Call for papers now open
The Harvard Study of Psychedelics in Society and Culture is excited to announce that the fourth annual Psychedelic Intersections conference will be held at Harvard Divinity School on April 10-11, 2026. Building on the Center for the Study of World Religions’ (CSWR’s) popular conference series, the 2026 conference is a collaborative initiative of the CSWR at Harvard Divinity School, the Mahindra Center at Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and the Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology, and Bioethics at Harvard Law School.
“Psychedelic Intersections: Bridging Humanities, Religion, and Law” brings together interdisciplinary scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to discuss the intersection of psychedelics and culture. The conference features three research tracks:
- Psychedelics and Religion
- Psychedelics and Humanities
- Psychedelics and Law
Abstract submissions to the call for papers can be focused within a single research track or represent interdisciplinary research spanning multiple tracks. To support our mission of intersectional dialogue, we welcome abstracts from scholars of diverse fields, backgrounds, and career stages. Scholars and practitioners working with or representing underrepresented peoples and traditions are encouraged to submit.
Psychedelics and Religion track:
We welcome research exploring the diverse ways that psychedelic substances have influenced, shaped, and informed religious practice throughout time. Did psychedelics shape ancient religious traditions, and what does this mean for contemporary religion? How have Indigenous traditions engaged with psychedelics and how is this evolving over time? How can spiritual psychedelic experiences be supported in medical settings? How are psychedelic churches navigating and challenging the law? We particularly welcome papers on: psychedelic chaplaincy; African and African diaspora traditions; Indigenous and plant medicine traditions; contemporary psychedelic churches; visionary and psychedelic art and transcendence; research on spirits, entities, and the more-than-human world; and psychedelics and the history of religions.
Psychedelics and Humanities track:
We encourage proposals that will enrich our understanding of psychedelics in relation to the arts and humanities across their multiple histories and cultural contexts. How have psychedelics shaped histories and contemporary practices of art, music, literature, film, and other cultural forms? How can the study of psychedelics point to new directions in the humanistic and adjacent disciplines: literature, history, philosophy, art history, history of science and medicine, anthropology, etc.? How are the public humanities engaging with psychedelics? How are artists and humanists grappling with the ethical implications of the “psychedelics renaissance” given concerns about cultural appropriation, reciprocity, and commodification?
Psychedelics and Law track:
We welcome research on the ethical, legal, and social implications of psychedelics research, commerce, and therapeutics, with a special focus on promoting safety, innovation, and equity. Though not an exhaustive list, potential topics include the following: Psychedelics and the FDA, the Controlled Substances Act and DEA regulation of psychedelics, patents on psychedelics, state and local psychedelic decriminalization or regulation, law and the traditional ceremonial use of psychedelics, biopiracy of traditional knowledge and proposals for reciprocity or benefits sharing, equitable access to psychedelic medicine for certain populations such as veterans and people with substance use conditions, informed consent for psychedelic research or therapeutic administration, the challenges of public and private insurance coverage for psychedelics, the ethics and regulation of “supportive touch” as an element of psychedelic medicine, lessons from state marijuana regulation, the potential role of psychedelics in addressing the drug overdose crisis, the emerging law of religious psychedelics use, and the integration of psychedelic spiritual care into clinical medicine and end-of-life care.
Submissions are accepted through the form linked here and must include the following:
- Presenter(s) name, affiliation, and contact information
- Brief biography (50-100 words)
- Title of the presentation
- Focus area(s) (religion, humanities, law)
- Abstract (250-300 words) that include a concise summary of the research question, methodology, and main findings
Important Dates:
- Submission Deadline: December 15, 2025
- Notification of Acceptance: January 31, 2026
- Presentation Slides Due: One week prior to conference (Slides are recommended but not mandatory)
- Conference Dates: April 10-11, 2026. The in-person conference will be two full days, with possible evening events announced in early 2026.
Funding: An honorarium of $1000 will be provided to speakers following their in-person presentation at the event. We are unable to provide additional funds for travel or accommodations.