Call for Paper and Panel Proposals
The organizers are pleased to call for papers and panels on any aspect of Syriac Studies.
The proposal deadline is November 1, 2026. All proposals will be reviewed and acceptance notifications sent by December 15, 2026.
Proposals should be submitted using this form.
The theme for the tenth symposium is “The teaching and study of Syriac.” Accordingly, we particularly encourage participants to submit proposals which might be placed into panels on related themes such as the history of Syriac pedagogy, historiography of Syriac Christianity, the history of Syriac studies, or other reflections on the teaching and learning of Syriac by scholars ancient, medieval, or modern.
We also invite proposals of organized panels related to the conference theme or other topics in Syriac Studies. Two panels are already envisioned and more are welcome:
- As a tribute to the late Fr. Sidney H. Griffith, one of the founders of the North American Syriac Symposium, we invite papers for a special panel exploring the legacies of Prof. Griffith’s scholarship.
- The Beth Mardutho Research Library and Syriaca.org: The Syriac Reference Portal invite papers for panels focused on the application of digital methods to the study of Syriac.
- Undergraduate and master's level students are invited to submit papers for inclusion in student presenter panels. These panels will be an opportunity for scholars just beginning their research on Syriac to receive constructive and encouraging feedback from scholars in the field.
Symposium participants who require a letter of invitation in order to obtain a visa to travel to the conference should contact the lead conference organizer, David Michelson (nass2027@vanderbilt.edu), to receive an invitation.
Registration will open December 15, 2027.
Full Conference Registration
| Participants | Early Bird Registration | Regular Registration |
|---|---|---|
| Conference Participants* | $150 (Register by 2/1/27) | $200 (Register by 5/1/27) |
| Students & Independent Scholars** | $50 (Register by 2/1/27) | $100 (Register by 5/1/27) |
*This registration fee includes the conference banquet, pre-conference workshop, conference receptions, and full access to all sessions. Everyone presenting a paper at the conference is required to register by 2/1/27.
**Students and independent scholars may request a registration discount of $100. This discounted fee includes the conference banquet, pre-conference workshop, conference receptions, and full access to all sessions. Students and independent scholars presenting at the conference are required to register by 2/1/27.
Sessions Only Registration
| Registration Type | Early Bird Registration | Regular Registration |
|---|---|---|
| Local community members^ | $50 (Register by 5/1/27) | $60 |
| Vanderbilt University Students^^ | Free (Register by 5/1/27) | $15 |
^ Local community members may register for access to conference sessions (does not include a ticket for the conference banquet).
^^ Current VU students may register for access to conference sessions (does not include a ticket for the conference banquet).