23rd Chinese Internet Research Conference
The China Institute at the University of Alberta is pleased to host the 23rd Chinese Internet Research Conference (CIRC) in Edmonton, Canada on June 22-23, 2026 in person.
Conference Theme
“The Chinese Internet in AN Era of Uncertainty”
The “Chinese Internet”, from search engine and social media to e-commerce and AI, is an integral part of the global internet that has been continually reshaped by new technologies and evolving modes of communication with important economic, social, political and cultural implications. A focus on the Chinese Internet and its dynamics at this historical juncture is all the more important as the world we live in is undergoing profound macro changes that are both uncertainty-inducing and era-defining: technological transformations epitomized by recent AI development, economic instability embodied by unprecedented global debt, geopolitical shifts highlighted by the US-China rivalry and wars in Ukraine and Gaza, all taking place in an era of climate change, ongoing post-pandemic recovery, de-globalization and nationalism. At this pivotal moment, we ask the following questions:
- How have Chinese Internet users navigated heightened levels of uncertainty, politically, economically and socially?
- What can we learn by studying their adaptations to new challenges and opportunities for knowledge production (e.g., via AI) or responses to the emergence of new technologies, platforms, regulations or social mores, during an era characterized by uncertainty at both the individual and global level?
- How have Chinese Internet companies coped with heightened levels of uncertainty amidst rising geopolitical tensions, disrupted supply chains and new market opportunities?
- How have the Chinese state and institutions coped with and responded to technological, economic and geopolitical uncertainties in their approaches to governing the internet, AI and industrial policymaking?
- How is the Chinese Internet shaping and being shaped by transnational flows of technology, capital, cultural practices and infrastructural power?
Keynote Speakers
Two distinguished scholars will anchor our themed conference with the following keynotes:
- Guobin Yang (University of Pennsylvania):
“Of earthy flavor and AI flavor: On the importance of distinguishing flavors in an age of cyber artificiality and uncertainty”
- Cara Wallis (University of Michigan):
“Certain (un)certainties and possible (im)possibilities: Creative stirrings and everyday politics in digital spaces”
Meals and Lodging Support
The conference does not charge registration fees, and meals will be provided for conference participants. In addition, for accepted student proposals, The China Institute will cover the cost of three nights’ lodging on the University of Alberta campus.
Post-Conference Retreat June 24 & 25, 2026
Transportation and subsidized lodging are available for a two-day post-conference retreat in the Canadian Rockies (Banff National Park) on June 24–25, 2026, should participants choose to join.