Call for Papers: IEEE GHTC 2026

“Technologies in Context”
IEEE 2026 Global Humanitarian Technology Conference

University of Colorado Boulder, USA
October 7-10, 2026

GHTC Website: https://ieeeghtc.org

IEEE GHTC is a flagship, international conference sharing evidence-based technology interventions and effective approaches for addressing the needs of underserved communities around the world. IEEE GHTC 2026 returns to last year’s theme “Technologies in Context,” encouraging authors to present technological solutions situated within their social, cultural, economic, and political contexts, as well as research on context-aware humanitarian engineering practice and education.

IEEE GHTC 2026 Thematic Areas

Technology Themes:

Addresses engineering work that considers broader social and environmental impacts and responds to community-defined priorities and conditions. Submissions may include the following sections: background, approach, design, testing, results, conclusions, and implications. Thematic areas include:

• Healthcare and Well-Being
• Education, Communication, and Connectivity
• Equitable and Just Access to Water, Food, and Energy
• Disaster Mitigation, Climate Resilience, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery

Research & Practice Themes:

Studies the methods, processes, practices, and pedagogies that shape humanitarian engineering, with particular attention to community collaboration, contextual understanding, ethical engagement, and the broader impacts of engineering practice. Submissions in this theme may include the following sections: background, research question(s), methods, findings, discussion, conclusions, and implications. Thematic areas include:

• Co-Design, Community Collaboration, and Critically-Conscious Engineering
• Broader Impacts of Engineering Efforts
• Humanitarian Engineering Practice and Education

Submissions

Individuals from academia, industry, government, nonprofits, and community organizations are invited to submit work related to scholarly research, case studies, field experiences, or best practices. IEEE GHTC 2026 will be accepting the following types of submissions:

Full papers for Publication and Presentation: Mature results, tested innovations, or completed projects (4-8 pages). Accepted and presented papers will be published and indexed on IEEE Xplore® and an original author will present the work at the conference.

Abstracts for Oral-only Presentation: Up to two-page extended abstracts (can include references and visuals) which include a discussion of practice, organizational case studies, fieldwork or research projects in progress. Accepted abstracts will be published to IEEE Xplore® but not indexed as a publication and an original author will present the work at the conference.

Special Sessions: Workshops, panels, or special lectures. Submissions must include a 200 word abstract, reasoning for inclusion, and a session outline.

Poster Presentations: 200-word abstract submission. While the poster session is open to all, students are encouraged to participate in the student poster competition at the conference through this submission type.

All submissions will be assessed for quality, work done, relevance, consideration of ethical and contextual issues, methodological vigor, and potential for impact. Of particular interest are works that highlight community engagement and collaboration, long-term and sustained engagement, and the year’s conference theme. Paper submissions should include results that have not previously been published and have not been submitted to another conference or journal.

Please note that all submissions will undergo a plagiarism check before being assigned for single-blind peer review. At least one author from each submission is expected to participate in the peer-review process, which will be coordinated by the Technical Program Committee.

Please refer to the Author and Presenter page on the GHTC website for more information on submission types, formatting requirements, and deadlines.

Key Dates