Reports, plans for 2027 DC conference, and call for nominees
Also attending: Wayne Miller, Melissa Littlefield, David Cecchetto, Josh DiCaglio, Dawna Schuld, Alan Rauch, Dennis Summers, Yangqiao Lu, Carol Colatrella.
Configurations Journal report: Representing her co-editor Rajani Sudan, Melissa Littlefield shared a report on journal activities. Submissions are still up, and it is the second year with three issues/year (instead of four). The pre-set production schedule is running on time. Pandemic effects on submissions and production schedule have finally abated. 2027’s production schedule is already filled; 2028 is filling up. Statistics for Oct 2025-Sept 2026: There were 135 new submissions (does not include themed issue submissions). This is almost double the number received during the same period in 2025. 14 original essays were published in 1 open issue and 2 themed issues. Jay Labinger coordinated the publication of 23 book reviews.
Website report: Wayne Miller noticed an improvement in the internet service provider and indicated that he continued to make content and layout adjustments to the recently redesigned site. Images of activities should be sent to Wayne; include captions and releases for any images.
Social media report: Ed Chang and Ranjodh Singh Dhaliwal will meet soon with Wayne, Adam, and Carol to discuss ways of amplifying the society’s profile.
Financial report: Carol Colatrella presented the financial report and asked everyone to help recruit new members and to consult and download Configurations articles.
2026 SLSA, São Paulo, Brazil: Carol referenced positive comments shared by outgoing SLSA president Rajani Sudan. Chase Bucklew, who presented at the event, also indicated that the São Paulo meeting was a success.
2026 at 4S in Toronto: Also representing co-coordinator Marcel O’Gorman, David Cecchetto shared that 100 persons participated in the streams within 4S. Thanks are due to these coordinators and the stream organizers who reviewed and arranged proposals: Technology–David Cecchetto and Marcel O’Gorman; Ecologies–Irina Aristarkhova and Joshua DiCaglio; Play–Edmond Chang and Ashlee Bird; Art & Literature–Allison Dushane and Adam Nocek. The society hosted a lively reception to announce essay prizes and book awards as well as a commendation for Alison Knoles.
2026 Fluxus Symposium, Santa Fe: Dennis Summer reported that he coordinated an arts symposium, which attracted 30 invited participants. The SLSA commendation of the late Alison Knoles, who was a Fluxus co-founder, was announced at this event.
2027 Conference with HSS: SLSA will meet November 18-21, 2027, in Washington DC with the History of Science Society. Conference organizers Josh DiCaglio and Dawna Schuld of Texas A&M are planning the 2027 meeting with HSS members. The theme will be Habitability. Josh and Dawna shared a draft of the call for papers with an early bird deadline of March 1 and emphasized that proposals must be submitted to the HSS site by the final deadline of March 15. The conference hotel will be the Omni Shoreham next to Rock Creek Park. SLSA sessions will be held in the hotel and in the Texas A&M location in Washington DC as well as in other local venues. HSS and SLSA registrants will be able to attend meetings sponsored by both societies. The conference submission site will be ready soon.
2028 Potential Conference Sites: On behalf of Ranjodh, Carol indicated that he pointed to three possible sites: Basel, Buffalo, or Chile (with 4S). The executive board encourages Ranjodh, Paula, Adam, and Carol to work with members in the region to plan a meeting in Buffalo in fall 2028.
Committees:
Send nominations for candidates to run for member-at-large to David Cecchetto and Katherine Buse. They also ask for nominations of graduate students who could be appointed as liaisons to the executive board; up to three graduate student liaisons can serve in 2027-28. Paula Leverage will chair the Lifetime Achievement award committee; Katherine Buse and Dennis Summers will serve as members. Adam Nocek and Alan Rauch volunteered to serve as judges for the Schachterle essay prize, which Carol Colatrella coordinates. Ranjodh Singh Dhaliwal will continue to coordinate judging for the Bruns essay prize, and Banu Subramanian will coordinate judging for the Kendrick book prize.
The Society for Literature, Science, and the Arts (SLSA) fosters interdisciplinary dialogue at the crossroads of the humanities and sciences. We support creative and scholarly work through conferences, publications, awards, and community collaboration.
