Genes, Bodies, Civilizations:

Narrating Global Histories of Medicines

基因·身体·文明：全球医学史的多元叙事

The 4th Peking University International Conference on Health Humanities

Conference Announcement and Call for Papers

Hosted by

School of Health Humanities, Peking University

Guiding Committee of Medical Humanistic Quality and General Practice Teaching in Colleges and Universities of the Ministry of Education

Venue

Health Science Center, Peking University, Beijing

Dates

6–8 November 2026

As gene-editing technologies unlock the codes of life and artificial intelligence reshapes the boundaries of diagnosis and medical care, humanity has arrived at a historic turning point in the development of medical civilization. Amid the accelerating convergence of science, technology, and civilization, medicine is embracing unprecedented opportunities for advancement while simultaneously confronting complex challenges involving ethics, law, and cultural adaptation.

The year 2026 marks the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the discipline of the history of medicine at Peking University. At this landmark moment, the School of Health Humanities at Peking University warmly invites scholars, experts, and emerging researchers from around the world in medical humanities and related fields to join this international academic gathering, engage in meaningful dialogue, and collectively shape new directions for the future development of the discipline.

1. Conference Themes

Encouraged topics and themes include but are not limited to:

· The History of Medicine and Cross-Civilizational Exchange

· The Transnational Circulation and Localization of Medical and Pharmaceutical Knowledge

· Cultural Perspectives on the Body, Disease, and Medical Practices

· Theoretical and Methodological Innovations in the Medical Humanities

· The Development of Medical Humanities in the Digital Age

2. Early-Career Scholars Forum and Outstanding Paper Award

To support emerging scholars, the conference will feature an Early-Career Scholars Forum and confer an Outstanding Paper Award for Early-Career Scholars.

· Eligibility: Applicants must be no older than 35, born after 1 January 1991, and must be either currently enrolled postgraduate students or early-career faculty members.

· Submission requirements: Applicants should submit an original, unpublished paper of approximately 10,000 Chinese characters, or a comparable length in English. Papers may be submitted in either Chinese or English.

· Review process: Submissions will be evaluated by an expert committee appointed by the Conference Organizing Committee.

· Support for award recipients: Award recipients will receive a registration fee waiver and complimentary meals and accommodation during the conference. They will present their papers in the Early-Career Scholars Forum and receive comments from an expert panel. Selected papers may be recommended for publication.

3. Agenda/ Program Formats

· Keynote Lectures: Invited leading scholars from China and abroad

· Parallel Panels: Thematic sessions organized around the conference topics

· Early-Career Scholars Forum: Paper presentations with on-site commentary by an expert panel

· Round-table: Interdisciplinary dialogue across fields and approaches

4. Keynote Speakers (updating)

Jeremy A. Greene, Johns Hopkins University

Sanjoy Bhattacharya, University of Leeds

Xinzhong Yu, Nankai University

Yong’an Zhang, Shanghai University

Daqing Zhang, Peking University

Liping Guo, Peking University

5. Conference Languages

Chinese & English

6. Key Dates

· Registration and Abstract Submission: 31 July 2026

· Notification of Acceptance : 1 September 2026

· Full Papers Submitted to the Outstanding Paper Award: 15 September 2026

· On-site Registration: 6 November 2026

· Conference: 7–8 November 2026

7. Registration Fees

· The regular registration fee is RMB 1,200 per person.

· The registration fee for full-time students is RMB 600 per person. Valid student identification is required.

· Payment is due only after notification of acceptance or participation.

· Registration fees are waived for invited speakers, recipients of the Outstanding Paper Award, and Peking University faculty and students.

· Participants are responsible for their own travel, accommodation, and meals.

8. How to Register

Please complete the online registration form and provide the following information:

· Personal information

· Presentation information, including the title in both Chinese and English and an abstract of approximately 300 Chinese characters or a comparable length in English

Registration link: https://v.wjx.cn/vm/rLD5YDn.aspx

9. Contact Information

Academic Inquiries

Please use the following email subject line: Author Name + Paper Title

· Inquiries in Chinese : pkumedhum@163.com

· Inquiries in English : medhum@bjmu.edu.cn

Conference Logistics

Conference Secretariat, Ms Yin

Email: yin_2262@163.com

Telephone: +86 10 8280 2672

10. Suggested Accommodation

Vision Hotel Beijing 北京唯实国际文化交流中心

Datang Keyuan Hotel 北京大唐科苑宾馆

Peony Hotel(Mudanyuan Subway Station) 北京牡丹宾馆（牡丹园地铁站店）

Friendly reminder: Hotel rooms are in high demand during this period. We kindly encourage all participants to plan their travel early and secure their accommodations well in advance.