Join us for the 2026 ASIS&T Annual Meeting in Bangkok!

 Dear friends, colleagues, and boundary-crossers,

Sawasdee ka from Bangkok! On behalf of the conference program committee, it is our absolute joy and honor to invite you to the 89th Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T) Annual Meeting — our first ever in Asia. After months of planning, anticipation, and more than a few excited chats about where to find the best pad thai, we are eager to come together in one of the world’s most vibrant and bustling capitals.

Bangkok is a city where a long history coexists with contemporary trends: ancient temples stand peacefully beside towering skyscrapers, rustic tuk-tuks zip past sleek sky trains, and the scent of lemongrass mingles with the beeps of digital innovation. It’s a place where information doesn’t just flow, it thrives, in alleys and museums, in markets and libraries. More than that, Bangkok, and Thailand as a whole, warmly embraces diversity in all its forms, creating a natural home for the global, cross-cultural dialogue we hope to foster. And what better setting to explore our theme, “Crossing Boundaries: Advancing Global Dialogue and Well-being through Information Research and Practice”?

This year, we are reflecting deeply on the true meaning of “crossing boundaries” — not only geographical borders, but also the invisible lines between disciplines, languages, institutions, values, and worldviews. From political polarization to the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, our societies are facing real and urgent challenges. But the good news is that information science has never been better positioned to help. Whether through preserving cultural memory, designing equitable access, or building knowledge infrastructures that actually serve people, we possess both the tools and the heart to make a difference. And here in Bangkok, we will explore together the paths to achieving this goal.

We will kick off the event with a highly anticipated opening plenary session. Tavida Kamolvej, former Deputy Governor of Bangkok, and disaster risk management expert, will join us to speak on “Disaster Governance in the Data Driven City.” Dr. Kamolvej has led public health and emergency response efforts serving people, served as a consultant for the United Nations and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Locally, she has been a developer and evaluator for the Public and Private Chief Innovation Leadership Program at Thailand’s National Innovation Agency. Her talk promises to be equal parts inspiring and practical, weaving together data curation, decision-making, information resilience, and human value. Trust me, this is a talk you won’t want to miss.

And because we love a good intellectual exchange, our closing plenary will once again take the form of a lively debate, just like last year, but with a fresh and fascinating topic that we will be announcing soon. Expect sharp arguments, good-natured clashes, and perhaps a few surprises. Stay tuned!

None of this would be possible without the extraordinary dedication of our Program Committee. Thanks to paper chairs Dania Bilal and Maja Krtalić, poster chairs Chang Liu and Shijie Song, panels & alternative events chairs Lingzi Hong and Sue Yeon Syn, doctoral colloquium co-chairs Denise Agosto and Africa Hands, and early career colloquium co-chairs Mega Subramaniam and Diane Kelly. A very special thanks to Songphan Choemprayong for his invaluable advice and warm local support. You are the backbone of this meeting.

We look forward to hosting this important and exciting conference in Bangkok. We hope to see you there!

Warm regards,

Yuxiang (Chris) Zhao, Conference Chair

Annie T. Chen, Conference Vice-Chair