Border Studies Conference
8th Annual International Conference on Border Studies
Reimagining Borders: Human Mobility, Knowledge Systems, and Economic Interdependence in a Changing and Connected World
Call for Proposals 2026
Submission Information: We welcome panels, round tables, papers, and posters.
Max 1,500 words.
Focused discussion on one theme.
Individual or co-authored.
Size: 48”x36”.
Undergrads need faculty letter.
Deadline: March 20th, 2026
Format: Proposal + two-page CV (PDF)
Languages: English or Spanish (simultaneous interpretation available)
Submission Limit: Up to two proposals per presenter
Review Process: Peer review by a committee of scholars; notifications sent May 2026
The 8th International Border Studies Conference invites scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and industry leaders to explore borders as dynamic systems of human interaction, knowledge, and economic exchange. We encourage papers on the social, legal, economic, political, and technological dimensions of borders. Building on three interdisciplinary lenses, the conference seeks to illuminate how borders shape identities, circulate resources, and redefine power: (1) the ethical and political dimensions of migration and border externalization; (2) the reconstruction of knowledge through social, scientific, and data-driven paradigms; and (3) the economic governance of border regions. By bringing together insights from diverse disciplines, this year’s theme emphasizes borders as laboratories for cooperation, innovation, sustainable development, and shared prosperity.
Dates & Locations
- November 11th, 2026 – Matamoros, Tamaulipas, México
Auditorio de la Unidad Académica Multidisciplinaria, Universidad Autónoma de Tamaulipas
- November 12th – 13th, 2026 – Edinburg, Texas, United States
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg campus
Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Amelia Frank-Vitale, Assistant Professor of Anthropology and International Affairs, Princeton University.
A leading migration scholar whose ethnographic work reveals how border policies shape the lived realities of people in motion.
Border Tour & Additional Information: Breakfast and lunch will be provided in Edinburg on November 12th–13th, along with a complimentary reception on November 12th. Participants are responsible for their own travel, lodging, and additional meals. Full details regarding conference fees, travel, and accommodations will soon be available.
The conference will also include a Border Tour on November 13th, offering a focused examination of everyday border life and the social and environmental impacts of widely circulated narratives about the U.S.–Mexico border.
CBEST Best Paper and Poster Awards: The Center for Border Economic Studies (CBEST) at the Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship invites conference participants to compete for the Best Paper Award. The Best Paper Award carries a prize of at least $500. In addition, CBEST will award two Poster Prizes of $250 each to undergraduate students presenting posters at the conference.
For inquiries, contact Dr. Caroline Miles (caroline.miles@utrgv.edu)