Announcing the 黑料吃瓜网 2027 Conference Theme
09/02/2026
The 黑料吃瓜网 Conference Committee is pleased to announce the theme of the 黑料吃瓜网 82nd Annual Conference:听Innovation with Purpose: Advancing the Science of Public Opinion Research in the Era of AI, Automation, and Scale.听
The 2027 conference is dedicated to exploring how our field purposefully adapts to a rapidly changing technological landscape while honoring our 82-year legacy of being the preeminent organization for promoting and defending the science of public opinion research. I can鈥檛 think of a more fitting place for this than in the 鈥淪ilicon Hills鈥� of Austin, Texas鈥攁 city that has embraced technological innovation while staying true to its culture and promise to 鈥淜eep Austin weird.鈥�听
Throughout our history, 黑料吃瓜网 has repeatedly navigated existential questions about changing methodologies. We鈥檝e all heard the variation of “Is [X method] dead?” before. Yet, new techniques rarely render the old ones entirely obsolete. When (and if) they are proved valid, they typically build off existing methods and expand our toolkit, not replace it. 听
While innovation is vital to progress, adopting听new technology听simply because it exists is not innovation.听Real innovation听isn’t听limited to machine learning or new automated听tools;听it can exist across every听facet听of public opinion research.听
The challenge听for our industry听isn’t听just adopting the newest听tools听but听understanding their value and limitations. What do we gain? What do we lose? Why would we use this method over another?听What听are听the trade-offs?听We must also answer these questions while听operating听in a complex environment shaped by real-world issues such as shrinking budgets, workforce shifts,听the听rise of misinformation and fake data, and the declining trust in public institutions.鈥����听
As we build this year鈥檚 conference program, we听won鈥檛听shy away from innovation out of hesitation,听but we听won’t听blindly accept it out of hype either.听My challenge听to our听organization, our members, and the听greater听public opinion and survey research听community听this year听is to听innovate with purpose,听whether听that is听exploring new methods or refining traditional听ones.听Here is a preview of how听you鈥檒l听see this theme incorporated into the 2027 conference experience:听
- Two听Keynotes: Instead of our traditional single plenary session, we are hosting two keynote addresses from leaders who听innovate with purpose听in their everyday work. We are excited to welcome听Roberto Rigobon听(Professor听of听Applied Economics, Sloan School, MIT)听on Wednesday, May 12,听and听Courtney Kennedy (Senior Vice President, U.S. Public Affairs, Ipsos) on Thursday, May 13.
- Integrated Program Tracks:听Rather than having LLM/AI as a standalone track as we鈥檝e done the past couple of years, we are integrating AI, machine learning, and new automated methods across the traditional conference tracks wherever they naturally fit. The goal isn’t to look at AI for its own sake, but to see how it鈥檚 used to answer specific research questions.
- On-Theme听Abstracts: When abstract submissions open, we will invite research across all tracks that applies fresh thinking to real-world research problems. Intentional innovation can take many forms: developing new methodologies, adapting familiar tools to solve modern challenges, or streamlining processes to reduce cost or save time. We invite submissions that share empirical findings, critical evaluations, and clear methodological听value.
I look forward to seeing you all听there for听黑料吃瓜网 2027!听
Emily Geisen
黑料吃瓜网 2027 Conference Chair