About the Journal

Call for Abstracts

It is time for a critical evaluation and way forward - we are the next generation of sustainability transition researchers who can bring in new ideas, methodological approaches and questions. Therefore, the umbrella theme of the next NEST conference is “Re-imagining transitions: beyond established methods and concepts”. 

We want to widen our horizons and perspectives by creating a space in which new concepts from different disciplines and schools of thought can play a role, in which established ways of knowing and doing get challenged. As transformations towards higher degrees of sustainability are of utmost importance and there is an urgent need for new concepts and practices to achieve just sustainability transitions, this can contribute to acceleration, diffusion, and the creation of alternatives. As such, the need for a variety of theories and approaches for spatially and temporally explicit change processes has never been greater.

With this in mind, we especially invite researchers and approaches that challenge the boundaries, ontologies and epistemologies of current state of the art through new approaches that can include (but are not limited to): arts and emotions, nexus-approaches involving complexity research, degrowth and transitions, just and inclusive transitions, more-than-human approaches, decolonizing approaches to transitions, new methods, co-design approaches and grassroots voices, etc. However, there will of course also be the option to submit abstracts with a more classical focus that address pressing issues in sustainability transitions. This includes, but is not limited to, understanding transitions; power, agency and politics; governing transitions; civil society, culture, and social movements; businesses and industries; transitions in practice and everyday life; geography of transitions; ethical aspects; and methodologies.

We want to emphasize that we are open for applications that challenge the prevailing order of scientific knowledge production and distribution on conferences via talks and presentations. Therefore, we intend to have additional sessions that allow for creative and innovative formats such as podcasts, videos, posters, science slams or whatever you can think of. We are also accepting applications for contributions to sessions in general if you would like to offer a workshop, panel discussion, or any other interesting format. If you are interested in such a format, you can submit your ideas via the abstract submission tool.

If you have any questions, please contact: nestconference2023@gmail.com 

Important Dates

  • Abstract submission: November 30, 2022 - February 15, 2023 
  • Notification of acceptance: March 31, 2023
  • Registration period: April 17 - May 15, 2023
  • Conference dates: June 30 - July 1, 2023

This year’s conference is hosted by the Leibniz-Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IOER) and the Dresden Leibniz Graduate School (DLGS) in Dresden