The conference welcomes scholarly/scientific as well as artistic full papers (8 pages maximum) and posters (3 pages maximum). Please, submit an abstract (details see below) through Easy Chair (((link))) latest until 1 April 2026, 23:59 CEST. There are also categories for submitting abstracts suggesting panel discussions, workshops and artistic works. Please indicate in your abstract’s submission, whether you want to be part of the “Next Generation Researchers and Artists” program (if under 35 years old).

A proceedings volume will be published for the conference.

Notification will take place ca. 15 May 2026. Camera ready deadline for the full papers or posters will be 1 July 2026. It is obligatory to use the specific proceedings templates which will be provided soon on the conference’s website.

Our selection process is based on the principle of double-blind peer review. We therefore kindly ask you to ensure that your submission does not contain your name, your affiliation or any other identifying references. We regret that submissions which do not meet these requirements cannot be taken into consideration.

All papers and posters should be original and not simultaneously submitted to another journal or conference.

The conference is interested in papers, posters, workshops and panel discussions related, but not restricted, to the following topics:

the sonic environment’s and/or acoustic ecology’s social/cultural/political dimensions

the sonic environment and its relationship to democracy and/or social cohesion and/or participation

sonic environments and machine learning/AI/agentic coding

artistic works with soundscapes related to machine learning/AI/agentic coding

acoustic ecology and post human perspectives

acoustic ecology and media aesthetic education/facilitation

acoustic ecology and audience development

cultivating auditory attentiveness

the philosophical dimension of listening

soundscapes and diversity

acoustic ecology’s values in change

acoustic ecology and its relationship to emerging technologies

soundscape studies/acoustic ecology and artistic research

writing about sonic environments as an expression of listening culture

sonic environments and aspects of physical and mental health

sonic environments and life sciences

soundscape-related practices in architecture, sound design, urban and landscape planning

aesthetic and/or social utopias of designed acoustic environments  

studio/lab reports about artistic works with soundscapes

studio/lab reports about listening and media aesthetic education

Please, submit your abstracts for papers (or posters) via easy chair latest until 1 April 2026, 23:59 CEST.

For scholarly/scientific papers, panel discussions, workshops:

Please provide 

title and subtitle

abstract max. 300 words 

For scholarly/scientific poster presentations:

Please provide

title and subtitle

abstract max. 200 words 

For artistic submissions:

Please provide

title and subtitle

abstract max. 300 words including: 

  • a.       genre of the artwork 
  • b.      year of creation/finalization 
  • c.       technical and spatial requirements and specifications. 

  • Please be aware that Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences can provide only a limited amount of equipment. Therefore, if you are selected, we kindly ask you to bring most – if not all – of your required and specialized equipment yourself.

5 February 2026:

1 April 2026:
15 May 2026:                    
1 July 2026:
3 September 2026: 

Call for proposals open, submission possible
Submission closes
Notification of acceptance
Camera ready deadline
Conference start

The conference will focus on the relationships between soundscape studies and acoustic ecology practices with regard to topics such as cohesion, participation, and democracy. More info will come up soon.

Our conference will take place at the Media Campus Dieburg and other venues in Darmstadt. Dieburg and Darmstadt are located in the Rhine-Main area and are easily accessible by train, bus, car and plane (Frankfurt Airport).

Information about bus and train connections:
https://int.bahn.de/en
https://www.rmv.de/c/en/homepage

Hotel recommendations:
Mainzer Hof, Dieburg
Schmankerlburg, Dieburg
Pension Sila, Groß Umstadt
Hotel Jakob, Groß Umstadt
Intercity Hotel, Darmstadt
Maritim Hotel am Hauptbahnhof, Darmstadt

A stay at the Media Campus Dieburg can be easily combined with a visit or even a vacation in the lovely surrounding area: The Odenwald offers excellent hiking opportunities, picturesque medieval towns, good wine and food, and pleasant, affordable accommodation.

Welcome!

Your Darmstadt conference team Hazem Obid, Klaus Schüller, Robin Wiemann, Prof. Dr. Judith Bihr and Prof. Sabine Breitsameter (both conference chairs) from the Master’s program International Media Cultural Work (IMC).

Programm