UERA Conference 2026 “Urban Transformation in a New Geopolitical Era? Nexus Thinking in Energy, Food, Ecological and Mobility Transition”

UERA Conference 2026 : “Urban Transformation in a New Geopolitical Era? Nexus Thinking in Energy, Food, Ecological and Mobility Transition”

Strasbourg (France)

About the conference

We are honored to welcome you to the UERA Conference 2026 “Urban Transformation in a New Geopolitical Era? Nexus Thinking in Energy, Food, Ecological and Mobility Transition”. This international conference is organized by the Urban Europe Research Alliance (UERA) and hosted by the Institute for Urbanism and Regional Development (IUAR), the research unit Societies, Actors and Government in Europe (SAGE) and the Interdisciplinary thematic institute MAKErS – Making European Society, at the University of Strasbourg.

Join us from February 4 to 6, 2026, in Strasbourg, France, on central campus!

Energy, food and ecological system transitions are linked to climate and social issues, as the consequences of rising greenhouse gases and fossil fuel-related use have become the calling card of the Anthropocene, and social conflicts and democratic crises are on the rise. Although the call for climate action has become an urgent priority among policymakers, economic actors, NGOs and citizens, an obvious paradox remains. On the one hand, thinking about and through the Anthropocene, which directly associates a geological era with a human civilization, includes calls for global change that articulate a critique of contemporary urban societies with projections towards a different, imagined way of doing things. Sustainable urban transition is not seen here as a simple shift from one situation (A) to a supposedly better situation (B). Instead, it is conceived as the ability to actively engage with socio-spatial environments based on specific transformative capacities and capabilities. The UERA conference will be of particular interest to scholars interested in systemic perspectives that go beyond mere command and control or dependence on a fixed set of normative frameworks.

Sustainable urban transition is not seen here as a simple transition from one situation (A) to a supposedly better situation (B). Instead, it is conceived as the ability to actively engage with socio-spatial environments on the foundation of specific transformative skills and abilities.

The move towards nexus thinking in energy, food and environmental transitions is therefore opportune at a time of uncertainty and geopolitical change, where EU policies and actions in local and urban contexts depend strongly on national and regional levels. In this context, energy and food can be seen as processes of sustainable urban transition and urban making, revealing the interdependencies between the city, its peripheries and rural areas. This is one key aspect the UERA 2026 International Conference in Strasbourg aims to promote by linking and discussing the systemic dimension of sustainable urban transitions and actions.

The UERA Conference seeks to connect scholars and researchers with an interest in creating innovative strategies and future pathways for addressing systemic transformations that link energy, food and ecological changes to sustainable and inclusive urban futures. This conference serves as a transdisciplinary platform for sharing case studies and frameworks that can inspire new nexus thinking for equitable urban and territorial futures.

The UERA conference will focus on key interdisciplinary themes connected to socio-spatial dynamics between central and peripheral areas, as well as urban and rural contexts. It will also explore the transformative effects of technology and human-centered processes for urban sustainability transition with a focus on food, energy and ecological transformation. In this context, urbanization processes will be analyzed as both potential threats and opportunities for positive change.

In accordance with the UERA Thematic working groups, key themes are expected to include circular urban regenerative economies, sustainability and resilience, accessibility and connectivity, urban governance and participation, as well as energy transition and human-centered smart cities, all geared towards shaping systemic sustainable and just urban and territorial transitions in Europe. We look forward to exploring these fundamental topics together!

In connection with these recurring themes, specifically for the 2026 Conference, potential research directions include but are not limited to:

Urban transformation and system approaches
Food/energy nexus
Social relationships and resources exchange and management between urban and rural areas
Local governance of sustainable food supply chains
Interdependencies and tensions between the energy transition and the ecological transition of cities and regions
Environmental communication challenges.

Call for abstract

We invite researchers and scholars from various fields in social sciences, humanities, technology and transition studies to join us in new frames, analyses and methodologies, comparative research and case studies.

Abstracts for oral presentations or posters (300–500 words) must articulate their connection to the conference themes, delineating the rationale, objectives, methodologies employed, and validation through relevant case studies (if applicable) as well as key findings. Authors are required to indicate their preferred mode of presentation (oral or poster). It is mandatory for at least one author to be present in person during the presentation.

The conference will include Driving Urban Transitions (DUT) scoping and DUT knowledge hub workshops.

A publication opportunity for top selected papers is offered by Springer in partnership with UERA, in the dedicated series Springer Proceedings in Geography and Sustainability / Proceedings of the Urban Europe Research Alliance.

Deadline for submitting abstracts on the Sciencesconf platform : 6th of October 2025

Reply to authors by 3rd of November 2025

Provisional programme overview

UERA Conference 2026, Strasbourg – 4–6 February 2026

Urban Transformation in a New Geopolitical Era? Nexus Thinking in Energy, Food, Ecological and Mobility Transition

Day 1 – 4th of February

Research Alliances for Nexus Thinking in Energy, Food, Ecological and Mobilty Transition

9:30–11:00 European policy-research interaction: pathways of collaboration for Urban Ecological Transformation (with research institutions/partners / and Keynotes)

11:00–11:30 Coffee break and networking

11:30–13:00 DUT Knowledge hubs

13:00–14:15 Lunch buffet

14:15–17:30 DUT Scientific consultation workshop

Day 2 – 5th of February

UERA Open Conference 2026: Urban Transformation in a New Geopolitical Era? Nexus Thinking in Energy, Food, Ecological and Mobility Transition

9:10–9:30 Introduction (Unistra, UERA)

9:30–10:45 Key Notes and discussion (2 presentations)

10:45–11:15 Coffee break and informal exchange

11:15–12:45 Paper session 1 (3 topics/rooms in parallel, 4x3 = up to 12 presentations)

12:45–14:00 Lunch buffet and Poster session

14:00–15:30 Paper session 2 (3 topics/rooms in parallel, 4x3 = up to 12 presentations)

15:30–16:00 Coffee break and informal exchange

16:00–17:30 Paper session 3 (3 topics/rooms in parallel, 4x3 = up to 12 presentations)

17:30 : Round table

Day 3 – 6th of February

UERA General Assembly 2026 (hybrid)

09:15–10:30 Presentation of working group activities (in parallel) and future overview

10:30–13:00 Discussion on given topic:

Presentation of new members
Election of new members
Action points
New Editorial initiatives
Call for Papers deadlines
UERA Conference 2027 proposals – Topic, location, institutions involved

13:00–14:00 Lunch buffet and Farewell

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