Stage 1 – Pre-Screen

The initial stage is a simple Expression of Interest (EOI) to determine which members are interested in hosting the conference prior to initiating the full application process.

Requirements

• ISCN member

EOI Submission

If interested, please complete this very short Expression of Interest form by Friday, November 21, 2025.

Stage 2 – Full Application

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete an application with more detailed questions.

Host Requirements

• Commitment from senior leadership of the institution to host the conference
• Institution has experience in hosting an international conference (of 100-150 people or larger)
• Identified coordinator who is responsible for conference planning and management
• Support team with financial and in-kind resources necessary to manage the conference process
•  representative of the university will attend 2026 ISCN Conference in Cape Town

Preferred

• A representative of the university has attended an ISCN conference
• A senior university leader who will act as conference chair
• Venues and facilities that exemplify sustainability principles and design
• A plan to incorporate innovative conference design and delivery methods

Roles and Responsibilities (to be confirmed with the selected host)

ISCN is responsible for:

• Overall conference planning framework
• Website
• Registration
• Budget

Conference hosts are responsible for:

• Venues
• Catering
• Planning local tours and events
• Cultural programming
• Transportation (if required)
• Audio visual and IT support
• Other logistics

ISCN and hosts to collaborate on:

• Keynote speakers
• Sponsorships
• Program development
• Engagement with external partners

Process and Timeline

2025

November

• Pre-screen submission deadline: Friday, November 21, 2025

December

• Review and evaluation by ISCN Secretariat and Advisory Committee
• Shortlisted candidates contacted for more detailed submission

2026

February 

• Full submissions deadline: Friday, February 6, 2026
• Final decision by ISCN Board
• Successful applicant advised

April

• Announcement of 2028 ISCN Conference Host at the 18^th ISCN Conference in Cape Town

June

• Conference planning kick-off

The post Expression of Interest: Host the 2028 ISCN Conference appeared first on ISCN.

The post Universidad y Biodiversidad (Seminaro virtual en Español) appeared first on ISCN.

Register

In April this year, VU Amsterdam hosted the final Fossil-Free Dialogue and celebrated the signing of the new fossil-free research framework. This session was the culmination of a comprehensive process that began with the landmark decision to no longer enter research partnerships with companies in the fossil fuel industry not complying with the Paris Agreement, after an extensive consultation process with the VU community. VU became the second university in the world to stop research collaborations with companies of the fossil fuel industry, unless certain criteria are met.

Cutting ties with the fossil fuel sector is a multifaceted and complex process. VU Amsterdam made the first transformative step in this journey by focusing on its research domain. This SDG Academy delves into the topic of fossil fuel severance as a university, following the journey of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and will open with a comprehensive overview of the current landscape of Dutch universities, delivered by Dr.–Ing. Aaron Pereira, co-founder at Solid Sustainability Research. Afterwards, the fossil free journey of VU Amsterdam will be discussed, with insights from key contributors to the process:

• Dr. Mathieu Blondeel, Assistant Professor at IVM and Climate Expertise Centre expert
• Prof. Marjan Hofkes, Professor at the School of Business and Economics of VU Amsterdam and chair of the Central Committee for Fossil-Free Research
• Prof. Philipp Pattberg, Director of the Amsterdam Sustainability Institute (ASI) and Professor of transnational environmental governance and policy at the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) of VU Amsterdam

The session will close with an interactive Q&A segment, with input from the audience.

This event is open for anyone interested in the process of cutting ties with the fossil fuel sector, with a particular relevance for university staff, and sustainability officers.

Programme

16:00 Welcome by Prof. Philipp Pattberg

16:05 University landscape in the Netherlands by Dr.–Ing. Aaron Pereira

16:15 The journey of VU since the divestment decision by Dr. Mathieu Blondeel

16:25 The development of the VU Framework on Fossil Free Research by Prof. Marjan Hofkes

16:35 Q&A with inputs from the audience moderated by Paulina Raniecka, ASI Communications Coordinator

The post How to go fossil free? The journey of VU Amsterdam appeared first on ISCN.

Host Requirements

• ISCN member
• Commitment from senior leadership of the institution to host the conference
• Institution has experience in hosting an international conference (of 100-150 people or larger)
• Identified coordinator who is responsible for conference planning and management
• Support team with financial and in-kind resources necessary to manage the conference process

Preferred

• A representative of the university has attended an ISCN conference
• A senior university leader who will act as conference chair
• Venues and facilities that exemplify sustainability principles and design
• A plan to incorporate innovative conference design and delivery methods

Roles and Responsibilities (to be confirmed with the selected host)

ISCN is responsible for:

• Overall conference planning framework
• Website
• Registration
• Main program development
• Budget

Conference hosts are responsible for:

• Venues
• Catering
• Planning local tours and events
• Cultural programming
• Transportation (if required)
• Audio visual and IT support
• Other logistics

ISCN and hosts to collaborate on:

• Keynote speakers
• Sponsorships
• Session design
• Engagement with external partners

Process and Timeline

2024
September: Submission deadline
October:

• Review and evaluation by ISCN Secretariat (clarification requested as needed)
• Shortlist candidates for more detailed discussion

November: Final decision by ISCN Board
December: Conference Host for 2026 announced

2025
January: Conference planning kickoff and timeline with key milestones confirmed

2026
June: 18^th ISCN Conference

EOI Submission

If interested, please complete the Expression of Interest form by no later than Friday, September 27, 2024.

The post Expression of Interest: Host the 2026 ISCN Conference appeared first on ISCN.

ISCN 2024 UTAS Webinar – Embodied carbon presentation

Date: May 28 / May 29 (Asia, Oceania)

Time:
Australia (AEST): 7-8:15am May 29
Pacific Daylight Time (PDT): 2-3:15pm May 28
Eastern Daylight Time (EDT): 5-6:15pm May 28

Check the start time in your time zone and download a calendar link for this event.

Details: 

Together, building operations and construction now account for nearly 40% of global energy-related CO2 emissions (UNEP 2021).  The University of Tasmania is undertaking a $750+m redevelopment of our campuses in Tasmania and New South Wales.  Given our world leading Times Higher Education Impact #1 ranking for Climate Action, Carbon Neutral certification (one of three certified carbon neutral Australian universities), and being a Race to Zero signatory, we have worked to minimise embodied carbon in our building efforts. Our Emissions Reduction Strategic Plan 2022-2030 requires a minimum 50% reduction in gross emissions across all three scopes.

Our Facilities, Sustainability and Finance staff co-designed an approach to align our environmental and financial sustainability goals through innovative financing approach – our Green Bond Framework. The funding received allowed us to avoid 13,527 tCO2e across five projects at the end of 2023, averaging upfront carbon reductions of over 34% for new builds and over 60% for re-purposing existing buildings compared to reference buildings. A continuous improvement approach allowed achieving more reductions over time through a design focus and industry cooperation and upskilling.

Webinar participants will gain an understanding that embodied carbon reduction requires a focus on upfront carbon reduction very clearly in project scopes to guide design and delivery. Industry also needs to step up with viable options, from materials replacement through to de-materialisation, as well as reduced carbon alternatives. It also requires upskilling of all those involved in the building process (from designers and quantity surveyors through to the construction companies, including project managers and the trades) to understand carbon emissions impact issues within their professions.

Corey Peterson is the Chief Sustainability Officer at the University of Tasmania in Australia and charged with advancing a holistic organisational sustainability agenda.  He was on the University of Tasmania Governing Council from 2012-2020 and is the current President of Australasian Campuses Towards Sustainability (ACTS). He has also served on the Board of several community organisations, including Sustainable Living Tasmania for ten years (five as President), is a graduate of the Tasmanian Leaders Program and has joint Masters Degrees in Environmental Science and Public Administration. He also spent 16 years supporting science in Antarctica before immigrating to Tasmania.

The post Using the building design and delivery process to deliver carbon reduction appeared first on ISCN.

Date: May 23, 2023

Time:
10-11:15am Eastern Standard Time (UTC-5)

Check the start time in your time zone and download a calendar link for this event.

Details: This is the final webinar based on the recently released “Bloomsbury Handbook of Sustainability in Higher Education: An Agenda for Transformational Change” edited by Wendy M. Purcell and Janet Haddock-Fraser.

The handbook shows that higher education is essential to transformative change for sustainability and delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals. Part One focuses on sustainability as a driver of change within higher education institutions (HEIs), while Part Two examines how HEIs’ sustainability agenda influences and amplifies change beyond the institution. Cases include Aruba, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Lebanon, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, South Africa, Spain, Uganda, UK, and the USA.

This session will explore ways sustainability can be adopted at a strategic level using different lenses. For example, the pursuit of research and academic excellence, or an institutional focus on the betterment of community and society at large. It will highlight the importance of leadership at all levels and the time it takes to effect true transformational change in higher education fueled by sustainability.

Speakers at this session are:

• Alice Aiken, Dalhousie University, Canada
• Jim Longhurst, University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom
• Harro Von Blottnitz, University of Cape Town, South Africa
• David Nwogbo, National Open University of Nigeria, Nigeria

Organised by ISCN and Professor Wendy M. Purcell PhD FRSA, Professor at Rutgers University and Affiliated Research Scientist, Harvard University.

https://sph.rutgers.edu/directory/wendy-purcell-phd-sheherhers
https://scholar.harvard.edu/wendypurcell/home
https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-purcell-phd-frsa-08703472/

The Bloomsbury Handbook of Sustainability in Higher Education: An Agenda for Transformational Change: Wendy M. Purcell: Bloomsbury Academic

Photo credit: Strategy by Nick Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Alpha Stock Images

The post Strategic Sustainability for Change appeared first on ISCN.

This event (open to everyone) will feature a selection of videos from the 2022 cohort as well as a panel discussion of members of the newly appointed youth-led leadership committee. The Forum is currently accepting applications for the 2023 cohort: student applicants and advisors are encouraged to attend.

🗓️ 24 March ||⌚️ 12:00-1:00 pm EST (UTC-5) || Register now >>

The post Global University Climate Forum 2022 Showcase appeared first on ISCN.

Date: February 23, 2022

Time:
9-10:15am Eastern Standard Time (UTC-5)

Check the start time in your time zone and download a calendar link for this event.

Details: This is the third of four webinars based on the forthcoming “Bloomsbury Handbook of Sustainability in Higher Education: An Agenda for Transformational Change” edited by Wendy M. Purcell and Janet Haddock-Fraser.

The handbook shows that higher education is essential to transformative change for sustainability and delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals. Part One focuses on sustainability as a driver of change within higher education institutions (HEIs), while Part Two examines how HEIs’ sustainability agenda influences and amplifies change beyond the institution. Cases include Aruba, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Lebanon, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, South Africa, Spain, Uganda, UK, and the USA.

This session will explore how sustainability is advanced by higher education in fragile contexts drawing on the experience and insights from four universities operating in very different contexts.

Speakers at this session are:

• Eric Mijts (University of Aruba)
• Leonardo Fernandes & Andreia Abrahao Sant’Anna (Newton University, Brazil)
• Aram Yeretzian (American University of Beirut, Lebanon)
• Purna Nepali (Kathmandu University, Nepal)

Organised by ISCN and Professor Wendy M. Purcell PhD FRSA, Professor at Rutgers University and Affiliated Research Scientist, Harvard University.

Register now on Zoom. You must have a Zoom account to attend the webinar.

The Bloomsbury Handbook of Sustainability in Higher Education pre-order flyer

Save the date for the final session

Session 4 May 23, 2023, 10:00 Eastern
‘Strategic Sustainability for Change’, featuring authors from Canada, Nigeria, South Africa, and UK

The post Advancing Sustainability in Fragile Contexts appeared first on ISCN.

This conference aims to attract researchers, scholars, engineers, technologists, and students from universities and industries throughout the world, especially in any related to engineering, social sciences, climate and disaster resilience related to sustainability pillars. The conference would provide opportunities for delegates to exchange ideas and research experiences and to establish research collaborations with global partners.

This Conference and Workshop is FREE of CHARGE (FoC) for all categories, thus allow early registration throughout the opportunity networking among MySUN partners and other stakeholders in Malaysia.

All abstract submissions will be blind reviewed by the Technical Review Committee based on technical quality, relevance to conference topics of interest, originality, significance and clarity. The accepted abstract will be published in Conference Proceedings with the e-ISSN registration.

Topics of interest for abstract submission include, but are not limited to:

•       Net-Zero
•       Energy Management
•       Waste Management
•       Cooling Technology
•       Alternative Energy
•       Energy Communities
•       Transportation
•       Environmental Monitoring
•       Campus Management and Community Engagement
•       Campus Governance
•       Education For Sustainability

For more information, including important dates and contact details:

https://www.mysuncampus.eu/en/conferences/2nd-malaysia-sustainable-university-network-national-conference

The post 2nd Malaysia Sustainable University Network National Conference appeared first on ISCN.

Register now for the Symposium on Interdisciplinarity for the Net-Zero Transition that ISCN is co-organising with Science Europe, CESAER, the European University Association, UNICA, and Strathclyde University: http://scieur.org/cop27-symposium-registration

🗓️ 3 November
⌚️ 14:00-17:00 Central European Time (UTC+1)

The post Symposium on Interdisciplinarity for the Net-Zero Transition appeared first on ISCN.