must agree that they will attend if the panel is selected.
Associated Roles: Presenter, Chair
Virtual Lightning Rounds (90 min):
This panel type follows PechaKucha style format, where each presenter has five minutes to present their paper and research, followed by five minutes of feedback or Q&A. The format features eight presenters, two discussants, and a chair. This session type is not only a chance to present research to your peers, but also an opportunity for scholars to develop and enhance research communication skills through a concise presentation.
Associated Roles: Chair, Author, Non-presenting Co-author, Discussant
Virtual Author Meets Critics (90 mins):
These panels are structurally similar to roundtables, but proposal submitters are encouraged to creatively highlight works in progress or upcoming publications. For instance, an Author Meets Critics session could begin with a 10-minute presentation of a paper building on the research agenda set forth in the featured book, followed by a panel of critics discussing both the book and the paper. Alternatively, another session might start with the author summarizing their book or work, with panelists offering their critiques individually or in a group discussion. Panel chairs are also encouraged to organize Author Meets Critics sessions focusing on refereed journal articles as well as books.
Associated Roles: Presenter, Chair
Virtual Café (90 min):
This session format incorporates a handful of topic clusters, each staffed with a moderator to discuss various outreach efforts in the field. Members will share successful engagement methods and provide guidance to colleagues on ways to apply what they’ve learned in other ways. This session could be about interdisciplinary outreach, public engagement, or any variety of outreach to unique audiences.
Associated Roles: Presenter, Chair
Individual Submission Options
The Virtual Research Meeting will include 2 standard individual submission types:
Individual Papers:
Individual paper submissions by an author(s) that, if accepted, could be incorporated into any session type, at the virtual program committee’s choosing. Abstracts are limited to 5,000 characters.
Research in Five (Lightning Rounds):
Part of a Lightning Round session, scholars will present their research using five slides for five minutes. Following their presentation, each presenter will then have five minutes to receive feedback from discussants and hold a Q&A with the audience.