We are delighted to share that our first-year PhD researcher, Ceylan Hassan, has successfully led a competitive bid to convene and chair one of only eight thematic streams at the 14th Interpretive Policy Analysis Conference 2026.
The stream, titled ‘Critical interpretive epistemologies for the study of inequalities’, brings together an ambitious and timely agenda. It seeks to push the boundaries of knowledge production, advance decolonising approaches to epistemology and inclusion, and develop more critically attuned, epistemically just ways of understanding inequality. At its core, the stream aims to foster transnational scholarly solidarity in addressing some of the most pressing challenges in contemporary policy research.
Ceylan will chair the stream alongside Trude Sundberg (second chair) and colleagues based in Brazil, reflecting the conference’s strong commitment to global dialogue and exchange.
This forms part of the Centre for Global Science and Epistemic Justice’s (GSEJ) ongoing collaboration with the International Public Policy Association since 2023. It also speaks to the strength of GSEJ’s commitment to supporting early career researchers to take on leadership roles within international academic communities.
To secure a thematic stream at IPA is highly competitive. For a first-year PhD researcher to lead such an initiative is a remarkable accomplishment, demonstrating both intellectual leadership and a strong commitment to building inclusive and critically engaged scholarly spaces.
We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Trude Sundberg for her generous mentorship and support throughout this process.
The Call for Papers for the stream is now available. We warmly encourage colleagues and collaborators across our networks to circulate and consider contributing.