Call for topic proposals for the MCAA Annual Conference 2026

The Marie Curie Alumni Association (MCAA) Annual Conference 2026 will take place in Brussels, Belgium, from 22 to 25 April 2026. 

The MCAA will host thematic sessions on 23 and 24 April as part of the conference. All sessions will be held onsite in Brussels and live-streamed. 

While most sessions are built around pre-defined topics (see section 2 below), a few sessions are open to topic proposals, allowing MCAA members to contribute directly to the conference programme. The aim of the current call is to select topics for up to five conference sessions.

1. Timeline

Submission deadline: 9 February 2026

Communication of selected topics: 25 February 2026

2. Already defined session topics

The MCAA has predefined specific session topics aligned with the conference theme and the Association’s strategic priorities. The sessions related to the predefined topics will be organised by stakeholders identified within the MCAA. 

The following topics are already defined and therefore not part of the scope of the current call: 

  1. Researcher careers
  2. Research assessment
  3. Science diplomacy 
  4. Mental health 
  5. Open Science
  6. Career development
  7. Entrepreneurship 
  8. Sustainability 
  9. Diversity and inclusion 
  10. Science communication
  11. Artificial intelligence
  12. Higher education/skills
  13. Research management

In this call, the MCAA aims to gather recommendations for up to five more topics from its members. The submitted topics should differ from those listed above.

3. Submission procedure 

In addition to suggesting the specific topic, the applicant must explain the background, relevance, and added value of the proposed topic to the MCAA Annual Conference 2026 programme. 

The topics listed above should NOT be suggested, as they are already covered in the other conference sessions. Moreover, the MCAA will not consider research-centred topics (e.g. on specific scientific findings, projects, or experiments), as the focus of the Annual Conference is on professional development and other themes relevant to the MCAA community as a whole.

The topic proposal form should be completed using the following link:

Link Closed

4. Evaluation of proposals

The MCAA will review the applications to verify eligibility. Proposals that overlap with existing topics or fall outside the scope of the call will not be considered favourably.

Each application will be evaluated against the criteria below, which are cumulative and sum up to a maximum of 100 points.

Added value to the conference programme (maximum 40 points)

This criterion aims to prioritise topics that provide clear added value to the conference programme. This includes topics distinct from the predefined session topics and addressing emerging challenges, opportunities, or gaps relevant to the MCAA community.

Feasibility (maximum 30 points)

This criterion aims to prioritise topics that can be developed into coherent sessions within the conference format and timeline. It takes into account the applicant’s expressed willingness to contribute to the organisation of the session, if selected.

Potential for engagement (maximum 30 points)

This criterion aims to prioritise topics that have the potential to be developed into interactive and engaging sessions, encouraging participation, exchange of perspectives, and dialogue among conference participants from diverse backgrounds.

5. Communication of results 

The applicants whose topics have been shortlisted will be informed of the decision via email. The MCAA may contact the successful applicant(s) to contribute to the session organisation.

For any questions, please contact the Annual Conference Task Force via email at [email protected]