Call for Papers
Math & Engineering
Southwest Popular / American Culture Association (SWPACA)
2026 SWPACA Summer Salon

June 25-27, 2026
Virtual Conference
https://swpaca.org/
Submissions open on March 30, 2026
Proposal submission deadline: April 27, 2026

Proposals for papers are now being accepted for the SWPACA Summer Salon. SWPACA offers nearly 70 subject areas in a variety of categories encompassing the following: Film, Television, Music, & Visual Media; Historic & Contemporary Cultures; Identities & Cultures; Language & Literature; Science Fiction & Fantasy; and Pedagogy & Popular Culture. For a full list of subject areas, area descriptions, and Area Chairs, please visit https://swpaca.org/subject-areas/

Mathematics and engineering are often confined to academic settings, yet they form the foundation of life and popular culture alike. When we examine engineering marvels in movies, books, and other media, we uncover rich symbolism and deeper meanings that reveal how these disciplines shape our understanding of the world.
Panels are now forming on topics related to all aspects of mathematics and engineering and their intersection with popular culture. Possible topics may include (but are not limited to):
• Chaos Theory
• Set Theory
• Probability
• Fractals
• Duality
• Symmetry
• Game Theory
• Civil Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Electrical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
Scholars, teachers, professionals, grad students, and others interested in mathematics and/or engineering are encouraged to participate. The above list of topics suggests a few possible ways to consider how mathematics and engineering affect popular culture, but it is not final. Any other approaches to discussing these areas are certainly welcome.

All proposals must be submitted through the conference’s database at https://swpaca.org/app

For details on using the submission database and on the application process in general, please see the Summer Salon FAQs and Tips page at https://swpaca.org/faq-summer-salon/
Registration information for the conference will be available at https://swpaca.org/summer-salon/
Unfortunately, we are not able to offer any financial assistance for the Summer Salon.

Individual proposals for 15-minute papers must include an abstract of approximately 200-500 words. Only one proposal per person, please; unfortunately, we cannot accommodate roundtables for the Summer Salon.

If you have any questions about the Math & Engineering area, please contact its Area Chair, Heather Miller at miller-h@mssu.edu. If you have general questions about the conference, please contact us at support@southwestpca.org, and a member of the executive team will get back to you.

We look forward to receiving your submissions!