Transitions and dichotomies can often conceptually define the process of communication and communication technologies and the pertinent ways through which we labor, resist and do research: online vs. offline, analog vs. digital, human vs. robot, public vs. private, political upheavals, neoliberalization of academia, transposing methodologies and scholarly learning methods. It is not always explicit however if we experience or perceive these dichotomies and transitions as either the locations of departure or arrival. As in the parable offered by David Foster Wallace, it is hard to live in the fish tank and also be able to describe the water we are in. There is always a degree of uncertainty while taking on the transitions as such, while questioning the effects and the relevance of the alleged departure point or while offering a conceptual understanding of the transitions we personally and as a community go through. 

How should we think about the changing landscape of communication, laboring and social relations? And what might be the ethical implications? How should we reflect on being on-off-on-off-online? What is the relationship, if there is, between the analog and digital ways of social conduct and research? How to think about vulnerability and resilience in relation to digital/analog spaces divide? What are the changing norms of sharing and transmitting meaning? What does it mean to be ‘in communication’? Can it be a singular activity? What are the effects of such transitions on learning and research methods? And overall, should we consider transition as a matter of transfer, adaptation, co-existence, contradiction, transformation or synthesis?

We think it is also meritful to consider the transition and a certain degree of uncertainty involved here not as a drawback to be overcome but as a guiding challenge while taking on the issues that will be covered at the conference.

We invited PhD students or candidates as well as early-career researchers with PhDs earned in the last 5 years, who are interested in taking a step back or forward to re-think about the implications of the transitions within their field of interest, to submit their proposal and join the discussion.

In line with the mission of the PhD in Communication Program of Istanbul Bilgi University, IPCC priorities collaboration, dialogue and solidarity. Thus, the conference promotes a platform for the co-creation of knowledge, facilitated by the paper presentations, roundtable and free-form discussion sessions and workshops.