Call for Papers:

Symposium on Computational Visual Media Research (CVMR): Methods, Theories, and Reflections
August 5-7 , 2025
University of Zurich, Switzerland
https://www.ikmz.uzh.ch/en/research/divisions/computational-social-and-communication-science/CVMR25.html

Deadline for submissions of panel presentation proposals and registration: May 8, 2025

As visual communication becomes increasingly central to digital culture, understanding how to analyze and interpret visual media at scale is both a methodological and theoretical challenge. The Computational Visual Media Research (CVMR) symposium brings together scholars working at the intersection of computation, theory, and critique to explore innovative approaches to the study of visual media.

This three-day symposium aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and methodological innovation in response to the growing prominence of visual content in public discourse and cultural production. It provides a platform for developing new frameworks that integrate computational tools with critical and theoretical perspectives in media and communication research.

The symposium focuses on three core areas:

• Development and evaluation of computational tools for large-scale visual media analysis
• Integration of theoretical frameworks with methodological innovation
• Application of visual research methods to pressing social issues such as political activism, journalism, misinformation and hate speech

By bridging these domains, CVMR promotes critical reflection on methodological practices and encourages the exploration of new approaches to visual data analysis.

The symposium includes the following components:

• Hands-on workshops showcasing innovative analytical tools and techniques
• Panel presentations featuring current research and interdisciplinary approaches
• Fishbowl discussion sessions focused on challenges and future directions in computational visual media research

REGISTRATION

The symposium is free of charge. We invite researchers from a wide range of disciplines and career stages to join us in Zurich for an engaging exchange of ideas and practices.

To apply for participation, please complete the application form by 8 May 2025.

You may apply in one of the following two categories:

• Panel presenters: Submit a proposal that includes an abstract and a brief CV.
• Passive participants (without a presentation): Submit a CV and a short motivation statement explaining your interest in the symposium.

As this is a small and focused event, the number of available seats is limited. We will give priority to active participants contributing to the panel sessions. A limited number of travel grants will be offered to selected early-career researchers.

If you have questions, please send them to the event coordinator Terence Theiler.

ORGANIZER

Prof. Dr. Jing Zeng, Department of Communication and Media Research, University of Zurich

INVITED SPEAKERS (LIST IN PROGRESS)

Prof. Dr. Daniel Angus, Queensland University of Technology, Australia [link]
Prof. Dr. Anja Bechmann, Aarhus University, Denmark [link]
Prof. Dr. Nicholas Carah, the University of Queensland, Australia [link]
Prof. Dr. Travis G. Coan, the University of Exeter, UK [link]
Prof. Dr. Moa Eriksson Krutrök, Umeå University, Sweden [link]
Prof. Dr. Yingdan Lu, Northwestern University, USA [link]
Prof. Dr. Drew Margolin, Cornell University, USA [link]
Katharina Prasse, the University of Mannheim, Germany [link]
Prof. Dr. Luca Rossi, IT University of Copenhagen, Denmark [link]
Prof. Dr. Cuihua (Cindy) Shen, the University of California, Davis, USA [link]
Lion Wedel, Weizenbaum Institute, Germany [link]
David Josias Wegmann, Aarhus University, Denmark [link]
Prof. Dr. Wouter van Atteveldt, VU University Amsterdam, Netherlands [link]