Sites, Simulations and Stories: Shaping Holocaust Memory Across Generations

December 6 & 7, 2025

The Ackerman Center for Holocaust Studies at The University of Texas at Dallas, invites proposals for its 2025 International eConference on Holocaust Studies. This multidisciplinary conference Sites, Simulations and Stories: Shaping Holocaust Memory Across Generations will bring together scholars, educators, and creators from all over the world to examine the evolving modes of Holocaust remembrance through the lens of presence, authenticity and mediation.

As the distance from the historical events of the Holocaust continues to widen, the divide between authentic and mediated memory becomes increasingly significant. In the absence of living survivors, replicas—ranging from digital reconstructions and virtual museum tours to immersive exhibitions—are becoming central to how the Holocaust is remembered and transmitted. These forms of mediated engagement tend to reshape the emotional, educational, and ethical dimensions of remembrance. While virtual experiences of Holocaust museums have expanded access to Holocaust history, they also raise critical issues about authenticity, interpretation, and the sensory limitations of digital/mediated memory. As replicas increasingly substitute for direct experience with original testimony, sites or artifacts, it is essential to reflect on their role in preserving historical truth, fostering empathy, and shaping collective memory.

We invite papers that address these critical issues, and welcome submissions from a range of disciplines that include but not limited to history, sociology, psychology, education, literature, philosophy and digital culture.

With the conference hosted online, attendees can engage in rich scholarly exchange from the comfort of their own space without logistical concerns of travel and lodging.

Submission Deadline– 15 October 2025

Notification of Acceptance letters– 1 November 2025

Please submit proposals by email to mehak.burza@utdallas.edu with the subject line “Proposal.” The email should contain a 300-word abstract proposal (including the title), your short CV, and a headshot in a single file (Word or PDF) by the submission deadline of October 15, 2025.

Conference Committee

For all inquiries related to the eConference, please reach out to Dr. Mehak Burza at mehak.burza@utdallas.edu