We are delighted to announce the recipients of IAFOR grants and scholarships for The 7th Barcelona Conference on Arts, Media & Culture (BAMC2026) to be held in Barcelona, Spain between November 05-09, 2026.
In total, we received 101 scholarship applications.
Launched in 2016, IAFOR’s grants and scholarships programme provides financial support to PhD students and early career academics, with the aim of helping them pursue research excellence and achieve their academic goals through interdisciplinary study and interaction.
Our warmest congratulations go to the following scholarship recipients.
IAFOR Scholarship Recipients
Lasya Aji Silpa, Appalachian State University, United States
Ayurvastram as First Skin: Herbal Textiles, Plant-Based Color, and Sustainable Fashion
Lasya Aji Silpa is currently serving as an Assistant Professor at Appalachian State University, where she brings a dynamic blend of academic, research, and design expertise. She holds a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Fashion Design and Creative Technology from the University of North Texas. Her research explores therapeutic clothing, herbal and aromatherapy textiles, sustainable design technologies, and bio-based fashion. Ms Silpa has presented her work at international conferences and exhibition galas, highlighting themes of sustainability, cultural symbolism, and innovation in fashion. She has extensive experience in teaching design and sewing courses, leading creative workshops, and utilising advanced technologies such as 3D printing and laser design. Her professional journey also includes roles as a lead designer and community art educator. She continues to mentor students and engage in interdisciplinary research that blends technology and art.
Cezara Mindrescu, University of Bucharest, Romania
Military Communication in the Age of Social Media: Strategy, Identity, and Public Engagement
Cezara Mihaela Mîndrescu is a PhD candidate in Communication Sciences at the University of Bucharest, Romania. Her research focuses on strategic communication, organisational communication, military communication, and institutional identity in digital environments. Her current doctoral project examines the online communication practices of military institutions, with a comparative focus on strategic communication and public engagement on social media platforms. Alongside her academic activity, she has professional experience in public sector communication, media relations, and digital communication management. Her interests also include strategic narratives, digital public spheres, institutional trust, and the impact of emerging technologies on public communication. She is a member of COST Action CA23129 – Peace Research Community Europe (PEACE) and the International Communication Association (ICA).
Minenhle Matela, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
Global Citizenship from the South in Rethinking Higher Education for Peace and Human Intelligence
Minenhle Matela is a PhD candidate in the School of Public Leadership at Stellenbosch University. She holds a Master of Management in Governance, specialising in Development and Economics, from the University of the Witwatersrand, an Honours degree in Social Work from the University of Johannesburg, and an Advanced Project Management qualification from the University of South Africa. She has also completed a Leadership Programme at the Johannesburg Business School. Professionally, she serves as a Researcher at the Southern African Policy and Development Nexus, and as Social Work Coordinator for psychosocial well-being at the Whitaker Peace and Development Initiative in Cape Town. Her academic and professional work spans development, public policy, governance, and social development, with experience across international, continental, regional, and local contexts. She has strong expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.
About IAFOR’s Grants and Scholarships
IAFOR is dedicated to helping young scholars achieve their research and academic goals, while also encouraging them to apply the principles of interdisciplinary study to their work. IAFOR offers travel and accommodation grants and full or partial scholarships covering conference registration fees to PhD students and early career academics who might not otherwise have the financial resources to be able to attend our academic conferences.
Awards are based on the appropriateness of the educational opportunity in relation to the applicant’s field of study, financial need, and contributions to their community and to IAFOR’s mission of interdisciplinarity. Scholarships will be awarded based on availability of funds from IAFOR and will vary with each conference. The Organising Committee of the relevant IAFOR conference will award scholarships to eligible applicants who have submitted exceptional abstracts that have passed the blind peer review process and been accepted for presentation at one of our conferences.
For further information on IAFOR grants and scholarships, please visit the Grants and Scholarships page of the IAFOR website.
2026 Grants and Scholarships
Grants and scholarships are still available for IAFOR conferences with open abstract submission deadlines. If you are eligible for an IAFOR grant or scholarship and would like to be considered, please submit your abstract to the conference you would like to attend and select the checkbox for the relevant award during the submission process.