LP 2019: Leverage Points 2019: international conference on sustainability research and transformation Leuphana University of Lüneburg Lüneburg, Germany, February 6-8, 2019 |
Conference website | http://leveragepoints2019.leuphana.de/ |
Submission link | https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=lp2019 |
Abstract registration deadline | July 15, 2018 |
Submission deadline | July 15, 2018 |
About the Conference
Humanity sits at a crossroad between tragedy and transformation, with seemingly little idea of where we wish to go, or how we intend to get there. Similarly, now is a crucial time for sustainability research. Is it to be a passive chronicler of the challenges of our times? Or an active facilitator of transformative change towards sustainability?
This conference is inspired by the seminal essay by Donnella Meadows “Leverage Points Places to intervene in a system”. In this work, born of frustration and a deep desire for a more effective change, Meadows highlighted a series of leverage points—places in complex systems where a small shift may lead to fundamental changes in the system as a whole— for sustainability transformations. In particular, she noted the tendency to focus on highly tangible, but essentially weak leverage points (i.e., interventions that are easy to make, but have limited potential for transformative change).
Instead, she urged a focus on perhaps less obvious, but potentially far more powerful areas of intervention. Donnella Meadows’ notion of leverage points can be seen as a boundary object, a model, a metaphor and a fundamental challenge to the status quo, dominate mindsets and paradigms. We firmly believe that such radical approaches are needed in sustainability research and praxis if they are to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
Inspired by Meadows’ work we seek to explore (in theory, methods and praxis) the deep leverage points that can lead to sustainability transformations. This conference will ask: how do we transform ourselves, our science, our institutions, our interventions and our societies for a better future? The conference is premised on three principles:
- The importance of searching for places where interventions can lead to transformative change.
- Open inquiry, exchange and co-learning across multiple theoretical, methodological and empirical research approaches focused on sustainability science and transformative change.
- The need for reflection on modes of research and processes in sustainability research.
The conference will have a number of core themes:
- Re-structuring institutions for transformative change
- Re-connecting people and nature as a deep leverage point
- Re-thinking how we know and act in relation to sustainability transformations
- Systems thinking and complexity as tools for transformation
- Transformative research practices in sustainability science
In the spirit of Meadows’ work there will also be emergent themes dictated by inspiring research that falls outside the confines of the themes outlined above.
We hope that this conference will help us move from incremental to transformational change; extend our thinking about complex sustainability challenges and deepen our collective and transdisciplinary research practices. We very much look forward to seeing you in Lüneburg in February 2019.
for more information on the conference please visit:
Submission Guidelines
Call for Abstracts
We are currently inviting applications for inspiring, provocative and exciting oral and poster presentations. Presentation/session formats are intended to be novel and flexible, but may include standard 15 minute presentations, speed talks, or panel discussions. There will be a strong focus on interaction, dialog and synthesis running throughout the conference. Session leaders will coordinate with presenters regarding the format of presentations upon acceptance of abstracts.
We welcome, theoretical, empirical, methodological and praxis contributions with a focus on transformative change and sustainability. Contributions with an explicit explicit focus on the concept of leverage points are particularly welcome. Submissions should relate to one of the core themes of the conference, paying attention to the particular requirements of your chosen theme. The abstracts should be a maximum of 300 words and should end in a statement: “Implications for sustainability transformations: …”
Contributors can submit a maximum of one abstract, as a lead author, to each theme. The same abstract cannot be submitted to more than one theme.
The deadline for submissions of abstracts is 30 June 2018. Your abstract will be subject to review by theme leaders, and you will be notified of your acceptance or rejection by 30 August 2018. Presentations may be transferred to other themes if deemed appropriate by the reviewing committee.
All abstract submissions should be via the EasyChair online abstract submission tool. You will have to create an EasyChair account to submit an abstract.
https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=lp2019
Venue
Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Germany
Contact
All questions about submissions should be emailed to leveragepoints2019@leuphana.de