Critical and transformative perspectives on sustainability: a doctoral winter school

Theme of the winter school

The ecological crises we face today are global phenomena that cut across geographical, national, and social boundaries. The complexity of these crises requires us to break through the boundaries between academic disciplines and think in inter- or even trans-disciplinary ways. It is important to do so, not only when trying to understand the causes of myriad forms of environmental disruption, but also when mapping out potential avenues for transformative and sustainable practices.

This winter school aims to foster connection, understanding, and cooperation between doctoral researchers across disciplines.

Format and week schedule

The course exists out of teambuilding activities, parallel workshop tracks, lectures, discussions, a public outreach event and an excursion.

The number of contact hours will be around 30 hours (not including the lunch break). Additionally, there will be a keynote in the evening for 2 hours.

Program:

Lectures: 

Lecture 1: Introduction to science philosophy by dr. David Ludwig (Wageningen University), Auditorium F, Technicum, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 41

Lecture 2: Perspectives on sustainability politics by prof. Erik Paredis (UGent), Room -3.1, Technicum, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 41

Lecture 3: Science, technology and climate by prof. Massimiliano Simons (Maastricht University), Auditorium F, Technicum, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 41

Lecture 4: Alternative economies by prof. Vincent Liegey (Central European University) and prof. Anitra Nelson (University of Melbourne, Australia), Room -3.1, Technicum, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 41

Lecture 5: Agro-ecology & food systems by dr. Barbara van Dyck (Université Libre de Bruxelles), Auditorium F, Technicum, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 41

The lectures are also open for the public outside of the winter school, except Lecture 2 (due to its interactive format). 

Workshop tracks:

Political agroecology

Moving beyond theory, this track emphasizes critical reflection and practical engagement on agroecology. Through a case study, the first session invites participants to consider activism within scholarship, personal life, and the doctoral school. Guided by an activist-scholar, they will articulate collective goals and expectations. The second session translates these into strategies for action, exploring forms of organization and implementation. The final session focuses on realizing these plans through direct engagement, followed by collective reflection with the wider group. This track fosters applied understanding of activism in academia, encouraging participants to engage critically with the intersections of scholarship, political action, and agroecological transformation.

Contributors: Wout Barbier, Ruben Savels, dr. Barbara Van Dyck, Elisabeth Goethals

Environmental justice

In this workshop track on ‘Environmental Justice,’ you will explore and learn how to critically navigate different political perspectives of sustainability. In each session, we apply various dimensions of environmental justice to specific issues in both the Global North & South. In doing so, this track is designed to broaden your understanding of the complexities, tensions, and ways forward that challenge mainstream lines of thought in sustainability politics. Be prepared to challenge your own ideas of sustainability!

Contributors: Ewoud Vandepitte, Jonas Meuleman, Lucas Remue, Anton Vandevoorde, Bao.bab collective

Alternative economies 

This workshop track explores critical perspectives on how today’s dominant economies are shaped, what other economies are possible, and how we can build economic systems that truly serve both people and planet. Together, we will study strategies for creating regenerative, socially just economies, as well as learn from inspiring initiatives that are already putting these ideas into practice. Through collaboration, reflection, and site visits, we’ll engage with theory and practice, exploring projects that try to discover what it means to live well within the ecological boundaries of our planet.

Contributors: Irma Emmery, Eva Vandenberghe, Femke Lootens, prof. Jonas Van der Slelycken, Lena Hartog, Happonomy vzw, dr. Vincent Liegey, prof. Anitra Nelson

Science, technology & society

In this workshop track we will explore the links between technology and sustainability through the lens of philosophy and ethics. Through interactive, art-based and collaborative workshops we will navigate the ethical, environmental and social dimensions around technology and its potential to solve environmental issues. We will also critically reflect on our position as researchers regarding the technologies we work with/for. Finally we will also ask ourselves, how do our desirable futures look like and how can we co-create them with technology?

Contributors: Dr. Marie Sioen, dr. Julieta Vigliano Relva, Dorian Accoe, Kate Sammler, Sam Verhé

Public evening event: Theater play Aha. by Martha Baltazar and Leon Adriaensen

Aha! (working title) is an intimate yet lively dialogue about understanding, explaining and how meaning arises from this. A performance in which theatrical imagination and scientific knowledge complement each other so perfectly that they become indistinguishable. After all, we can only understand precisely because of the intimate relationship between theory and imagination. In Aha!, complex thinking is used by two players to seduce, meet and fight each other. It is a conversation between lovers, a thought experiment that has got out of hand and a search for the place of scientific knowledge in our lives.

This performance was created with the support of the Caroline Pauwels Grant for Wonder, an initiative of deAuteurs, TAZ, KVS, VUB and Ghent University.

Wednesday the 4th, 19:30 @Belvedère, Boekentoren Gent, Rozier 9, 9000 Gent

Register here: https://event.ugent.be/registration/WinterSchoolAHA

For whom?

Max. 40 researchers affiliated to all faculties from universities all over Flanders (and open to researchers from beyond). We aim explicitly to organise a winter school on an interdisciplinary approach to sustainability, and we want to invite researchers from diverse backgrounds. We foremost aim to include PhD students in this winter school. 

Why would you sign up?

The winter school offers an excellent opportunity to improve your knowledge of today's challenges and broaden your view. Next to that, you will reflect together with other researchers on the impact and responsibility of research. 

By actively working on problems with fellow students with diverse disciplinary backgrounds during the workshops, you experience the challenge of uniting different visions in the search for solutions for an equitable society within planetary boundaries.

In addition, you will build a network of contacts with committed fellow researchers with diverse backgrounds, and get the chance to network with experts in the fields. 

Dates

2nd of February 2026 until the 6th of February 2026.

Cost

This winter school is free of charge and includes lunch. We don't provide accommodation or transportation.

Locations

Technicum, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 41, 9000 Gent

Green Hub, Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 33, 9000 Gent

Accessibility

If you are a person with limited mobility or if you have other special needs to attend this activity, please do not hesitate to contact us so we can look together at how we can meet your needs. All locations are wheelchair accessible.

Organising team

The summer school is organised by the Green Office and sponsored by the Doctoral School, with the support of the Flemish Government.

The organising team consist out of researchers and staff from different backgrounds: Femke Auwelaert, Elisabeth Goethals, Marie Sioen, Julieta Vigliano Relva, Lucas Remue, Anton Vandevoorde, Joppe Massant, Jonas Meuleman, Eva Vandenberghe, Femke Lootens, Kobe Tilley, Elvira Crois, Fanny Van Laecke & prof. Joost Dessein.

Registration

You can apply here for the winter school: https://event.ugent.be/registration/sustainabilitywinterschool26

Registration deadline is the 15th of January.

PhD students of UGent are our main target group, but we have some spots available for other researchers and practitioners.

Contact

sustainabilitywinterschool@ugent.be