UNESCO and the AI and Society Institute at École normale supérieure (ENS PSL), Paris have announced a Call for Papers inviting recent PhD graduates to submit research proposals on the ethics of artificial intelligence.
The initiative is aimed at researchers who completed their PhD within the past five years. Selected authors will have an opportunity to present their research at a one day academic event at ENS in Paris on December 10, 2026.
The deadline for submitting proposals is October 30, 2026.
Call for Papers on Ethics of Artificial Intelligence
The initiative is grounded in the UNESCO 2021 Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and seeks to support emerging research while encouraging interdisciplinary exchange between academic research, public policy and practice.
The organisers are inviting theoretical, empirical, comparative, interdisciplinary and practice oriented research. Applications are open to researchers from relevant disciplines and geographic regions, with interdisciplinary and cross sectoral perspectives particularly encouraged.
Research Areas
Proposals may examine a broad range of issues connected with the ethics and governance of artificial intelligence. Suggested areas include AI governance, fairness, accountability and transparency, human rights and AI, AI ethics literacy and social inclusion.
Other areas include the relationship between AI and health, mental health, youth, gender equality, culture and knowledge systems, environment, sustainability and climate action. Research on vulnerable or underrepresented groups is also encouraged.
The call also welcomes research on the ethical dimensions of AI in public policy, research and innovation, the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals, STEM and basic sciences, and frontier technologies.
Eligibility for Recent PhD Graduates
The Call for Papers is open to researchers who have completed a PhD within the five years preceding the submission and whose research addresses issues related to the ethics of artificial intelligence.
Applications are welcomed from different academic disciplines and geographic regions. Co authored proposals are also permitted, provided that both authors satisfy the eligibility requirements.
The organisers particularly encourage interdisciplinary and cross sectoral research that can connect academic scholarship with policy and practical applications.
Submission Requirements
Applicants must submit an 800 to 1,000 word extended abstract, excluding references. The proposal should include the title, research question and its relevance to the call, conceptual or theoretical framework, methodology where applicable, principal findings or argument, contribution to AI ethics research, and three to five keywords.
A separate author information page must provide the applicant’s full name, institutional affiliation, country, email address, PhD title, institution and year of completion, along with a biography of no more than 150 words.
Submissions must be in English and submitted in Word or PDF format. The extended abstract itself should be anonymised and must not contain the author’s name or other identifying information.
Selection, Travel Support and Publication
Proposals will be reviewed by the laureates and jury members of the UNESCO Beruniy Prize for Scientific Research on the Ethics of AI. Successful applicants will be notified by November 15, 2026 and will subsequently be invited to submit a full paper of approximately 5,000 to 7,000 words by December 1, 2026.
Selected authors will present their research during thematic sessions at the one day in person academic event in Paris on December 10, 2026. Travel support will be offered to one selected author to attend the event. The author receiving the travel support will be identified following the selection process.
Following the event, UNESCO and the AI and Society Institute will produce proceedings featuring the contributions and key discussions. Selected authors may also be invited to adapt their research for publication in the Tribune of the Conseil de l’intelligence artificielle et du numérique (CIANum), providing an opportunity to reach a wider public and policy audience.
Important Dates
The deadline for submitting the extended abstract is October 30, 2026. Successful applicants will be notified by November 15, 2026, with full papers due by December 1, 2026.
The academic event will take place in Paris, France, on December 10, 2026. The event will feature research presentations, expert discussions and interactive AI ethics labs examining research dilemmas, methodological questions and policy challenges.
