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NCA/AFA Summer Conference
on Argumentation
Mountain View

Our Conference

The NCA/AFA Summer Conference on Argumentation is held biennially in the mountains above Salt Lake City. Co-sponsored by the National Communication Association, the American Forensic Association, the Conference brings together a group of international scholars interested in all aspects of argument. The conference strives to provide three days of programs and exchanges to further research in argumentation. The Director and associates select and edit the most significant research presented for a volume published by the Taylor and Francis Group. The conference, often known as "the Alta Conference" is the oldest continuous academic conference in argumentation study, first held in 1979.

Alta 2025 Theme: Arguing Democracy  

July 31-Aug 2, 2025, Cliff Lodge, Snowbird UT
Ronald Walter Greene, Director

Congratulations to our 2025 Award Winners:

Malcolm Sillars Distinguished Argumentation Scholar:                       Marilyn Young, Florida State University
McGee Outstanding Graduate Student Research Award:                            Brooke Hubsch, Penn State University

2025 Conference

Our 22nd conference was held July 31-August 3, 2025, at the Snowbird Conference Complex in Alta UT. Ronald Greene of the University of Minnesota was Director of the Conference.

Past Research

An edited volume based in our research is published biennially by Routledge and the Taylor and Francis Group. Many past volumes are still available through Routledge or our sponsors. Search capabilities and essays from past volumes are available in "Communication and Mass Media Complete," a product of EBSCO. A comprehensive Table of Contents for all past conferences is available on this website.

Awarding Excellence

At the Conference we recognize achievement in argumentation research with the Malcolm Sillars Distinguished Argumentation Scholar Award for lifetime achievement, and the Michael C. McGee Award for the outstanding graduate student research. We also recognize our past Directors and Keynote Speakers.

Organization

The Alta Conference is conducted for the sponsors through an ongoing organizational structure.

2025 Conference: Alta, Utah | July 31-August 3, 2025
AFA
American
Forensics
Association
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 Last Updated August 17, 2025