Human and Digital Mutualism:
Code, Culture and Communication

Overview

Around the world, technologies driven by AI, machine learning, and datafication are redefining what it means to be human. They shape how we interact, create, govern, work, learn, and even empathize. However, as Herbert Simon (1971) observed, “a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention,” and the rapid evolution of digital systems often outpaces critical understanding, ethical foresight, and inclusive participation (Williams, 2018).

This scenario calls out for a need of a global dialogue that brings technologists, media scholars, cultural theorists, artists, educators, and policy thinkers together to critically engage in quintessential and pressing questions such as:

• Can we design technologies that genuinely respect and reflect the diversity of human values?
• How do today’s communication systems, as discussed by Hallin and Mancini (2004), act as mediators of trust, memory, and power in an increasingly digital-first world?
• And in an era saturated by synthetic media and algorithmic influence, in what ways can ‘code’ become culture—and culture, in turn, shape code (Katzenbach & Pentzold, 2024)?

These questions lie at the heart of the inquiry into human and digital mutualism.

In the Global South, the stakes of digital transformation are uniquely complex. With vast linguistic diversity, deep socio-economic inequalities, and histories of techno-colonialism, countries in this region face both unprecedented opportunities and profound risks. Platform-driven technological adaptation is often shaped by dynamics of surveillance capitalism (Zuboff, 2019) and external influences, but this has also spurred innovative resistance—from community-led data governance to new storytelling forms that reclaim agency (Holtzhausen & Zerfass, 2014).

To deliberate and discuss on these pressing issues and scenarios, Mahindra University, Hyderabad’s School of Digital Media and Communication, in collaboration with the International Communication Association (ICA) Regional Chapter – India, invites you to the first-ever edition of our collaborative international conference.

You may submit abstracts of research projects. Abstracts will be blind reviewed. Please read guidelines for the submission and review the guidelines carefully before submission. Submissions may emerge from, but are not limited to, the following:

*Documentary Films/Pitch AVs: We invite non-fiction films and/or pitch AVs for documentary films to showcase under a competitive category.

References

• Hallin, D. C. & Mancini, P. (2004). Comparing media systems: Three models of media and politics. Cambridge University Press.
• Holtzhausen, D. R. & Zerfass, A. (Eds.). (2014). The Routledge handbook of strategic communication. Routledge.
• Katzenbach, C. & Pentzold, C. (2024). Automating communication in the digital society: Editorial to the special issue. New Media & Society, 26(9), 4925–4937. https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448241265655
• Simon, H. A. (1971). Designing organizations for an information-rich world. In M. Greenberger (Ed.), Computers, communication, and the public interest (pp. 37–72). The Johns Hopkins Press.
• Williams, J. (2018). Stand out of our light: Freedom and resistance in the attention economy. Cambridge University Press.
• Zuboff, S. (2019). The age of surveillance capitalism: The fight for a human future at the new frontier of power. PublicAffairs.

We invite scholars, researchers, and practitioners to submit abstracts for paper presentations at the inaugural Mahindra University-International Communication Association (India Chapter) conference on the broad theme:

Human and Digital Mutualism: Code, Culture and Communication

Abstract Submission Deadline: 15 October 2025

Notification of Acceptance: 20 October 2025

Paper Presentations:

All abstracts must be submitted electronically via the official conference portal.

Documentary Films:

Documentary films must be submitted electronically as follows: Private online link (Vimeo or YouTube) with a password must be submitted along with the director’s bio and synopsis (100 words) of the film, including a description of the motivation, central idea, and treatment.

Click here to submit

General Guidelines for Paper Presentations

• Submission of abstract is open to academics, researchers, doctoral and postgraduate students, and professionals working in media and communication.
• Submission must be original, unpublished, and not under review elsewhere.
• Joint submissions (up to 3 authors) are allowed.
• Each participant may submit up to two abstracts (either as sole or co-author).
• All submission must be in English and carry a title and 5-7 keywords.
• Length of the abstract should not exceed 800 words (excluding title, keywords, and references).
• Abstract must include the research question, theoretical framework, methodology, discussion, and any findings/conclusions if available.
• “Best Paper” prizes will be awarded. A more detailed paper of up to 3,000 words will be required for the submission to be considered for the awards.

General Guidelines for Documentary Film-Based Submissions

Documentary Format
Submissions must be non-fiction films, including observational, reflexive, investigative, essay, archival, and experimental formats.
Presentations must not exceed 15 minutes, including relevant clippings or showreel from the film not exceeding 5 minutes.

Runtime
Feature-length: 41 minutes and above.
Short Documentary: Under 40 minutes

Language
Non-English films must include English subtitles.

Technical Specifications

• Terms
  By submitting, you grant permission to screen your film. The film may be used for promotional purposes.
• The submitter must have the legal authority to submit the film and must hold all rights pertaining to the film.
• Submission does not guarantee selection and screening.
• The full documentary films will be screened separately.
• Films will be judged by a jury of professionals. Decision of the jury will be final, binding, and cannot be challenged.

• Edited volume with a reputed international publisher. (Editors will invite chapters from selected papers presented at this conference.)
• Book of Abstracts.

Prof. Sanjay BP

Senior Professor of Communication, Manipal Institute of Communication, MAHE, Karnataka

Bio : This reputed academic administrator has held several top positions, including at IIMC and the University of Hyderabad, and has made significant contributions to the political economy of communication and journalism education.

https://www.manipal.edu/soc/department-faculty/faculty-list/f4/_jcr_content.html

---

Dr. Jay Barchas-Lichtenstein

Senior Research Manager Center for News, Technology & Innovation, Washington, DC, USA

Bio : A linguistic anthropologist by training, Dr. Barchas-Lichenstein’s international field-based research focuses on the changing role of media institutions in a time of rapid technological and social change, and especially on the online safety of journalists.

https://cnti.org/team-members/jay-barchaslichtenstein/

---

Dr. Marcus Bingenheimer

Associate Professor, Temple University, Philadelphia, USA

Bio : Educated in Germany and Japan with extensive experience across East Asia, Dr. Bingenheimer explores digital humanities. Using AI tools, he investigates how LLMs and sLLMs can help research Buddhist history.

https://liberalarts.temple.edu/directory/marcus-bingenheimer

---

Dr. Noshir Contractor

Jane S. & William J. White Professor of Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA

Bio : A pioneer whose work is at the forefront of three emerging interdisciplines: network science, computational social science and web science, Dr.Contractor investigates how social and knowledge networks form–and perform–in various contexts.

https://communication.northwestern.edu/faculty/noshir-contractor.html

---

Dr. Derek Ham

Director of Entertainment Technology Center,Carnegie Mellon University’s, Pittsburgh, USA

Bio : An experienced Design Educator with a PhD from M.I.T. in Design Computation, Derek Ham’s “undisciplined” design approach breaks disciplinary boundaries and brings together Virtual/Augmented Reality, Game Design, Film, Animation, Robotics, Computer Science, and Engineering.

https://etc.cmu.edu/our-people/faculty-staff/derek-ham

---

Dr. Ruchi Kher Jaggi

Professor, Director & Dean, Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune

Bio : Dr. Jaggi is a reputed scholar whose ongoing research on streaming as soft power received the prestigious SPARC 2023 research grant. Her work explores media, technology, and culture, including women and children in media.

https://www.simc.edu/faculty/ruchi-kher-jaggi

---

Dr. Sri Kalyanaraman

Senior Associate Dean for Research, Michigan State University, Michigan, USA

Bio : An accomplished scholar, researcher, and mentor, Dr. Kalyanaraman is an expert in computational media. His research focuses on the psychology of new immersive technologies through the lenses of persuasion and attitude change.

https://comartsci.msu.edu/our-people/sri-kalyanaraman

---

Dr. Sundeep Muppidi

Professor of Digital Media & Communication, University of Hartford, Connecticut, USA

Bio : A distinguished scholar, author, and administrator with more than three-decades of teaching and research experience, Dr. Muppidi’s research focuses on international communication, complexity, and communication for social change and empowerment.

https://www.hartford.edu/directory/arts-science/muppidi-sundeep.aspx

---

Dr. Vibodh Parthasarathi

Associate Professor, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi

Bio : With a multidisciplinary interest in media policy, the business of creative industries and governance of media infrastructure, Dr. Parthasarathi received several research grants from prestigious national and international foundations and organizations. Dr. Parthasarathi’s current research attention is directed at the policy, business & users of digital TV distribution.

https://jmi.ac.in/Faculty-Dashboard/All-Faculty/1620/index.html

---

Prof. Vinod Pavarala

Senior Professor of Communication, University of Hyderabad, Telangana

Bio : A leading scholar in the fields of community media and media democratization, Dr. Pavarala is internationally recognized for his teaching, mentorship, and research. He has held the UNESCO Chair on Community Media since 2011.

https://uccommedia.uohyd.ac.in/the-team/

---

Prof. Usha Raman

Professor, University of Hyderabad, Telangana

Bio : A highly reputed communication scholar, practitioner, and academic, Dr. Raman’s research interests span several fields, including journalism pedagogy, cultural studies of science, health communication, children’s media, feminist media studies, and digital cultures.

https://sites.google.com/a/uohyd.ac.in/usha_raman_uoh-com/home

---

Dr. Harsh Taneja

Associate Professor of New and Emerging Media, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA

Bio : Dr. Taneja studies media audiences and industries, examining how today’s infrastructures and platform architectures—encompassing more than just programs or content—shape our consumption, choices, and attention.

https://media.illinois.edu/taneja-harsh/

---

Watch this space for more updates

Overview

Around the world, technologies driven by AI, machine learning, and datafication are redefining what it means to be human. They shape how we interact, create, govern, work, learn, and even empathize. However, as Herbert Simon (1971) observed, “a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention,” and the rapid evolution of digital systems often outpaces critical understanding, ethical foresight, and inclusive participation (Williams, 2018).

This scenario calls out for a need of a global dialogue that brings technologists, media scholars, cultural theorists, artists, educators, and policy thinkers together to critically engage in quintessential and pressing questions such as:

• Can we design technologies that genuinely respect and reflect the diversity of human values?
• How do today’s communication systems, as discussed by Hallin and Mancini (2004), act as mediators of trust, memory, and power in an increasingly digital-first world?
• And in an era saturated by synthetic media and algorithmic influence, in what ways can ‘code’ become culture—and culture, in turn, shape code (Katzenbach & Pentzold, 2024)?

These questions lie at the heart of the inquiry into human and digital mutualism.

In the Global South, the stakes of digital transformation are uniquely complex. With vast linguistic diversity, deep socio-economic inequalities, and histories of techno-colonialism, countries in this region face both unprecedented opportunities and profound risks. Platform-driven technological adaptation is often shaped by dynamics of surveillance capitalism (Zuboff, 2019) and external influences, but this has also spurred innovative resistance—from community-led data governance to new storytelling forms that reclaim agency (Holtzhausen & Zerfass, 2014).

To deliberate and discuss on these pressing issues and scenarios, Mahindra University, Hyderabad’s School of Digital Media and Communication, in collaboration with the International Communication Association (ICA) Regional Chapter – India, invites you to the first-ever edition of our collaborative international conference.

You may submit abstracts of research projects. Abstracts will be blind reviewed. Please read guidelines for the submission and review the guidelines carefully before submission. Submissions may emerge from, but are not limited to, the following:

*Documentary Films/Pitch AVs: We invite non-fiction films and/or pitch AVs for documentary films to showcase under a competitive category.

References

• Hallin, D. C. & Mancini, P. (2004). Comparing media systems: Three models of media and politics. Cambridge University Press.
• Holtzhausen, D. R. & Zerfass, A. (Eds.). (2014). The Routledge handbook of strategic communication. Routledge.
• Katzenbach, C. & Pentzold, C. (2024). Automating communication in the digital society: Editorial to the special issue. New Media & Society, 26(9), 4925–4937. https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448241265655
• Simon, H. A. (1971). Designing organizations for an information-rich world. In M. Greenberger (Ed.), Computers, communication, and the public interest (pp. 37–72). The Johns Hopkins Press.
• Williams, J. (2018). Stand out of our light: Freedom and resistance in the attention economy. Cambridge University Press.
• Zuboff, S. (2019). The age of surveillance capitalism: The fight for a human future at the new frontier of power. PublicAffairs.

We invite scholars, researchers, and practitioners to submit abstracts for paper presentations at the inaugural Mahindra University-International Communication Association (India Chapter) conference on the broad theme:

 Human and Digital Mutualism: Code, Culture and Communication

Abstract Submission Deadline: 30 September 2025

Notification of Acceptance: 17 October 2025

Paper Presentations:
All abstracts must be submitted electronically via the official conference portal:

Documentary Films:
Documentary films must be submitted electronically as follows: Private online link (Vimeo or YouTube) with password must be submitted along with the director’s bio and synopsis (100 words) of the film including a description of the motivation, central idea, and treatment.

Click here to submit.

General Guidelines for Paper Presentations

• Submission of abstract is open to academics, researchers, doctoral and postgraduate students, and professionals working in media and communication.
• Submission must be original, unpublished, and not under review elsewhere.
• Joint submissions (up to 3 authors) are allowed.
• Each participant may submit up to two abstracts (either as sole or co-author).
• All submission must be in English and carry a title and 5-7 keywords.
• Length of the abstract should not exceed 800 words (excluding title, keywords, and references).
• Abstract must include the research question, theoretical framework, methodology, discussion, and any findings/conclusions if available.
• “Best Paper” prizes will be awarded. A more detailed paper of up to 3,000 words will be required for the submission to be considered for the awards.

General Guidelines for Documentary Film-Based Submissions

Documentary Format
Submissions must be non-fiction films, including observational, reflexive, investigative, essay, archival, and experimental formats.
Presentations must not exceed 15 minutes, including relevant clippings or showreel from the film not exceeding 5 minutes.

Runtime
Feature-length: 41 minutes and above.
Short Documentary: Under 40 minutes

Language
Non-English films must include English subtitles.

Technical Specifications

• Terms
  By submitting, you grant permission to screen your film. The film may be used for promotional purposes.
• The submitter must have the legal authority to submit the film and must hold all rights pertaining to the film.
• Submission does not guarantee selection and screening.
• The full documentary films will be screened separately.
• Films will be judged by a jury of professionals. Decision of the jury will be final, binding, and cannot be challenged.

Watch this space for more updates

Watch this space for more updates

Overview

Around the world, technologies driven by AI, machine learning, and datafication are redefining what it means to be human. They shape how we interact, create, govern, work, learn, and even empathize. However, as Herbert Simon (1971) observed, “a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention,” and the rapid evolution of digital systems often outpaces critical understanding, ethical foresight, and inclusive participation (Williams, 2018).

This scenario calls out for a need of a global dialogue that brings technologists, media scholars, cultural theorists, artists, educators, and policy thinkers together to critically engage in quintessential and pressing questions such as:

• Can we design technologies that genuinely respect and reflect the diversity of human values?
• How do today’s communication systems, as discussed by Hallin and Mancini (2004), act as mediators of trust, memory, and power in an increasingly digital-first world?
• And in an era saturated by synthetic media and algorithmic influence, in what ways can ‘code’ become culture—and culture, in turn, shape code (Katzenbach & Pentzold, 2024)?

These questions lie at the heart of the inquiry into human and digital mutualism.

In the Global South, the stakes of digital transformation are uniquely complex. With vast linguistic diversity, deep socio-economic inequalities, and histories of techno-colonialism, countries in this region face both unprecedented opportunities and profound risks. Platform-driven technological adaptation is often shaped by dynamics of surveillance capitalism (Zuboff, 2019) and external influences, but this has also spurred innovative resistance—from community-led data governance to new storytelling forms that reclaim agency (Holtzhausen & Zerfass, 2014).

To deliberate and discuss on these pressing issues and scenarios, Mahindra University, Hyderabad’s School of Digital Media and Communication, in collaboration with the International Communication Association (ICA) Regional Chapter – India, invites you to the first-ever edition of our collaborative international conference.

You may submit abstracts of research projects. Abstracts will be blind reviewed. Please read guidelines for the submission and review the guidelines carefully before submission. Submissions may emerge from, but are not limited to, the following:

*Documentary Films/Pitch AVs: We invite non-fiction films and/or pitch AVs for documentary films to showcase under a competitive category.

We invite scholars, researchers, and practitioners to submit abstracts for paper presentations at the inaugural Mahindra University-International Communication Association (India Chapter) conference on the broad theme:

 Human and Digital Mutualism: Code, Culture and Communication

Abstract Submission Deadline: 30 September 2025

Notification of Acceptance: 17 October 2025

Paper Presentations:
All abstracts must be submitted electronically via the official conference portal:

Documentary Films:
Documentary films must be submitted electronically as follows: Private online link (Vimeo or YouTube) with password must be submitted along with the director’s bio and synopsis (100 words) of the film including a description of the motivation, central idea, and treatment.

Click here to submit.

General Guidelines for Paper Presentations

• Submission of abstract is open to academics, researchers, doctoral and postgraduate students, and professionals working in media and communication.
• Submission must be original, unpublished, and not under review elsewhere.
• Joint submissions (up to 3 authors) are allowed.
• Each participant may submit up to two abstracts (either as sole or co-author).
• All submission must be in English and carry a title and 5-7 keywords.
• Length of the abstract should not exceed 800 words (excluding title, keywords, and references).
• Abstract must include the research question, theoretical framework, methodology, discussion, and any findings/conclusions if available.
• “Best Paper” prizes will be awarded. A more detailed paper of up to 3,000 words will be required for the submission to be considered for the awards.

General Guidelines for Documentary Film-Based Submissions

Documentary Format
Submissions must be non-fiction films, including observational, reflexive, investigative, essay, archival, and experimental formats.
Presentations must not exceed 15 minutes, including relevant clippings or showreel from the film not exceeding 5 minutes.

Runtime
Feature-length: 41 minutes and above.
Short Documentary: Under 40 minutes

Language
Non-English films must include English subtitles.

Technical Specifications

• Terms
  By submitting, you grant permission to screen your film. The film may be used for promotional purposes.
• The submitter must have the legal authority to submit the film and must hold all rights pertaining to the film.
• Submission does not guarantee selection and screening.
• The full documentary films will be screened separately.
• Films will be judged by a jury of professionals. Decision of the jury will be final, binding, and cannot be challenged.

Overview

Around the world, technologies driven by AI, machine learning, and datafication are redefining what it means to be human. They shape how we interact, create, govern, work, learn, and even empathize. However, as Herbert Simon (1971) observed, “a wealth of information creates a poverty of attention,” and the rapid evolution of digital systems often outpaces critical understanding, ethical foresight, and inclusive participation (Williams, 2018).

This scenario calls out for a need of a global dialogue that brings technologists, media scholars, cultural theorists, artists, educators, and policy thinkers together to critically engage in quintessential and pressing questions such as:

• Can we design technologies that genuinely respect and reflect the diversity of human values?
• How do today’s communication systems, as discussed by Hallin and Mancini (2004), act as mediators of trust, memory, and power in an increasingly digital-first world?
• And in an era saturated by synthetic media and algorithmic influence, in what ways can ‘code’ become culture—and culture, in turn, shape code (Katzenbach & Pentzold, 2024)?

These questions lie at the heart of the inquiry into human and digital mutualism.

In the Global South, the stakes of digital transformation are uniquely complex. With vast linguistic diversity, deep socio-economic inequalities, and histories of techno-colonialism, countries in this region face both unprecedented opportunities and profound risks. Platform-driven technological adaptation is often shaped by dynamics of surveillance capitalism (Zuboff, 2019) and external influences, but this has also spurred innovative resistance—from community-led data governance to new storytelling forms that reclaim agency (Holtzhausen & Zerfass, 2014).

To deliberate and discuss on these pressing issues and scenarios, Mahindra University, Hyderabad’s School of Digital Media and Communication, in collaboration with the International Communication Association (ICA) Regional Chapter – India, invites you to the first-ever edition of our collaborative international conference.

You may submit abstracts of research projects. Abstracts will be blind reviewed. Please read guidelines for the submission and review the guidelines carefully before submission. Submissions may emerge from, but are not limited to, the following:

*Documentary Films/Pitch AVs: We invite non-fiction films and/or pitch AVs for documentary films to showcase under a competitive category.

We invite scholars, researchers, and practitioners to submit abstracts for paper presentations at the inaugural Mahindra University-International Communication Association (India Chapter) conference on the broad theme:

 Human and Digital Mutualism: Code, Culture and Communication

Abstract Submission Deadline: 30 September 2025

Notification of Acceptance: 17 October 2025

Paper Presentations:
All abstracts must be submitted electronically via the official conference portal:

Documentary Films:
Documentary films must be submitted electronically as follows: Private online link (Vimeo or YouTube) with password must be submitted along with the director’s bio and synopsis (100 words) of the film including a description of the motivation, central idea, and treatment.

Click here to submit.

General Guidelines for Paper Presentations

• Submission of abstract is open to academics, researchers, doctoral and postgraduate students, and professionals working in media and communication.
• Submission must be original, unpublished, and not under review elsewhere.
• Joint submissions (up to 3 authors) are allowed.
• Each participant may submit up to two abstracts (either as sole or co-author).
• All submission must be in English and carry a title and 5-7 keywords.
• Length of the abstract should not exceed 800 words (excluding title, keywords, and references).
• Abstract must include the research question, theoretical framework, methodology, discussion, and any findings/conclusions if available.
• “Best Paper” prizes will be awarded. A more detailed paper of up to 3,000 words will be required for the submission to be considered for the awards.

General Guidelines for Documentary Film-Based Submissions

Documentary Format
Submissions must be non-fiction films, including observational, reflexive, investigative, essay, archival, and experimental formats.
Presentations must not exceed 15 minutes, including relevant clippings or showreel from the film not exceeding 5 minutes.

Runtime
Feature-length: 41 minutes and above.
Short Documentary: Under 40 minutes

Language
Non-English films must include English subtitles.

Technical Specifications

• Terms
  By submitting, you grant permission to screen your film. The film may be used for promotional purposes.
• The submitter must have the legal authority to submit the film and must hold all rights pertaining to the film.
• Submission does not guarantee selection and screening.
• The full documentary films will be screened separately.
• Films will be judged by a jury of professionals. Decision of the jury will be final, binding, and cannot be challenged.

You may submit abstracts of research projects. Abstracts will be blind reviewed. Please read guidelines for the submission and review the guidelines carefully before submission. Submissions may emerge from, but are not limited to, the following:

*Documentary Films/Pitch AVs: We invite non-fiction films and/or pitch AVs for documentary films to showcase under a competitive category.

We invite scholars, researchers, and practitioners to submit abstracts for paper presentations at the inaugural Mahindra University-International Communication Association (India Chapter) conference on the broad theme:

 Human and Digital Mutualism: Code, Culture and Communication

Abstract Submission Deadline: 30 September 2025

Notification of Acceptance: 17 October 2025

Paper Presentations:
All abstracts must be submitted electronically via the official conference portal:

Documentary Films:
Documentary films must be submitted electronically as follows: Private online link (Vimeo or YouTube) with password must be submitted along with the director’s bio and synopsis (100 words) of the film including a description of the motivation, central idea, and treatment.

Click here to submit.

General Guidelines for Paper Presentations

• Submission of abstract is open to academics, researchers, doctoral and postgraduate students, and professionals working in media and communication.
• Submission must be original, unpublished, and not under review elsewhere.
• Joint submissions (up to 3 authors) are allowed.
• Each participant may submit up to two abstracts (either as sole or co-author).
• All submission must be in English and carry a title and 5-7 keywords.
• Length of the abstract should not exceed 800 words (excluding title, keywords, and references).
• Abstract must include the research question, theoretical framework, methodology, discussion, and any findings/conclusions if available.
• “Best Paper” prizes will be awarded. A more detailed paper of up to 3,000 words will be required for the submission to be considered for the awards.

General Guidelines for Documentary Film-Based Submissions

Documentary Format
Submissions must be non-fiction films, including observational, reflexive, investigative, essay, archival, and experimental formats.
Presentations must not exceed 15 minutes, including relevant clippings or showreel from the film not exceeding 5 minutes.

Runtime
Feature-length: 41 minutes and above.
Short Documentary: Under 40 minutes

Language
Non-English films must include English subtitles.

Technical Specifications

• Terms
  By submitting, you grant permission to screen your film. The film may be used for promotional purposes.
• The submitter must have the legal authority to submit the film and must hold all rights pertaining to the film.
• Submission does not guarantee selection and screening.
• The full documentary films will be screened separately.
• Films will be judged by a jury of professionals. Decision of the jury will be final, binding, and cannot be challenged.

We invite scholars, researchers, and practitioners to submit abstracts for paper presentations at the inaugural Mahindra University-International Communication Association (India Chapter) conference on the broad theme:

 Human and Digital Mutualism: Code, culture and Communication

You may submit abstracts of research projects. Abstracts will be blind reviewed. Please read guidelines for the submission and review the guidelines carefully before submission. Submissions may emerge from, but are not limited to, the following:

*Documentary Films/Pitch AVs: We invite non-fiction films and/or pitch AVs for documentary films to showcase under a competitive category.

General Guidelines for Paper Presentations

• Submission of abstract is open to academics, researchers, doctoral and postgraduate students, and professionals working in media and communication.
• Submission must be original, unpublished, and not under review elsewhere.
• Joint submissions (up to 3 authors) are allowed.
• Each participant may submit up to two abstracts (either as sole or co-author).
• All submission must be in English and carry a title and 5-7 keywords.
• Length of the abstract should not exceed 800 words (excluding title, keywords, and references).
• Abstract must include the research question, theoretical framework, methodology, discussion, and any findings/conclusions if available.
• “Best Paper” prizes will be awarded. A more detailed paper of up to 3,000 words will be required for the submission to be considered for the awards.

General Guidelines for Documentary Film-Based Submissions

Documentary Format
Submissions must be non-fiction films, including observational, reflexive, investigative, essay, archival, and experimental formats.
Presentations must include a relevant clipping from or a showreel of your film, not exceeding 5 minutes.

Runtime
Feature-length: 41 minutes and above.
Short Documentary: Under 40 minutes

Language
Non-English films must include English subtitles in English.

Technical Specifications

• Terms
  By submitting, you grant permission to screen your film.
  The film may be used for promotional purposes.
• The submitter must have the legal authority to submit the film and must hold all rights pertaining to the film.
• Submission does not guarantee selection and screening.
• Films will be judged by a jury of professionals. Decision of the jury will be final, binding, and cannot be challenged.

Paper Presentations:
All abstracts must be submitted electronically via the official conference portal:

Click here to submit.

Documentary Films:
Documentary films must be submitted electronically as follows: Private online link (Vimeo or YouTube) with password must be submitted along with the director’s bio and synopsis (100 words) of the film including a description of the motivation, central idea, and treatment.

Click here to submit

Abstract Submission Deadline: 30 September 2025

Notification of Acceptance: 17 October 2025

Registration Details

Early Registration for Students and Ph.D. Scholars (on or before 10 October 2025) INR 1,500
Regular Registration for Students and Ph.D. Scholars (from 11 October 2025 onwards) INR 3,000
Early Registration for Faculty & Professionals (on or before 10 October 2025) INR 3,000
Regular Registration (from 11 October 2025 onwards) INR 6,000

We invite scholars, researchers, and practitioners to submit abstracts for paper presentations at the inaugural Mahindra University-International Communication Association (India Chapter) conference on the broad theme:

 Human and Digital Mutualism: Code, culture and Communication

You may submit abstracts of research projects. Abstracts will be blind reviewed. Please read guidelines for the submission and review the guidelines carefully before submission. Submissions may emerge from, but are not limited to, the following:

*Documentary Films/Pitch AVs: We invite non-fiction films and/or pitch AVs for documentary films to showcase under a competitive category.

General Guidelines for Paper Presentations

• Submission of abstract is open to academics, researchers, doctoral and postgraduate students, and professionals working in media and communication.
• Submission must be original, unpublished, and not under review elsewhere.
• Joint submissions (up to 3 authors) are allowed.
• Each participant may submit up to two abstracts (either as sole or co-author).
• All submission must be in English and carry a title and 5-7 keywords.
• Length of the abstract should not exceed 800 words (excluding title, keywords, and references).
• Abstract must include the research question, theoretical framework, methodology, discussion, and any findings/conclusions if available.
• “Best Paper” prizes will be awarded. A more detailed paper of up to 3,000 words will be required for the submission to be considered for the awards.

General Guidelines for Documentary Film-Based Submissions

Documentary Format
Submissions must be non-fiction films, including observational, reflexive, investigative, essay, archival, and experimental formats.
Presentations must include a relevant clipping from or a showreel of your film, not exceeding 5 minutes.

Runtime
Feature-length: 41 minutes and above.
Short Documentary: Under 40 minutes

Language
Non-English films must include English subtitles in English.

Technical Specifications

• Terms
  By submitting, you grant permission to screen your film.
  The film may be used for promotional purposes.
• The submitter must have the legal authority to submit the film and must hold all rights pertaining to the film.
• Submission does not guarantee selection and screening.
• Films will be judged by a jury of professionals. Decision of the jury will be final, binding, and cannot be challenged.

Paper Presentations:
All abstracts must be submitted electronically via the official conference portal:

Click here to submit.

Documentary Films:
Documentary films must be submitted electronically as follows: Private online link (Vimeo or YouTube) with password must be submitted along with the director’s bio and synopsis (100 words) of the film including a description of the motivation, central idea, and treatment.

Click here to submit

Abstract Submission Deadline: 30 September 2025

Notification of Acceptance: 17 October 2025

Registration Details

Early Registration for Students and Ph.D. Scholars (on or before 10 October 2025) INR 1,500
Regular Registration for Students and Ph.D. Scholars (from 11 October 2025 onwards) INR 3,000
Early Registration for Faculty & Professionals (on or before 10 October 2025) INR 3,000
Regular Registration (from 11 October 2025 onwards) INR 6,000