Amplifying diverse scholarship in the psychological and social sciences

Social sciences, like many disciplines, have often centered their research on dominant populations and perspectives, leaving critical gaps in our understanding of human behavior across diverse cultural, social, and political contexts. The goal of this one-day conference is to amplify scholarship from underrepresented voices and diverse perspectives, thereby providing a dedicated space for research that is often marginalized within mainstream academic discourse. This conference will bring together researchers from the psychological and social sciences, broadly defined, and offer them a platform to share their work, engage with cutting-edge research, connect with like-minded scholars, and receive professional development support.

The conference will feature three early-career keynote speakers: Sirada Rochanavibhata (San Francisco State University), Riana Brown (The Ohio State University), and Wicia Fang (Cornell University), a data blitz, poster sessions, and conversational roundtables focused on professional development topics. Registration is FREE, thanks to a generous grant from the Boston College Institute for Liberal Arts .

We welcome participation from faculty, researchers, and students in psychology, sociology, education, political science, philosophy, neuroscience, biology, and related areas. The conference will highlight research from individuals with underrepresented identities, research topics, or perspectives, and/or research interests in diversity or equity-related issues in social, behavioral, and brain sciences or philosophy. We hope that this Marginalia Science x Boston College event will serve as a catalyst for change within psychological and social science research, fostering a more inclusive and supportive academic environment and expanding the boundaries of knowledge in meaningful ways.

Conference Objectives:

• Showcase research that challenges mainstream psychological and social science perspectives.
• Provide a forum for researchers, particularly those from marginalized identities or working on underrepresented topics, to share their work.
• Facilitate mentorship and professional development through workshops and networking opportunities, empowering students through shared knowledge and opportunities for collaborations.
• Build and strengthen the Marginalia Science community by fostering discussions on the future of equity and inclusion in psychological science.
• Visibly and formally committing to a mission of inclusivity in scholarship and scholars.

This event is being conducted in partnership with Marginalia Science and the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at Boston College, with support from the Institute for Liberal Arts. For questions, please email marginaliaconference@gmail.com.

October 24, 2025, 10am - 6pm| The Heights Room, Corcoran Commons, Boston College | Register to Attend