In late August, conference centre Jaarbeurs Media Plaza will fill with hundreds of scientists from all over the world: political scientists, social geographers, planners, sociologists, innovation experts and many other PhD students, professors and university staff. The topic: how can we improve and accelerate the sustainability transition? And what is our role as scientists in this? Do you only develop knowledge or are you also an active part of the solution? Time is running out and the gathered academics know that better than anyone.
For three days, it is all about exchanging knowledge, making new contacts and developing new ideas. The International Sustainability Transitions Conference is the annual meeting of STRN, the Sustainability Transitions Research Network, which brings together scientists from around the world. For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference is live again. "There was a great need to physically see each other again," said Adriaan van der Loos, network manager of STRN and in daily life attached to the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht University. "And we wanted to do that in the city, outside the academic setting of the Science Park. When we started preparations a year ago, the Jaarbeurs conference rooms soon caught our eye."
In late August, conference centre Jaarbeurs Media Plaza will fill with hundreds of scientists from all over the world: political scientists, social geographers, planners, sociologists, innovation experts and many other PhD students, professors and university staff. The topic: how can we improve and accelerate the sustainability transition? And what is our role as scientists in this? Do you only develop knowledge or are you also an active part of the solution? Time is running out and the gathered academics know that better than anyone.
The Polarzaal in conference centre Media Plaza was used as the plenary hall. "For me it really was a highlight," says Adriaan, "to suddenly stand on a stage in front of five hundred colleagues. The setting with the stage in the middle made it very intimate despite the large number of people. And we wanted that personal touch." Other rooms were used for workshops, paper presentations, 'speed talk sessions' and other interactive meetings.
In late August, conference centre Jaarbeurs Media Plaza will fill with hundreds of scientists from all over the world: political scientists, social geographers, planners, sociologists, innovation experts and many other PhD students, professors and university staff. The topic: how can we improve and accelerate the sustainability transition? And what is our role as scientists in this? Do you only develop knowledge or are you also an active part of the solution? Time is running out and the gathered academics know that better than anyone.
Responsibility and Reflexivity in Transitions was the theme of the conference. What is an equitable sustainability transition? Resources are running out, there is a climate crisis, energy security is declining; it affects society on all fronts, from food security to mobility. How do we divide the costs of the transition between rich and poor in the world? And do we as scientists only investigate the problems, or do we also work shoulder to shoulder on the solutions? In the programme, there is room for the conversation between science and politics - partly made possible by the Province of Utrecht. And a strong link is made between research processes in art forms and science. How can art and science reinforce each other? The collaboration between the two offers participants different perspectives, innovative ideas and knowledge deepening. Colleagues from Utrecht University's Urban Future Studios sketch future scenarios. It makes for a dynamic programme.
In late August, conference centre Jaarbeurs Media Plaza will fill with hundreds of scientists from all over the world: political scientists, social geographers, planners, sociologists, innovation experts and many other PhD students, professors and university staff. The topic: how can we improve and accelerate the sustainability transition? And what is our role as scientists in this? Do you only develop knowledge or are you also an active part of the solution? Time is running out and the gathered academics know that better than anyone.
"For the programme we did not turn our hand around, but it worked very pleasantly with Jaarbeurs in terms of practicality"
Adriaan: "We didn't turn our hand to the academic programme, but it was very pleasant to work with Jaarbeurs on the practical side. In the beginning it was a bit of a search - it seemed you needed an academic education to understand the offer properly - but once that was clear, it was very pleasant to communicate with Monique, our account manager. Technology, catering - only vega and vegan of course - it all ran perfectly. Of course, there are always little things that could be improved, soya milk and oat milk for the coffee machines for example, but we are very satisfied. In terms of cost, it was also quite manageable for the participants, comparable to what the conference cost them in previous years at other universities."
In late August, conference centre Jaarbeurs Media Plaza will fill with hundreds of scientists from all over the world: political scientists, social geographers, planners, sociologists, innovation experts and many other PhD students, professors and university staff. The topic: how can we improve and accelerate the sustainability transition? And what is our role as scientists in this? Do you only develop knowledge or are you also an active part of the solution? Time is running out and the gathered academics know that better than anyone.
Being right in the city was also a practical advantage for the organisers. "People didn't need taxis to get to and from their hotels. Many guests from Europe also came by train and that was totally convenient." Did Jaarbeurs 's own sustainability ambitions play another role in the choice of location? Adriaan: "Actually, we only found that out after we had already made the choice. But it's quite something to mention even more. I think our participants would have found that interesting. And it's definitely something Jaarbeurs can be proud of."
With a rich harvest of knowledge, fresh contacts and new ideas, the scientists from the Sustainability Transitions Research Network are now back at work. To, like Jaarbeurs, improve and accelerate the sustainability transition. There is no time to lose.
In late August, conference centre Jaarbeurs Media Plaza will fill with hundreds of scientists from all over the world: political scientists, social geographers, planners, sociologists, innovation experts and many other PhD students, professors and university staff. The topic: how can we improve and accelerate the sustainability transition? And what is our role as scientists in this? Do you only develop knowledge or are you also an active part of the solution? Time is running out and the gathered academics know that better than anyone.
Account and event manager Fleur
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In late August, conference centre Jaarbeurs Media Plaza will fill with hundreds of scientists from all over the world: political scientists, social geographers, planners, sociologists, innovation experts and many other PhD students, professors and university staff. The topic: how can we improve and accelerate the sustainability transition? And what is our role as scientists in this? Do you only develop knowledge or are you also an active part of the solution? Time is running out and the gathered academics know that better than anyone.
