Conference on interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research for sustainable development
transit |
Fifth edition (2025): Integration scientific knowledge and producing actionable scientific knowledge through interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research
Friday 21 November 2025
Aula Magna, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
On 21st November 2025, the fifth edition of the “Conference on Interdisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Research for Sustainable Development" will be held in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
Call for abstracts for researchers from Circle U. Universities
We invite researchers from the nine Circle U. universities to submit their abstract by 15 September 2025.
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
- 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 can take the form of:
- Oral presentations
- Poster presentations (only possible on-site)
Check the full call text at: Call for abstracts - full text
Important Dates
- Abstract submission deadline: 15 September 2025
- Selection notification: October 2025
- Conference date: 21 November 2025
Links
- Call for abstracts – full text
- Submit an abstract
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)