This will be the first conference to bring together scholars and practitioners from across several disciplines (Social Sciences, Humanities, Arts & Culture, and STEM) that:

1. Study key themes in Ukrainian politics, economics, industry, society, and technology;
2. Conduct research on major themes in their discipline in Ukraine; or
3. Conduct research in relation to Russia’s war in Ukraine and its impacts for the United Kingdom.

The conference will be an outlet for inter-disciplinary research dissemination, expansion of research networks, and facilitating interdisciplinary co-authorship.

The Conference will also bring British scholars into discussion with a group of major internationally recognised leading experts and specially invited British, EU, and Ukrainian policy makers, politicians, diplomats, and industry leaders. The event will not only showcase cutting-edge research but also foster pathways to impact in the United Kingdom and beyond.

We plan for the event to include:

• A Data Hackathon — for all those who want to learn new data skills. A Separate Event Co-Hosted by Colleagues from St Andrews and UoM Sustainability Institute.
• 7-10 BASU Work-inProgress/Working Group Meetings: paper presentations from scholars at all career stages and across all of Social Sciences, Humanities, Arts & Culture, and STEM. Call for Papers: May 2026.
• 4 State-of-the-Art Expert Panels:
  • Social Sciences Panel: Cutting-edge research on democratic resilience, civilian resistance, and social cohesion in wartime.
  • Humanities Panel: Comparative research on histories of how wars end, experiences of resistance under occupation, and the (mis)use of history to divide populations to better understand hybrid warfare waged today.
  • Arts & Culture Panel: New research on cultural relations and diplomacy in wartime in Europe and the Global South, the destruction of cultural objects in wartime as a war crime, and best practices of their protection.
  • STEM Panel: New insights from medical experts, digital technology and data science engineers, and psychologists presenting research on the effects of PTSD and trauma in wartime, the use of digital technologies, and science solutions to environmental damage in wartime.
• 1 Keynote Lecture — delivered by a major diplomat, politician, or world-leading public figure.
• 1 Policy Roundtable — discussing key questions:
  The roundtable will feature key policy makers and commentators, moderated by a major UK-based journalist or public intellectual.
  • How does the war end (if no peace has been reached)?
  • What is the UK’s role in Ukraine’s recovery?
  • How does Europe protect itself from hybrid war threats?

Two further outputs are anticipated:

• A policy brief summarising research presented at the conference.
• Publication of full-length articles in an edited volume or volumes.

The full event will be open to all BASU members, all registered scholar or practitioner/industry attendees, as well as UoM staff and students. The Keynote will be open to the wider academic community and public of the greater Manchester area.

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📅 Call for Papers: May 2026
📅 Deadline for Paper Proposals: 25 June 2026

📅 Acceptance Notifications: July 2026