48th Annual Conference of the Association for Interdisciplinary Studies
Translational Research and Teaching: Bridging Knowledge, Practice, and Community
October 29-November 1, 2026
Panama City, Florida
Hosted in partnership by Florida State University, Florida A&M University, and the University of Mississippi
The 2026 Association for Interdisciplinary Studies Conference invites researchers, educators, practitioners, administrators, and students to explore the theme “Translational Research and Teaching: Bridging Knowledge, Practice, and Community.”
Translational research and teaching emphasize the movement of ideas, methods, and discoveries across boundaries. By bridging the gaps not only between academic disciplines, but also between universities, communities, policymakers, and industries, our work becomes both an intellectual and practical endeavor that transforms research into action and ensures that knowledge improves programs, policies, and lives in meaningful ways.
While interdisciplinary work often focuses on integration of disciplinary insights, translational approaches highlight how that integrated knowledge becomes useful, including how it is communicated, applied, adapted, and sustained in real-world contexts.
This conference is designed for anyone engaged in multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary work across all stages of research, teaching, and professional roles.
Themes of the AIS 2026 Conference Include:
Moving Integrated Knowledge Into Practice
Co-Producing Research with Communities, Practitioners, or Policymakers
Building and Sustaining Community-University Partnerships
Translational Pathways Across Academic and Professional Fields
Innovations in Interdisciplinary Methodology
Developing Translational Skills in our Students
As always, AIS2026 welcomes contributions not tied directly to the above but address common topics and ongoing challenges, including:
Interdisciplinary Research
Program Administration and Assessment
Pedagogy, Curriculum Design
Establishing and assessing rigor in interdisciplinary curricula
Organizers
The conference is organized collaboratively by Florida State University, Florida A&M University, and the University of Mississippi, three public research universities with long-standing commitments to interdisciplinary teaching, research, and public engagement.
Florida State University (FSU) is the state’s preeminent university. FSU preserves, expands, and disseminates knowledge in the sciences, technology, arts, humanities, and professions, while embracing a philosophy of learning strongly rooted in the traditions of the liberal arts. Located in Tallahassee, Florida, FSU offers leading undergraduate, graduate and professional programs which consistently rank among the nation’s top universities. FSU hosts a variety of interdisciplinary programs and interdisciplined departments including public health, interdisciplinary social sciences, interdisciplinary humanities, interdisciplinary medical sciences, urban and regional planning, and others. Several programs at FSU are designed to support and enhance connections between research, teaching, entrepreneurship, and community within the sphere of translational programming.
The Florida State University Panama City campus offers an extension of FSU in-person opportunities to the Northwestern region of Florida. The Panama City, Florida campus is home to undergraduate, graduate and professional programs as well as special programming relevant to its geographic location, like underwater crime scene investigation.
Florida A&M University (FAMU) is a public, historically Black, landgrant research institution founded in 1887 and committed to innovative teaching, impactful research, and community empowerment. Its mission emphasizes advancing knowledge, addressing complex societal issues, and preparing students to apply critical thinking and creativity in service to communities locally and globally.
As an 1890 landgrant university, FAMU promotes collaboration, diversity, and inclusion, creating an environment where interdisciplinary inquiry thrives across undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and professional programs. FAMU welcomes students from all backgrounds while continuing its historic mission of educating African Americans.
This interdisciplinary spirit aligns seamlessly with our program’s goal of bringing together multiple fields to tackle real world challenges through research, scholarship, and community engaged problem solving — reflecting FAMU’s core values of innovation, service, and academic excellence.
The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) is the state’s flagship public research university, rooted in a strong tradition of academic excellence, creative inquiry, and service to Mississippi and the region. With nationally recognized programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, engineering, and law, Ole Miss combines rigorous scholarship with a distinctive campus culture that values engagement, leadership, and community.
The Interdisciplinary and Multi-Disciplinary Studies programs at Ole Miss extend this mission by enabling students to draw purposefully across disciplines, design coherent academic pathways, and apply integrative learning to complex intellectual and real-world questions.
Together, these organizing institutions share a commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration as a vital approach to research, teaching, and public dialogue, making this conference a space for meaningful exchange across fields and traditions.
About AIS
The Association for Interdisciplinary Studies is the leading international organization devoted to the study, practice, and advancement of interdisciplinarity in research, teaching, and institutional life. Based in the United States and active for decades, AIS brings together scholars, educators, and practitioners from across disciplines and national contexts to explore how integrative approaches can deepen understanding of complex questions. Through its conferences, publications, and professional networks, AIS fosters inclusive, global conversations that reflect the full range of perspectives that are essential to interdisciplinary work.
