Conference news

Call for Contributions to Special Issue on Stakeholder Engagement

13-11-2024

We are excited to announce a Call for Submissions for a Special Issue titled “Stakeholder Engagement in Advancing Just and Inclusive Sustainability Transformations.” This Special Issue aims to extend the rich discussions from the WCSG Conference 2024, moving beyond the question “Can sustainability transformation be governed?” to explore “How can meaningful stakeholder engagement ensure just and inclusive sustainability transformations?”

Submission Details

We invite conference participants to contribute to this effort by submitting abstracts of up to 700 words, accompanied by a title and 5-6 keywords that encapsulate the core themes of your work. Submissions should align with one of the following two thematic areas:

1. Paradigms in Sustainability Governance
   What dominant paradigms shape sustainability governance solutions?
   What counter-paradigms (e.g., feminist, indigenous, more-than-human) challenge these paradigms?
   How do power structures and epistemic hierarchies influence governance practices?
2. Actors, Practices, and Institutions
   Who are the key actors driving just and inclusive sustainability transformations?
   What practices enable or hinder such transformations?
   What institutions shape and are shaped by these processes?

Submission Guidelines

Submissions should include 1) Title, 2) An abstract (max. length: 700 words), and 3) 5-6 keywords. In order to submit, please send the aforementioned information to Dr. Lena Uvarova with "Sustainability Conference Special Issue Submission"
The submission deadline is February 1st, 2025.

Journal Consideration

Several potential journals are being considered for hosting this Special Issue, offering an exciting opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in transformative sustainability governance.

We look forward to your valuable contributions, which will help deepen our collective understanding of how to advance equitable and sustainable futures through meaningful stakeholder engagement.

For more information, please take a look at our Call for Submissions.

Book of Abstracts and updated Conference Programme online

With the WCSG Conference Governing Sustainability Transformations only one week away, we're happy to share the book of abstracts and updated conference programme with you.
Please see the links below.

WCSG Conference Book of Abstracts

WCSG Conference Programme

Announcing Panelists for Plenary Roundtable on Justice, Decolonization, and More-than-Human Relationships

We are excited to announce the panelists for our upcoming plenary roundtable discussion on October 17th about justice, decolonization, and more-than-human relationships. This critical discussion will explore how to ensure that sustainable transformations are just, inclusive, and sensitive to the values, needs, and histories of all actors—human and non-human alike. The roundtable will also examine the role of knowledge institutions, such as universities, and the urgent actions required from both governmental and non-governmental actors.

Our esteemed panelists include:

• Sophie Koers,
  Executive Director of The Broker, a knowledge-brokering organization
  committed to fostering sustainable, inclusive societies and redefining
  the role of knowledge in global challenges.
• Dr. Esha Shah,
  lecturer at Wageningen University and feminist scholar, focusing on
  development, technology, and social and environmental justice movements.
• Danielle van Oijen, Programme Coordinator Forests at Friends of the Earth Netherlands, leading efforts to stop land grabs and deforestation.
• Dr. Laura Burgers,
  assistant professor at the Amsterdam Centre for Transformative Private
  Law (ACT), researching climate litigation and the rights of nature.

This is in addition to Dr. Farhana Sultana, previously announced.

The plenary will be livestreamed. You can join the discussion on October 17th from 15:30 until 17:00 via this link.

Practical information and guidelines online

With the WCSG Conference 2024 just around the corner, we’re excited to share important updates and resources to help you prepare for a smooth and enjoyable experience.

1. Practical Information

We’ve put together a Practical Information Guide with essential details to help you plan your trip, including:

• Hotels in Wageningen
• Restaurants and bars for enjoying your evenings

2. Session and presentation Guidelines

For those of you who will be chairing or presenting in a session, we have prepared a set of Presentation Guidelines to ensure that your sessions run smoothly. This includes:

• Guidelines for paper presenters
• Guidelines for poster presenters
• Guidelines for session organizers and session chairs

3. Sign-Up for Conference Dinner, Friday Transport, and Walking Tours We also kindly ask that you complete the following sign-up sheet to let us know your preferences for the upcoming activities, which are all included in the conference fee:

• Conference dinner (October 16th) – Indicate if you will attend.
• 
  Bus to the Leeuwenborch (October 18th) – Let us know if you plan to use
  the bus service from Hotel Wageningsche Berg to the conference
  location.
• Walking tours (October 18th) – Express interest in joining one of the tours.

Even if you do not wish to participate in these activities, we kindly ask that you fill out the form to assist with our logistics planning. You can access the sign-up sheet here.

A new (slightly) updated program is available on the website (see the "Conference Programme" button). Next week, we will be sharing the final program and book of abstracts, stay tuned!

If you have any questions or need further assistance, don’t hesitate to contact us at wcsgconference2024@wur.nl. We’re looking forward to welcoming you to Wageningen and making the WCSG Conference 2024 a memorable and impactful event.

Keynote speaker announcement: Prof. Ortwin Renn

10-07-2024

We are delighted to announce Prof. Ortwin Renn as a keynote speaker for the Wageningen Centre of Sustainability Governance conference on Governing Sustainability Transformations. He will join us at our plenary opening on October 16th as well as the session Risk Governance in Sustainability Transformations organized by Dr. Johanna Koehler of the Public Administration and Policy group.

Prof. Renn is a distinguished social scientist specializing in risk governance. He is Professor Emeritus for Environmental Sociology and Technology Assessment at the University of Stuttgart and recently retired as Scientific Director at the International Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) in Potsdam. He also directs DIALOGIK, a research institute focused on communication and participation processes.

His academic affiliations include Adjunct Professor at Stavanger University, Honorary Professor at the Technical University Munich, and Affiliate Professor at Beijing Normal University. Prof. Renn's research encompasses risk governance, stakeholder involvement in environmental decision-making, and sustainable development.

Prof. Renn holds a Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Cologne and has held prestigious positions at institutions such as Clark University, the Swiss Institute of Technology, and the Center of Technology Assessment. His accolades include the National Cross of Merit Order, honorary doctorates, and the Order of Merit from the State of Baden-Württemberg.

Join us to gain insights from Prof. Renn’s extensive expertise in risk governance and sustainability.

Keynote speaker announcement: Dr. Farhana Sultana

09-07-2024

We are thrilled to announce Dr. Farhana Sultana will join us online as a keynote speaker for the Wageningen Centre of Sustainability Governance conference on Governing Sustainability Transformations. Dr. Sultana will introduce our plenary round-table debate on October 17th.

Dr. Farhana Sultana is a Professor in the Department of Geography and the Environment at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs of Syracuse University, where she is also the Research Director for Environmental Collaboration and Conflicts at the Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflicts and Collaboration (PARCC).

An internationally recognized and award-winning interdisciplinary scholar, Dr. Sultana’s work encompasses political ecology, water governance, climate change, social and environmental justice, decolonizing knowledge, and transnational feminisms. Her research and scholar activism is informed by her diverse experiences across three continents and her background in natural sciences, social sciences, and policy.

Before joining Syracuse, Prof. Sultana taught at King’s College London and worked with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). She has authored numerous publications, including the books “The Right to Water: Politics, Governance and Social Struggles” (2012), “Eating, Drinking: Surviving” (2016), and “Water Politics: Governance, Justice, and the Right to Water” (2020). Prof. Sultana graduated Cum Laude from Princeton University and holds a Master’s and Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Minnesota, where she was a MacArthur Foundation Fellow.

In 2019, she received the Glenda Laws Award from the American Association of Geographers for her outstanding contributions to geographic research on social issues.

Call for student volunteers: Explore Sustainability Governance

28-06-2024

Are you a Master's student who is passionate about sustainability, governance, and making a difference in the world? Here's a unique opportunity for you to get involved and be a part of the upcoming WCSG Conference 2024! We are bringing together leaders and scholars from around the world. To ensure the success of this event, we are seeking enthusiastic and dedicated master's students to join us as volunteers. 

Why Volunteer? 

Volunteering at the WCSG Conference 2024 offers an invaluable experience where you can: 

• Free Participation: Be a part of a transformative conference addressing pressing global challenges  
• Network: Connect with experts and professionals in sustainability governance.
• Learn: Gain insights into the latest research and discussions in the field. 
• Experience: Get hands-on experience in event management and organization. 

Volunteer Roles May Include:

In the week before the conference, you will be expected to participate in a volunteer assistant information session (approx. 1 hour). 

• Assisting with registration and check-in
• Providing information to attendees 
• Supporting speakers and presenters
• Helping with session logistics 
• Summarizing sessions via note taking 
• Supporting the evening event 
• Supporting the Wageningen guided walking tour 
• And more based on your interests and skills! 

We expect you to volunteer on one of the three days of the conference, in exchange you will be able to attend the other two days of the conference. 

How to Apply: 

If you're interested in volunteering, please fill out the volunteer application form here by August 31st. 

For more information about the conference, visit the WCSG Conference 2024 website. 

Your contribution as a volunteer will not only enrich your learning experience but also play a vital role in the success of this conference. 

Thank you for considering this opportunity to be a part of WCSG Conference 2024. We look forward to welcoming you to this exciting event!