20 & 21 October 2023
Our annual interdisciplinary research conference is on again this year, with a two-day programme packed with the latest bilingualism research. The conference is held at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA and online. Registrations OPEN NOW.
BMRS is an annual interdisciplinary research conference organised by Bilingualism Matters https://www.bilingualism-matters.org/events/bilingualism-matters-research-symposium-2023 . This year’s conference will explore multilingualism from the perspectives of research and practice. Our goal is to promote a space to generate public engagement and learning about diverse issues concerning multilingualism and multilingual communities. We welcome submissions from researchers and practitioners across diverse fields, including linguistics, education, psychology, health, migration, policy, business, and any other related sciences.
Admission to BMRS can be paid in GBP or USD. Please follow the links below for further details:
To attend BMRS23 in person, please register HERE (additional information for in-person attendees is available at the bottom of the page)
To attend BMRS23 online, please register HERE
Strand Options
There will be two strands for conference proposal submissions. You will identify which strand you wish your proposal to be considered in.
(*The term “practitioner” is meant to include professionals such as teachers, clinicians and those who engage in day-to-day activities of policymaking, health support, and business operations and not research only).
Presentation Formats
The conference will feature two types of presentations: oral presentation (the presenter will deliver a 15-minute oral presentation) or poster (presenters will produce a physical poster to be displayed in the conference venue or a virtual poster for mini-presentations online). Authors will indicate a preference for an oral or poster presentation; however, the Programme Committee reserves the right to decide on the final format.
Proposal submissions are open until June 15th, 2023.
Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
All presennters are kindly asked to adhere to presentation guidelines. Guidelines for poster (in person) and mini presentation presenters can be found HERE.
Submission deadline: 30th May 2023 / Extended to 15th June 2023
Notification of acceptance: 15th July 2023
Early registrations: 7th June 2023 - July 31th 2023
Regular registration open: 1st August 2023
Registration close: 6th October 2023 (for in-person participation) and 18th October 2023 (for online participation).
Conference date: 20 & 21 October 2023
Conference address (in-person): Russell House, 1400 Greene Street, Columbia, SC 29208
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VIRTUAL
IN-PERSON
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VIRTUAL (closes 19th October 2023)
IN PERSON (closes 6th October 2023)
VIRTUAL Discounted group registration for students and practitioners is available, please send an email titled: BMRS GROUP to bmrs@bilingualism-matters.org for more information.
Full and partial bursaries covering BMRS fees only are available on a first-come-first-served basis. Please send an email titled: ‘BMRS Bursary’ to bmrs@bilingualism-matters.org explaining why you should receive a bursary.
All questions about submissions should be emailed to: bmrs@bilingualism-matters.org.
HOTELS (UPDATED)
Conference hotel: The Graduate, 1619 Pendleton Street, Columbia, South Carolina, ($215) with the conference discount. Parking is free, and breakfast is not included. Reservation Link: https://www.graduatehotels.com/columbia-sc/#/booking/step-2?group=1479376&arrive=10%2F19%2F2023&depart=10%2F22%2F2023.
Hampton Inn Columbia Northeast-Fort Jackson Area 1551 Barbara Drive, Columbia, SC 29223 ($149), Booking link will be added here in due course (please note that this hotel is ca. 20min drive away from the conference venue).
For other hotel options close to the conference center - Russell House @USC - click here. The closest one is Courtyard by Marriott Columbia Downtown at USC, 630 Assembly St, Columbia, SC 29201, 0.33 mile (about $180).
Vista downtown area, 0.75 mile, Many restaurant options close by.
Downtown area, 0.75 mile, about $200. Many restaurant options.
You may find hotels/motels at a cheaper rate ($70 to 150) in other areas 4 to 8 miles away (West Columbia, Lexington, and Irmo) if you rent/own a car.
Breakfast and coffee:
Restaurants within walking distance:
Campus area:
Downtown Area:
Vista Area:
Five Points area:
CONFERENCE DINNER
tbc
AIRPORT
The local airport is Columbia Metropolitan Airport. Information about the airport can be found at the following link: https://flycae.com/ . When booking flights, the abbreviated airport nickname is CAE. It is a small airport.
Car rental services are available at the airport. Please book in advance. https://flycae.com/airport/ground-transportation/ Some hotels offer free shuttle pickup services from and to the airport. Please contact your hotel to confirm if they offer this service.
CONFERENCE SITE LOCATION
The conference is being held at the Russell House at University of South Carolina. The address is: 1400 Greene St, Columbia, SC 29208. More information about the building can be found here: https://sc.edu/about/offices_and_divisions/russell_house/about/index.php On the university map below, the building is located at the point of the arrow.
PARKING
For parking, Russell House recommends parking in the Bull Street Garage that is nearby. The address is:: 1400 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29208. (See map below)
Street parking is available on the campus as well but typically has a 2-hour maximum time frame. For street parking, you will want to use the free app called “passport.” You would make your payments via the app and will want to reserve your spot via the app every two hours (or whenever your time limit ends).
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS
Uber and Lyft are both available options. You will need to download these apps and can check out the prices for your destinations. You can use these services from/to the airport as well as for local transport during your stay. The prices vary based on time of day and available drivers. (Costs to or from airport can range as low as $15 or be as high as 30 for one-way). We recommend you compare both app prices.
Many taxi companies are also available in Columbia. Here is a list of several companies: https://www.yellowpages.com/columbia-sc/taxis
The Comet is a public bus transportation company. Information about prices and routes can be found at this information guide:
https://catchthecometsc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/The-COMET-Visitors-Travel-Guide.pdf
The Orbit is a downtown loop running every 30 minutes on weekdays from 7:15 a.m.–7:36 p.m. It runs by Sumter, Blossom, Assembly, and Richland Streets with stops by the State House and University of South Carolina. The map, infographic, and stop schedule for The Orbit can be found here.
Address: 701 Lady Street, suite C, Columbia, SC 29201
Orders will be taken and paid at the restaurant individually. Please see the menu: https://miyos.com/menu
Address: 401 Main St, Columbia, SC 29201-4147
Orders will be taken and paid at the restaurant individually. Please review the menu: https://californiadreaming.rest/location/Columbia-SC/
An international, multidisciplinary peer-reviewed journal which offers a highly visible, open access home for original research on bi/multilingual issues.