SocSES Inaugural Conference Unites Global Sustainability Researchers at Leuphana
2026-10-01 The inaugural workshop of the International Society of Social-Ecological Systems (SocSES) brought together 80+ global researchers in Lüneburg. Together, they explored innovative pathways for regenerative change and for shaping the future of transformative sustainability science.
From August 25 to 28, 2026, the Society for Social-Ecological Systems (SocSES) held its inaugural in-person conference at Leuphana University of Lüneburg, hosted by the Social-Ecological Systems Institute (SESI). Over 80 members from around the globe – researchers, practitioners, and early-career scholars – came together to advance collaborative efforts in sustainability science.
Leuphana’s Prof. Dr. Berta Martín-López, co-founder of SocSES, opened the event with a heartfelt welcome: “Eighteen months after the project began, we’re here – thanks to your trust and energy.” She emphasized the society’s flexible, co-creative approach, encapsulated in the motto: “If you have heat, you can shape things.” Her personal acknowledgements of the organizing team set a warm, inclusive tone, reinforcing the sense of community that defined the gathering.
Over four days, regional hub leaders, early-career researchers, and thematic working group coordinators advanced joint research agendas, drafted publications, explored art-based knowledge practices, and strengthened cross-group collaborations. Valuable exchanges took place with researchers from the Leuphana School of Sustainability and the Transformation Lab of Leuphana’s Embracing Transformation program, deepening existing partnerships.
The meeting also served as a key platform for co-designing future initiatives, including the planning of the 2028 SocSES Conference. More than a professional gathering, the event underscored SocSES’ emergence as a dynamic, action-oriented community committed to transformative sustainability research.