BIRMM (VUB), CEDEM (ULiège), CESSMIR (UGent), GERME (ULB) and MIGLOBA (University of Antwerp) warmly invite you to the sixth edition of their joint research day.
The 2026 edition will focus on knowledge production about migration amid increasingly restrictive and violent migration policies and discourse in liberal democracies, including Europe, the United States and Canada. At a time marked by an erosion of the rule of law, migrants face growing risks, while civil society organisations working in solidarity with them and researchers studying migration and diversity are coming under mounting pressure.
The research day will explore what this context means for conducting, disseminating and collaborating on migration research. Together, we will consider:
- How can researchers engage with policy debates when migration is politically contested?
- How can migrant voices be heard without exposing them to additional risks?
- How can researchers respond to backlash against their work?
- How can research continue to contribute to societal transformation and alternative futures?
- How can we build alliances within and beyond academia to support these goals?
Throughout the day, researchers will share practical examples of how they have navigated these challenges in different contexts and developed possible responses. We will revisit the debate between policy-relevant and policy-irrelevant research and discuss how researchers can address state-centred priorities that conflict with societal justice.
As in previous editions, the programme will feature inspiring talks and workshops by researchers from a range of disciplinary backgrounds, alongside ample opportunities for networking among migration scholars.
Date: 17 November 2026, 09:00–17:00
Location: Brussels; exact venue to be announced
Participation fee: Free
Further information about the keynote speakers, workshops and practical arrangements will follow in September.
We look forward to welcoming you!
Registrations opening soon.