Middle East and Islamic Consortium (MEICON)
The Middle East and Islamic Consortium of British Columbia (MEICON-BC) was founded in 2008 as a collaborative project of the University of Victoria (UVic), Simon Fraser University (SFU), and the University of British Columbia (UBC) with the participation of other British Columbian universities and colleges. Its purpose is to provide an organizational basis for communication and cooperation among all British Columbian academics interested in the study of the Middle East and Muslim societies and cultures. They host an annual student conference (typically held in March of each year), where students are invited to present their papers and receive feedback and support in a lively and nurturing environment.
Our People
- Allan Antliff, Art History and Visual Studies
- Evanthia Baboula, Art History and Visual Studies
- Melia Belli Bose, Art History and Visual Studies
- Greg Blue, History
- Neilesh Bose, History
- Shamma Boyarin, Religious Studies/English
- Paul Bramadat, CSRS/Religious Studies/History
- Rachel Brown, CSRS/Religious Studies
- Martin Bunton, History
- Michael J. Carpenter, Political Science
- Adel Guitouni, Business
- Hanny Hilmy, Centre for Global Studies
- Marcus Milwright, Art History and Visual Studies
- Daromir Rudnyckyj, Anthoropology
- Deniz Ünsal, Anthropology
- Peyman Vahabzadeh, Sociology
- Andrew Wender, History/Political Science/Religious Studies
Call for Papers 2026
Middle East and Islamic Consortium of British Columbia 16th Annual Student
Conference, University of Victoria, March 2026
We acknowledge and respect the Ləkʷ̓ əŋən (Songhees and Xʷsepsəm/Esquimalt) Peoples on whose
territory the university stands, and the Ləkʷ̓ əŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples whose historical relationships
with the land continue to this day.
CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
Where: University of Victoria, David Strong Building
Presented by: MEICON UVIC Committee
When: Saturday, March 21, 2026, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
The organizing committee recognizes that the conference coincides with the Nowruz
festivities (Persian New Year celebrations) and is committed to creating a welcoming,
community-building atmosphere with food, music, and celebration.
In keeping with the inclusive vision that Islamic Studies operates within a global context,
MEICON-BC does not privilege a single theme. Instead, it welcomes original submissions
that contribute meaningfully to ongoing academic conversations and broaden the scope of
inquiry.
Possible topics include, but are not limited to:
Submission Guidelines:
- Abstracts should be no more than 300 words and must clearly state the thesis, goals, methodology, and anticipated conclusions. Accepted papers will be presented in 15–20-minute sessions.
- Submissions should include the title of the paper and a brief bio containing your full name, major(s), university, academic year, and research interests.
- Please email your submission to uvic.meicon2026@gmail.com by January 31, 2026.
- Applicants will be notified of acceptance by February 15, 2026.
We thank all who apply and look forward to your contributions!
Andrew Rippin Essay Prize
A prize of $500 will be awarded for the best paper presented at the 2026 MEICON-BC
Student Conference. To be considered for the award, please submit the following to
uvic.meicon2026@gmail.com by February 20, 2026:
- A brief letter of application
- A 150-word abstract
- Your essay (approximately 3,000 words)
