Join the SENSE Symposium 2026 on 25 November at VU Amsterdam. Explore sustainable futures through inspiring speakers, interdisciplinary discussions, interactive labs and networking opportunities.
How can we reimagine sustainability and explore new pathways towards a more sustainable future?
On 25 November 2026, the SENSE Symposium 2026 will bring together researchers, academics and sustainability enthusiasts at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam for a day of inspiring discussions, interdisciplinary exchange and collective exploration of sustainable futures.
Under the theme Reimagining Sustainability: Connecting Systems, Challenges and Future Pathways, the symposium will explore pressing global challenges and encourage fresh perspectives on sustainability through keynote presentations, interactive labs and networking opportunities.
Programme highlights
The symposium will feature a keynote address by Emeritus Professor Joan Martínez Alier from the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA), Autonomous University of Barcelona, a leading scholar in ecological economics and environmental justice.
A plenary panel on Sustainability, War and Peace, moderated by Dr. Jampel Dell’Angelo (VU Amsterdam), will bring together:
- Dr. Judith Verweijen, Assistant Professor of Political Geography, Utrecht University
- Laura Birkman, Director of the Climate, Water, and Food Security Programme, The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies
- Dr. Augusto Lopez-Claros, Executive Director and Chair of the Global Governance Forum
Participants will also have the opportunity to join three interactive labs:
- Crafting Your Research Story – Exploring ways to communicate research effectively.
- Reimagining Sustainability Futures – Envisioning alternative pathways towards sustainable futures.
- AI & Sustainability – Exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and sustainability.
The programme will conclude with a collective reflection session and a networking reception featuring the creative Vision Gallery, showcasing visions of the world in 2040.
Join the SENSE Symposium 2026
Whether you are a PhD candidate, an experienced researcher or simply interested in sustainability, the symposium offers an opportunity to exchange ideas, build connections and explore new perspectives on sustainable futures.
Register for the SENSE Symposium 2026 and join the conversation on 25 November at VU Amsterdam.