Call for Papers: Digital Ethics Center Symposium (DECS) 2026, Yale University [16 Oct; Funded Travel and Stay for Selected Presenters]

The Digital Ethics Center at Yale University will host the inaugural Digital Ethics Center Symposium (DECS) on 16 October 2026 at Kline Tower, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. It is a one-day international symposium built around peer-reviewed papers chosen through a competitive international call for submissions.

The Digital Ethics Center is directed by Prof. Luciano Floridi. At the symposium, each selected paper receives considered commentary from a member of the Digital Ethics Center, followed by open discussion.

DECS 2026 addresses the Governance, Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (GELSI) of digital technologies. The organisers particularly welcome research that can inform policy recommendations and shape governance frameworks.

Work at the intersection of technology, law and society sits squarely within this scope, as does research on the ethical and human dimensions of digital transformation more broadly.

The call is open to PhD students and postdoctoral scholars whose work examines the ethical and human dimensions of digital transformation.

• The call states no nationality or country restriction, so researchers based outside the United States, including those in India, may submit.
• Each applicant may submit only one paper as first author. The same person may be listed as a co-author on additional submissions.
• Submissions must be original work that is not formally published, under review, or committed for publication elsewhere.
• Preprints and working papers are welcome, but applicants must disclose preprint status.

All selected presenters receive the following:

• The DECS Best Paper Award, a medal recognising their work.
• Full travel support, covering round-trip transportation and two nights of accommodation in New Haven.
• An invitation to collaborate with Prof. Luciano Floridi and Digital Ethics Center researchers during the Spring 2027 semester.

The funding as stated covers round-trip travel and two nights of accommodation. The call does not mention any separate allowance for meals, visa fees or incidental costs, so applicants should not assume those are covered.

The official call sets out no submission fee and no registration fee for the symposium. Selected presenters additionally have their travel and two nights of accommodation funded by the organisers.

Applicants must submit two PDF files, named exactly as prescribed:

• An abstract of no more than 2,000 words, named LastName-FirstName-DECS.Abstract.pdf
• A CV of no more than 2 pages, named LastName-FirstName-DECS.CV.pdf

Email both PDF files to dec@yale.edu with the subject line "DECS 2026 Application". The deadline is Sunday, 30 August 2026 at 11:59 PM ET.

Applicants selected for the symposium will be contacted by 15 September 2026 about next steps.

All high-quality submissions, whether or not they are selected for presentation at the symposium, will be considered for publication in a special issue of Philosophy & Technology.