ISSHCON 2025

College of Liberal Arts, De La Salle University – Manila

Bohol Island State University

Invite you to the

2nd International Social Sciences and Humanities Conference

with the theme:

Reth(A/I)nking the Environment: Sustainability and Health in the Age of AI

August 13-16, 2025

The MetroCentre Hotel and Convention Center
Tagbilaran, Bohol, Philippines

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS:

As an interdisciplinary area of scholarship, the social sciences and the humanities play an important role in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The different theories, principles, tools, and methodologies of the social sciences have been proven useful in the SDG program implementation phases, including research, capacity building, people mobilization, and community organization. Issues relating to health, education, the environment, poverty and inequality, food security, gender, peace and justice, water and sanitation, decent work, sustainable cities, innovation, economic growth, renewable energy, and climate change are very social in nature.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the fruition of humankind’s dream of giving birth to an autonomous thinking machine capable of performing and accomplishing tasks beyond our human cognitive capabilities. One of these is to learn how to effectively process large amounts of data and information quickly. AI has intrusively and rapidly penetrated almost all domains of our social and personal lives, including information and communication, manufacturing, commerce, logistics, marketing, transportation, entertainment, agriculture, health systems, politics and warfare, education, religious observance, and various art forms. The self is now digitized as an avatar, username, and social media profile, and our private thoughts are immortalized in the form of digital images, comments, emoticons, and hashtags in social media. Two ontological positions exist amidst AI’s effervescent and unyielding entanglements of the digital and the real world. The first camp embraced this revolutionary technology; they asserted and attested to its overwhelming potential to address perennial global, localized, and industry-based issues and challenges. The second is worried that this energy-intensive machine and its growing demands consume much of the world’s resources and create massive carbon footprints.

The International Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities hosted by the College of Liberal Arts of De La Salle University invites scholars from the different fields of social sciences and humanities in the Asia-Pacific Region and other parts of the world to converge in a dialogue to “re-thank” the earth and its bountiful resources which gave birth to human civilization and allowed it to flourish. We need to “re-think” our responsibilities as the Earth’s custodian and discourse on human activities impact on the environment in the hope of advancing sustainable practices and means to reduce the negative impact of AI on our physical and social environment. We also need to contemplate and critically examine the idea that a sustainable world will be beneficial to our physical and mental health. In the words of DLSU University Fellow and Full Professor of Literature Dr. Dinah Roma: “We all belong to an ecology that considers our roles as a sentinel for the things that we write about. Language, thus, is our tool. It is our conscience, and it will wield the best of worlds if we are to be responsible for its results.”

General Objective

To build an inclusive international community of scholars and practitioners in the Social Sciences and Humanities, fostering critical discourse and showcasing diverse research to address global and social issues, while offering evidence-based insights for policymakers and stakeholders to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Conference Objectives

To provide an opportunity for creating networks, linkages, and collaboration links between academics and practitioners to share current discussion and knowledge on AI, Sustainability, and Health;
To feature the critical discourse of leading scholars and foster a space for presentation and discussion of scholarly research from early and emerging scholars on AI, Sustainability, and Health from diverse disciplines in the Social Sciences and Humanities;
To offer new lenses and perspectives to promote an enabling environment and develop optimal strategies for policymakers and other stakeholders to address critical intersecting issues on AI, Sustainability, and Health and achieve related UN SDG.

The College of Liberal Arts of De La Salle University invites scholars and practitioners in various Social Sciences and Humanities disciplines to submit an abstract, papers, or panel session proposal for the 2024 ISSHCON. We welcome submissions that highlight or advance the discussion about any of the following:

AI, Digital Ecology, and the Natural Environment
AI for Innovative, Inclusive, and Quality Health Care Systems
AI for Sustainable Development Strategies
Disaster Resilience and Climate Change
Emerging Political Climate and Ecology
Local, National And Global Culture
Social Inequality and Inequity
Communication and Knowledge Production
Earth-centered Artistic and Literary Tradition
The Creative Writer as Public Intellectual

Guidelines for Abstract and Panel Submission

Provide the title of your abstract, statement of the problem or objectives, methodology, research framework, and initial discussions or findings for completed projects.
The abstract must be 300 words or less.
Please click the link https://tinyurl.com/ISSHCONSubmissionofAbstracts or scan the QR code above to submit your abstract.
The Technical Research Panel (TRP) shall review all submitted abstracts and shall release the results on or before May 15, 2025.
Accepted abstracts shall be published in PDF with your consent in the conference program.

ISSHCON Logo

The logo for the 2nd International Social Sciences and Humanities Conference features a dynamic circular design composed of interconnected, vibrant lines in shades of green, blue, and yellow. This symbolizes the diversity, interconnectedness, and interdisciplinary nature of the social sciences and humanities. The circular form reflects unity and collaboration, while the gradient colors represent growth, innovation, and inclusivity. The design evokes a sense of movement and progress, aligning with the conference’s goal of advancing global dialogue and fostering sustainable solutions for societal challenges. The logo was designed by the ISSHCON secretariat and interns.