The Examined Life
An Undergraduate Conference in the Liberal Arts
Friday, April 2, 2027
Saint Francis University
Loretto, Pennsylvania
Theme: Responsibility, Cooperation, and Education in the Age of AI
We cordially invite undergraduate students to submit original work for the 2027 edition of The Examined Life: An Undergraduate Conference in the Liberal Arts.
Submissions may include academic essays or creative work (short fiction, poetry, etc.) designed for a 15–20-minute oral presentation, as well as poster presentations or other visual representations of research. Individuals may contribute to more than one category, and both group projects and pre-arranged panels are welcome. Submissions may address any topic related to the liberal arts, though preference will be given to projects that engage the conference theme in some way.
This year’s installment of The Examined Life marks twenty years since the conference first began. At that inaugural gathering, participants were grappling with the growing influence of the internet and digital communication technologies. Two decades later, we find ourselves at another turning point as artificial intelligence and emerging technologies reshape education, creativity, labor, communication, and even our understanding of what it means to be human.
Accordingly, this year’s theme draws inspiration from Pope Leo XIV, who has called for renewed attention to “responsibility, cooperation, and education” in the face of rapidly developing technologies. As technological systems increasingly shape human life, Pope Leo emphasizes the importance of protecting the “faces and voices” of persons, ensuring that technological advancement does not come at the expense of human dignity, authentic relationships, or the common good.
This year’s conference will include a special panel discussion with individuals who attended and organized the first conference. Reflecting on their own lives, as well as the dramatic transformations in technology, panelists will consider how the questions raised at the conference’s founding continue to evolve in the present moment.
The conference will run from approximately 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST. A light breakfast will be available during registration, which begins at 8:00 AM. The day will conclude with an awards ceremony recognizing top student performers with cash prizes.
Email all proposals to TELUndergradConference@gmail.com by March 5, 2027. Please include your name, contact information, institutional affiliation, and the name and contact information of an advisor familiar with the project. Proposals should be between 250-500 words. Final essays (8-10 pages) must be submitted by March 26, 2027. Those presenting posters or other creative projects are asked to email an image or narrative description of their work.
This conference is open to the public and free for presenters and non-presenters. Faculty, mentors, advisors, and family members are welcome to attend. For more information, please visit our website (https://examinedlifeconference.wordpress.com/) or contact Dr. Arthur Remillard (aremillard@francis.edu).
For a PDF of this CFP, please click here
The Examined Life 