Conference - Health Communication and Behaviour Change in the Evolving Digital Landscape: Language, Discourse and Interaction

Dear all,

We are pleased to invite you to participate in the interdisciplinary conference Health Communication and Behaviour Change in the Evolving Digital Landscape: Language, Discourse and Interaction, which will take place at the University of Warwick during 9am-5:30pm on Thursday 16 July 2026 (BST). The event is funded by Warwick's Interdisciplinary Research Spotlight (Health).

With a strong focus on language, discourse, and interaction, the conference examines how AI, algorithmic systems, and digital platforms are transforming health communication, care experiences, access, trust, and decision-making across diverse socially situated linguistic and cultural contexts.

Call for Contributions (15-minute talks)
We welcome abstracts addressing (but not limited to): 

-Interactional dynamics in telehealth and AI-assisted healthcare encounters

-AI-mediated and digitally mediated health communication and its impact on health behaviour change, health perceptions, health education, and care experiences

-Communication of care and health in digital and AI-enabled health environments across diverse linguistic and cultural contexts

-Misinformation, trust, and ethical challenges in digital and AI-driven health communication across diverse linguistic and cultural contexts

-Inequalities in access, participation, and outcomes in multilingual and multicultural digital health communication

-Interdisciplinary approaches to digital health communication and behaviour change research 

Abstract guidelines (full CfA: https://warwick.ac.uk/research/spotlights/health/news-events/healthcomm/call-for-contributions-papers-ihc.pdf)
-Max. 300 words (including references, aim, methods, previous research/theory, and (expected) results of the study clearly stated)
-Work at any stage of development is welcome
-Particularly encourages postgraduate and early-career researchers

Submission deadline: 31 May 2026
Notification of acceptance: 8 June 2026
Submit your abstract herehttps://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/LcsJBSTzGL?origin=lprLink

Registration (free)
Please register by 6 July 2026: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/81f97ZDEJ1?origin=lprLink

Conference features:
-Keynote speaker: 

• Professor Alison Pilnick (Professor of Language, Health and Society, Manchester Metropolitan University)

-Interactive workshop speaker:

• Dr Aikaterini Grimani (Assistant Professor, Behavioural Sciences Group, Warwick Business School)

-Panel with guest speakers:

• Dr Tom Ritchie (Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick; Lead, AI Equity and Sustainability Working and Discovery Group, QS Responsible AI Consortium)
• Dr Shawnea Sum Pok Ting (Research Fellow, 999 RESPOND Project, Centre for Applied Linguistics, University of Warwick)
• Vineetha Wilson Vavanal (MA in Cultural and Media Policy Studies)
• More to come

-Networking and collaboration opportunities
-Hybrid access to support global participation

Enquiries: Hii@warwick.ac.uk

Please feel free to share this call with colleagues and networks who may be interested!

Best wishes,

Hii Team