Conference on interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research for sustainable development
transit |
Sixth edition (2026): Building Regional and Global Thematic Transidisciplianry research communities
23-24 November 2026
Aula Magna, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
On 23rd and 24th November 2026, the sixth edition of the “Conference on Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Research for Sustainable Development" will be held in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
Call for contributions
We invite researchers from the nine Circle U. universities to submit their abstract by 15 September 2026.
Scientific contributions are invited from all fields of research. We welcome scientific contributions from researchers and their non-academic partners interested in interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research related to sustainable development.
We invite contributions in English from both
- Researchers already involved in inter / trans-disciplinary research, who present the results of their research or the methodological/ethical issues raised by this type of inter/trans-disciplinary research approach
- Researchers who are not yet involved in inter / trans-disciplinary research but who are preparing a research project or protocol, who present the key concepts and the methodology envisioned for their future research project
The conference is planned as a hybrid event with the possibility to present papers in-person or remotely.
Participation will take the form of an oral presentations of app. 10 minutes, plus time for discussions.
Check the full Call for abstracts Guidelines
Important Dates
- Abstract submission deadline: 15 September 2026
- Selection notification: October 2026
- Conference dates: 23-24 November 2026 (Presentations will take place on Tuesday 24 November 2026)
Links
Scope
Both interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches are increasingly required to address ecological and social transition challenges involving interdependent technical, economic or socio-cultural dimensions and a plurality of social actors at the level of society. These social actors include both actors from the NGOs, private enterprises, public administrations, non-university research institutions or engaged citizens. Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches mobilize specific disciplinary knowledge from all sectors of the university (Sciences and Technology, Social sciences and Humanities, Health Sciences), but they also attempt to integrate different types of knowledge through processes of co-construction of knowledge between researchers from different disciplines and social actors involved in transition initiatives.
Such research often requires specific support in terms of methodological tools, types of partnerships with social actors or visibility in academic journals and international conferences.
In this context, since 2021, UCLouvain has annually organized a “Conference on interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research for Sustainable Development” in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. This conference, initially centered around UCLouvain research teams and their extra-academic partners, quickly opened up to the partner universities of the European University Alliance Circle U. Since 2022, it has been co-organised with Circle U.
Scientific and organising committee
Organising committee
Prof. Marthe Nyssens (UCLouvain - Vice-rector “Transition et Society”)
Prof. Tom Dedeurwaerdere (UCLouvain - LPTransition)
Pierre Mersch (UCLouvain - Louvain4 Coordinator – Research Administration)
Scientific committee
Prof. Isabelle Aujoulat (UCLouvain –IRSS - Institut de Recherche Santé et Société)
Prof. Patricia Luis Alconero (UCLouvain – IMMC - Institute of Mechanics, Materials and Civil Engineering)
Prof. Mathieu Berger (UCLouvain – IACS - Institut d'analyse du changement dans l'histoire et les sociétés contemporaines)
Prof. Matteo Cacciari (Université Paris Cité) Prof. Vinicius De Carvalho (Kings College London)
Prof. Florence Degavre (UCLouvain – IACS - Institut d'analyse du changement dans l'histoire et les sociétés contemporaines)
Prof. Tom Dedeurwaerdere (UCLouvain -JURI - Institut pour la recherche interdisciplinaire en sciences juridiques)
Prof. Ulrike Felt (University of Vienna)
Prof. Julie Hermesse (UCLouvain – IACS - Institut d'analyse du changement dans l'histoire et les sociétés contemporaines)
Prof. Tommaso Luzzati (University of Pisa)
Prof. Patrick Meyfroidt (UCLouvain – ELI - Earth and Life Institute)
Prof. Ivan Mihajlovic (University of Belgrade)
Prof. Anaïs Perilleux (UCLouvain – LIDAM – Louvain Institute of Data Analysis and modeling in economics and statistics)
Prof. Daniela Perrotti (UCLouvain - LAB Louvain Research Institute for Landscape, Architecture and Built Environment SST/LOCI Faculty of Architecture, Architectural Engineering and Urban Planning)
Prof. Jean-Pierre Raskin (UCLouvain – ICTEAM - Institute for Information and Communication Technologies, Electronics and Applied Mathematics)
Prof. Laurent Taskin (UCLouvain – LOURIM - Louvain Research Institute in Management and Organizations)
Prof. Sandy Tubeuf (UCLouvain –IRSS - Institut de Recherche Santé et Société)
Prof. Martin Wagener (UCLouvain - IACS - Institut d'analyse du changement dans l'histoire et les sociétés contemporaines)