About the Event
South Dakota State University will be hosting the Little Conference on Big Bioethics, September 17-19, 2026. The conference welcomes scholars interested in ethical issues as they emerge in or are related to theoretical and applied biological science, including work in medical ethics, genetic ethics, environmental ethics, ethics of biology and biotechnology, neuroethics, ethics of psychology, bioethics and law, experimental bioethics, and ethics-related work in philosophy of biology, philosophy of medicine, and philosophy of health.
The conference includes the Annual Bioethics Lecture, featuring Leslie Francis (University of Utah) on Friday, September 18.
The conference is located in beautiful Brookings, South Dakota, a small community 45 minutes north of Sioux Falls. Questions regarding the conference may be sent to Tony Smith at anthony.smith@sdstate.edu
Call for Papers
Conference information and the call for papers has been posted on PhilEvents.
Both paper and panel proposals are welcome. For full consideration, proposals for individual papers will consist of an anonymized abstract (500-1000 words) and a separate title page which includes the title of the proposed paper, author name(s), institution, and contact information for the lead author. Each paper presentation should be 20 minutes in length.
Panel proposals will include an anonymized abstract (500-1000 words) and a separate title page including the names and institutions of panelists and contact information for the panel organizer. Panels may consist of 3-5 members. Panel sessions will be 1.5 hours in length.
Undergraduate students are invited to submit abstracts for an undergraduate paper session. Undergraduate paper proposals should follow the same guidelines as those outlined for individual papers above.
Proposals are due May 31, 2026 and may be submitted here.
Conference Program
A draft conference program will be posted here at the beginning of September.
Registration
To register for the conference, you can click on the following link:
(Link Coming Soon)
Registration entitles conference attendees access to all events including the reception on Thursday evening, September 17. Plenary lecture events are free and open to the public.
Registration Fee
Regular Registration: $40.00
Undergraduate Students: Free
Registration Deadline
September 19, 2026
Parking and Conference Program
Information on parking and on the conference program will be forthcoming.
Lodging:
Below is a partial list of hotels in Brookings. Because there are often sporting and other recreational events occurring on any given week, individuals planning to attend are encouraged to book at their earliest convenience. A wide range of hotels and eating options are also available in Sioux Falls, a short 45 minute drive away.
Brookings Inn
Comfort Suites University
Country Inn & Suites
Econo Lodge Inn & Suites
Hampton Inn & Suites
Holiday Inn Express & Suites
My Place Hotel
Quality Inn
Super 8