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6th International Conference for Sustainable Resource Society – ICS26

Challenges of sustainability transitions in society, environmental change, and sustainable use of natural resources.

Registration is closed

5^th– 6^th November 2026

UEF Joensuu campus

Download conference booklet here

ICS26 Conference Programme

The 6^th International Conference for Sustainable Resource Society ICS26

Restoration Futures: Sustainability Transitions, Nature Governance, and Transformative Innovations

The 6^th International Conference for Sustainable Resource Society ICS26 is a multi-disciplinary conference examining the drivers and counterforces of sustainability transitions, environmental change and governance, and transformative innovations in society. This year, the conference´s thematic focus is nature restoration.

ICS26 offers a platform for researchers across all scientific fields to share research insights and discuss how technological, social, institutional, and cultural innovations can be transformative – reshaping entire systems toward more sustainable, equitable, and resilient futures.

ICS26 is jointly organized by a consortium of University of Eastern Finland Research Communities: RESOURCE, WATER, FOBI, CLEHE, COMMIT, and PHOTONICS.

About the Conference

Call for Abstracts – ICS26

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
Open through 15th September 2026

We warmly invite paper or poster submissions covering the themes of sustainability transitions and transformative innovations; these are described in detail in the session descriptions. We especially welcome submissions that explore and discuss the ICS26 special theme:

Restoration Futures: Sustainability Transitions, Nature Governance, and Transformative Innovations

More information and abstract submission Call for abstracts ICS26

Conference Programme

***Download the full conference programme here***

Conference programme

Thu Nov 5th

8.00 Registration opens (Metria lobby)

10.00-11:30 Plenary: Keynote Speaker Timo Muotka, Professor of Aquatic Ecology, University of Oulu (Metria M100)

11:30-12:30 Lunch break (Campus restaurants: Aura, Carelia, Futura, Natura)

12:30-13:50 Parallel sessions I

- Session 1. Current research on forest economics, policy and foresight at UEF School of Forest Sciences (Metria M101)

- Session 2. Sufficiency and Justice in the Circular Economy (Metria M102)

- Session 3. Water Futures and Nature-Based Solutions in Social-Cultural-Ecological- Technological Systems (Metria M103)

- Session 4. Anthropogenic Air Pollution Sources, Impacts and Mitigation (Metria M106)

- Session 5. Data, Imaging and Technologies for Sustainability Transitions (Metria M107)

- Session 6. Bridging the Sustainability Intention Behavior Gap (Metria M108)

- Session 7. Governance, Policy and Institutional Change for Sustainability Transitions (Metria M305)

- Session 8. Circular Business Models, Ecosystems and Value Creation (Agora AG102)

- Session 9. Digitalization, Competencies and Sustainable Industrial Transformation (Agora AG104)

- Session 10. Energy, Mobility and Societal Sustainability Transitions (Agora AG201)

13:50-14:20 Coffee break (Metria lobby & Agora cafeteria)

14:20-15:50 Parallel sessions II

- Session 3 continues (Metria M103)

- Session 5 continues (Metria M107)

- Session 7 continues (Metria M305)

- Session 8 continues (Agora AG102)

- Session 9 continues (Agora AG104)

- Session 10 continues (Agora AG201)

- Session 11. Towards more sustainable land use planning – decision support in the changing operating environment (Metria M101)

- Session 12. Governing Sustainability Transitions: Institutions, Tensions and Accountability (Metria M102)

- Session 13. Circularity, Novel Technologies and the Green Transition (Metria M106)

- Session 14. The politics of the EU Nature Restoration Law (Metria M108)

16:00-18:00 Campus Tour (Start point for the tour, Metria lobby) & Poster session (Metria & Carelia lobbies)

19:00-22.00 Conference dinner, Sokos Hotel Kimmel (for registered conference participants)

Fri Nov 6th

8:00-10:00 Registration (Metria lobby)

8:30-10:00 Plenary: Keynote speaker Vadim Kononenko, EU Interinstitutional Relations and Strategic Foresight Expert, European Environment Agency (Metria M100)

10:20 -11:40 Parallel sessions III

- Session 15. Towards more sustainable land use planning – decision support in the changing operating environment (Metria M101)

- Session 16. Resource Justice, Participation and Place-Based Sustainability (Metria M102)

- Session 17. Circular Wastewater Systems for Sustainable Cities (Metria M103)

- Session 18. Natural Feedback Mechanisms and Climate Change (Metria M106)

Keynote Speakers

Day 1.

Timo Muotka

Professor of Aquatic Ecology, University of Oulu

Timo Muotka | Stream Ecology Research Group

Timo Muotka defended his doctoral thesis at University of Jyväskylä in 1994 and continued as an assistant professor in Jyväskylä until 2002. He then moved to SYKE Helsinki where he spent two years as a senior scientist before being appointed to a professorship in aquatic ecology at University of Oulu in 2004. He has published more than 200 peer-reviewed articles and supervised 29 PhD theses in various fields of freshwater biodiversity research. His current research focuses on (i) consequences of intensified land use on stream biodiversity and (ii) instream and catchment-scale restoration of stream and river ecosystems.

Day 2.

Vadim Kononenko

EU Interinstitutional Relations and Strategic Foresight Expert, European Environment Agency

Vadim Kononenko leads on strategic foresight at the European Environment Agency. In his work, he explores emerging trends, risks, and opportunities shaping Europe’s climate and environmental policies. His work spans a range of topics, supporting policy-makers navigating uncertainty through futures thinking, horizon scanning, and scenario development to deliver on environmental, social and economic sustainability and long-term resilience. Vadim worked previously at the European Parliament’s Research Service and the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. He was a senior visiting fellow at the Egmont Royal Institute in Brussels, and a visiting fellow at the International Institute for Security Studies.

Conference Registration

ICS26 Pre-event: The 3rd international PhD workshop on Sustainable Innovation in Business and Society

The 3rd international PhD workshop on Sustainable Innovation in Business and Society will be held on November 4, 2026.

***Registration for the Phd workshop is now closed***

The multidisciplinary PhD workshop is organized in collaboration between the UEF Research Center for Sustainable Circular Economy (CECE), Social Scientific Biosociety Research Network (SOBIO) and Sustainability Transformations doctoral education pilot (SuSTra).

More information:

International PhD Workshop on Sustainable Innovation in Business and Society – UEF Research Center for Sustainable Circular Economy

FAQ

Venue /Practical Information

Venue

ICS26 will be held at the Joensuu Campus of the University of Eastern Finland. Full venue details, including room locations and directions, will be published in due course.

Conference fee

There are no conference fees for conference participation. The conference dinner and evening event (maximum of 150 participants, potential waiting list) will be 10€/person.

Practical Information

Conference hotel accommodation 4.-6. November 2026

ICS26 has a set of hotel rooms reserved for attendees in Sokos Hotel Kimmel www.sokoshotels.fi or +358300870000 by using the code “BICS2026”. You can reserve a standard single room for 124€ per night and a standard double room for 144€ per night.

Contact conference organisers

Contact email: [email protected]