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The Southern Conference on British Studies solicits proposals for its 2026 meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. The SCBS will meet in conjunction with the Southern Historical Association.

 

The SCBS construes British Studies widely and invites participation by scholars in all areas of British history and culture, including the Empire or Commonwealth and the British Isles. We welcome both individual and panel submissions on any topic in British Studies, but especially those related to this year’s theme of Commerce, Community, and Expansion, which includes works that explore the intersection of commerce and trade with various political, social, racial, religious or spatial communities to foster growth or expansion (broadly construed).

 

Our Plenary Address will be by Dr. Rupali Mishra, Associate Professor of History at Auburn University. 

 

Individual paper proposals should be no more than 250 words in length and include a short biographical statement. Submissions should be made here.

 

Panel proposals, traditionally three papers and a chair/comment, should include a brief thematic explanation of the panel (100-word limit), as well as abstracts for each paper (750-word combined limit) and short biographies of participants. If you have a panel without a chair, you may still submit a proposal; we will help secure a chair for you. Submissions should be made here.

 

We have limited space for roundtables, but we welcome proposals. Roundtables are generally four presenters and a chair who speak on a thematic topic (but do not present formal papers). Proposals should include an abstract of the roundtable (400 word limit) and short biographies of panelists. Submissions should be made here.

 

The SCBS Charles Perry Graduate Student Prize ($250) will be awarded to the best paper presented at the conference by a graduate student. Entries must be received by October 1, 2026.

Graduate students who present papers at SCBS meetings are eligible to apply for one of two $500 Research Travel Awards given annually by the SCBS. Graduate students are eligible in the two years following their presentation. See the SCBS website for more information: https://www.scobs.org/graduate-student-travel-award .

Questions should be sent to Dr. Peter Larson (peter.larson@ucf.edu).