University of North Texas 
The Multidisciplinary Information Research Symposium (MIRS) is an annual symposium that showcases the work of scholars and practitioners researching information and its impact on people. One of the primary goals of MIRS is to encourage and empower participants who are new to scholarly communication. Therefore, graduate and undergraduate students at all levels and early professionals are highly encouraged to submit their work.
The College of Information's 2026 Multi-disciplinary Information Research Symposium
(MIRS) Conference Call for Proposals is now open.
The papers are short. Submissions are due on Saturday, February 7, 2026.
Event Date: February 28, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Location: Discovery Park, Rooms G150 (Learning Technologies) and E265 and E266 (near
Information Science)
Word limits
The word limits are as follows. You can do this!
- 15 words or fewer for Paper Titles
- 150 words (@1000 characters) for poster abstracts and presentations (without a paper).
- If accepted, 750-1000 words (@4000-5000 characters) for Full Paper proposals considered for awards.
Note that papers and abstracts that exceed the word limits and have excessive typos will not be accepted for the proceedings. Unfortunately, we can not accommodate longer submissions this year.
Are there templates for the poster and paper submissions?
Yes, there are templates for the poster and paper submissions. They are attached to this invitation. Any other format will not be accepted. You can download the templates using these links.
How do I submit?
I've attached the templates for more information about the submission requirements. The templates are for preparing the information you need for your submission and include the submission formats. Once you have completed the information from this template, you can copy and paste it into the online system. Please watch this video to learn how to use EasyChair. This video says 2025. However, the process is similar. The submission link is https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=mirs2026. The conference submission site will be fully functional by Saturday, 1/10/2026.
How can participating help you?
Final versions of Full Papers must be submitted by March 14, 2026, for inclusion in the conference proceedings. This will be a great experience for networking and learning the publication process. Plus, we have prizes for the best papers and posters!
What are the prizes?
- Best Paper, 1st place: $1,000
- Best Paper, 2nd place: $750
- Best Paper, 3rd place: $500
- Best Dissertation: $500
- Best Poster: $100
What can you publish or present in such a short time?
What can you publish or present? Here are some ideas.
- It is fine to submit papers based on the papers developed for the core classes in the IS Ph.D. courses. However, papers that have already been published or submitted elsewhere must not be submitted. Works in progress, papers, and posters are welcome. This means your paper can be conceptual.
- Papers with multiple authors are welcome.
- You can convert a poster into a paper.
- Discuss a theory and how it relates to your intended research area.
- Publications from publicly available data are acceptable.
- Observations and action research are acceptable.
- Try completing a bibliometric study https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0148296321003155 .
- Preliminary literature reviews that summarize the findings are excellent. See this article that discusses systematic and scoping literature reviews https://bmcmedresmethodol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12874-018-0611-x .
- Try completing a meta-analysis https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11301-021-00247-4 .
Can you use previous publications?
The answer is yes and no. Here is a tip. If you have previously published a paper, revise how you analyzed the data to create a new topic. A revision may use a different theory, employ a different mode of analysis (e.g., natural language processing, data visualization, or switching to qualitative, mixed-methods, or quantitative approaches), or adopt a different methodological approach. You can also review different literature on your topic.
Who is the keynote speaker?
Dr. Mark Albert (UNT College of Information, Chair of the Information Science Department) will be the keynote speaker at the event.
Who can present?
UNT College of Information students are welcome to present. In addition, anyone who is presenting with a UNT College of Information student can present.
Do I need to print a poster?
This year, we will use a traditional format in which presenters stand next to their posters for at least 30 minutes. Presenters will be provided with a tri-fold poster board on the day of the conference. Regular 8x11 paper text printed by participants can be affixed to the board with pins and tape.
What is the conference day and time?
The conference will be held in person on February 28, 2026. It will begin at 9:00 a.m. The time that the conference ends is contingent upon the final schedule. It will not last beyond 3 p.m. There will be no online presentations.
Who is eligible for the MIRS Dissertation Award contest?
You can enter the MIRS Best Dissertation Contest if you have successfully defended your dissertation proposal. Participating is easy. Note that there is a template for the posters, presentations, and papers. There is no template for the dissertation award submission. Write a 150-word abstract and attach the research proposal file. You will also need to upload a recommendation from your major professor endorsing your participation in the submission website. Remember, you do not need to write anything new.
Are all papers included in the conference proceedings?
You can opt out of having your papers included in the conference proceedings. Except for the dissertation award winners, award-winning papers are expected to be included in the conference proceedings.
How long are the presentations?
Please plan a 15-minute presentation.
Please email Daniella Smith (Daniella.Smith@unt.edu) if you have questions.