We are excited to announce that the Call for Abstracts for the 16th International Sustainability Transitions (IST) Conference is officially open! The conference will take place from June 24 to June 26, 2025, in Lisbon, Portugal, hosted at ISCTE and IGOT.
Conference Theme: “The Tensions and Trade-offs in Structural Changes for Sustainability Transitions”
IST 2025 will focus on the critical tensions and trade-offs that arise in structural changes during sustainability transitions. The conference will bring together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to share insights, challenge perspectives, and explore pathways for transformative change.
Key Dates
- Abstract submissions open: January 10, 2025
- Deadline for abstract submissions: February 10, 2025 (23:59 GMT)
- Notification of decisions: March 16, 2025
- Registration opens: April 1, 2025
- Registration closes: June 1, 2025
- Full paper submission deadline: June 1, 2025
Submission Tracks
This year, we invite submissions across the following 10 tracks:
- Tensions and Conflicts in the Structural Change for Sustainability Transitions
- New Conceptual Understandings of Transitions
- Tensions and Trade-offs in Methods for Sustainability Research
- Societal Aspects of Sustainability Transitions: Social Acceptance, Justice, and Global South Perspectives
- Multi-system Dynamics in Sustainability Transitions
- Actors in Accelerating Transitions: Empirical Research Investigating Policy Makers, Business, Society, and Academia
- Governing Destabilization and Discontinuation: Tensions, Trade-offs, and Conflicts
- The Geography of Sustainability Transitions
- Imagining and Enacting Urban Futures: From Visioning to Sustainability Labs and Beyond
- Civil Society, Culture, and Social Movements in Transitions
Submission Types
Participants can choose from three submission types:
- Full Papers: For advanced research, authors will present in standard 90-minute sessions, with 20-25 minutes allocated per paper, including feedback and discussion. Full papers must be submitted by June 1, 2025.
- Speed Talks: A great option for early-stage work or emerging ideas. Presenters will have 5 minutes to share their research, followed by a brief Q&A. Submission of a full paper is not required for speed talks.
- Posters: Visual presentations of research will be displayed for one full day, with designated sessions for interactive discussions with participants. Presenters are expected to bring their own posters.
Abstract Submission Requirements
- Deadline: February 10, 2025, 23:59 GMT
- Length: Maximum 700 words (including references)
- Content: Abstracts should clearly outline key research questions, theoretical frameworks, methods, findings, and implications.
- Relevance: If submitting to a specific track, include a brief description of how your contribution aligns with the track’s theme.
- Preferred Session Format: Indicate whether you prefer to present a full paper, speed talk, or poster.
We look forward to receiving your contributions and to welcoming you to Lisbon for an inspiring conference!