This theme is led by Nicole M. Ardoin, Emmett Family Faculty Scholar; Associate Professor, Environmental Social Sciences; Senior Fellow, Woods Institute for the Environment; Bass University Fellow in Undergraduate Education, Stanford | Doerr School of Sustainability How can local governments, communities, nonprofits, and industries put principles of transformative change into action for sustainability solutions? How might these groups and others contribute to new research agendas in sustainability and transformation science? This theme welcomes contributions that explore sustainability programs, projects, and policies that apply and transfer knowledge, methodologies, and other tools that improve sustainability science development, industry application, and measurable outcomes with the goal of catalyzing transformative change at a range of scales.

Achieving sustainable solutions requires unprecedented levels of cross-sector, interdisciplinary, and multinational collaboration. This theme calls for contributions that explore innovative strategies and best practices for bridging challenging divides. Contributions may focus on: 1. Inter-sectoral collaborations between government, businesses, nonprofits, academia, and community organizations 2. Strategies for navigating changing and turbulent political landscapes, such as overriding regulatory hurdles, advocating for supportive policies, and engaging in constructive dialogue with policymakers 3. How challenges associated with urban-rural divides, such as equitable access to resources, can be ameliorated 4. Other differences/divides as identified and experienced in your work

As AI is increasingly used as a tool to solve sustainability challenges, it is essential to proactively address the ethical, economic, social, and environmental implications of this technological tool. This theme explores how we can harness the power of AI for good, and how this can be balanced against the negative socio-environmental impacts of AI. Contributions in this theme may focus on: 1. Technological advantages, such as modeling for climate, agriculture, natural resources, and wildlife conservation 2. Technological disadvantages, such as resource extraction, energy consumption, and waste generation 3. Ethical considerations, such as data privacy and security, bias and fairness, and transparency and accountability 4. The social and economic implications of AI, such as job displacement 5. The digital divide or other topics related to the responsible development and deployment of AI for a just, equitable, and sustainable future

The global food system faces unprecedented challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, food insecurity, and social inequities. Addressing these requires a holistic and integrated approach that fundamentally embraces the interconnectedness of social, economic, and environmental systems. We welcome contributions that inspire bold and creative perspectives and actions that illustrate real transformations in our agricultural systems, as well as applied economic solutions in a sustainable marketplace. Contributions for this theme may explore collaborations among farmers, agribusinesses, policymakers, researchers, nonprofits, and communities to advance sustainable agriculture. We also welcome submissions that leverage: 1. Traditional ecological knowledge, such as Indigenous knowledge or local expertise 2. Community-based initiatives, such as farmers’ markets, food banks, and community gardens 3. Climate-smart technologies, such as regenerative agriculture or blockchain

The transition to more sustainable transportation systems presents a complex set of challenges and opportunities that require interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral, and innovative thinking. This theme invites contributions that explore transformations in our transportation systems, from individual transportation through supply chain transport and logistics. Contributions may explore the costs, benefits, effectiveness, and limitations of: 1. Personal EVs 2. Public transportation 3. Ridesharing 4. Fleet electrification 5. Walkable/bikeable cities Case studies of innovative technologies, forward-thinking policies, and public-private partnerships that drive just and sustainable transformation in transportation systems are welcome.

The humanities, with their focus on human values, cultural narratives, identities, and ethical considerations, offer a unique and compelling perspective through which we can imagine, inspire, and bring to bear a just and sustainable future. This theme welcomes contributions from history, literature, philosophy, art, psychology, and other disciplines that envision and actively work toward sustainability by drawing insights from the human experience across time, space, and culture. Contributions may explore: 1. The use of historical narratives to inspire and guide our individual and collective actions 2. The ways in which ethical frameworks, cultural values, and artistic vision shape our understanding of and engagement with environmental issues and sustainability goals 3. The power of storytelling, art, and cultural expression to raise awareness, inspire action, and foster a sense of collective responsibility 4. Bridging gaps between science and society Scholars, practitioners, artists, and dreamers are invited to share their work, insights, experiences, and perspectives in this open format theme. (Please include a brief description of your desired format.) Traditional presentations are also welcome.

This theme invites contributions that share research, insights, and lived experiences on the intersection of sustainability and religion/spirituality. We welcome a diverse range of systems, frameworks, and perspectives that explore: 1. The relationships between sustainability science and spirituality 2. Religious and spiritual knowledge, ethics, beliefs, teachings, and practices, as they relate to sustainability 3. Leveraging spirituality and community to influence climate action Contributions that offer an opportunity for reflection on the past, present, and future of sustainability through spiritual belief systems and movements for a just and sustainable world are welcome.

This theme is led by Dr. Shelie Miller, Jonathan W. Bulkley Collegiate Professor of Sustainable Systems, and Co-Director of the Center for Sustainable Systems at the University of Michigan. The transition to a circular economy is crucial for a sustainable future. However, this transition must be grounded in principles of justice and equity to ensure that its benefits are shared by all and that it does not exacerbate existing disparities. This theme welcomes contributions that critically examine the challenges and opportunities presented by implementing circularity. Contributions could address: 1. Theory and practice: how do we measure circularity across scales and sectors? 2. Policy and business models: what innovative policy frameworks and business models support a transition towards circularity? 3. Justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion: What are the ethical implications of circular economy practices, including resource extraction, waste management, and technological development? How might we ensure that circular economies benefit all members of society? 4. Collaboration in circularity: How can collaborations between businesses, governments, nonprofits, and communities accelerate the transition?

This thematic call is led by Dr. Dan Brown, Professor and Director, Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington. He is also the President of the National Sustainability Society. Land use is a key component of sustainability across a number of sectors and dimensions, including biodiversity conservation, carbon and climate, food security, poverty alleviation, and sustainable energy. Land system science investigates social-ecological systems with an emphasis on the land policy, ownership, decision making, and management with the aim of understanding how land use choices affect sustainability across social, economic, and environmental outcomes. These systems are complex, path dependent, context dependent, and often contested in ways that make win-win solutions challenging to achieve. This call welcomes contributions that explore transformative changes in land systems. This includes, but is not limited to, research and application that examines: 1. Novel pathways towards sustainable land use: What innovative approaches, policies, or technologies can drive significant positive change in land systems? 2. Understanding the drivers and barriers of land system transformation: What social, economic, political, or ecological factors enable or hinder shifts towards more sustainable land management? 3. Case studies of successful or unsuccessful transformations: What lessons can be learned from real-world examples of attempts to shift land systems towards greater sustainability? 4. Modeling and scenario analysis of future land-system transformations: How can we use analytical tools to explore potential pathways and outcomes of transformative change?

This thematic is led by Dr. Jay Golden the Pontarelli Professor of Environmental Sustainability and Finance at Syracuse University and Director of the Dynamic Sustainability Lab.  We are in the midst of rapidly developing energy transitions to meet a lower carbon economy while supporting greater demand. This includes unprecedented demand for electricity stemming from a range of technologies such as data centers, electric vehicles, onshoring manufacturing and, building retrofits as well as lower carbon non-electricity energy sources. This theme invites contributions that explore: 1. Greater roles of regional and local governance through distributed energy resources (DERs) and virtual power plants (VPPs). 2. The development of hydrogen hubs, small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs), carbon capture sequestration (CCS) and carbon capture utilization and sequestration (CCUS) as part of energy systems. 3. Development and deployment of biobased energy and fuels such as sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) which could include implications for land use, agriculture and communities. 4, Implications from changing federal policies and incentives for renewable energy. 5. Supply chain and workforce needs. We are especially interested in interdisciplinary contributions from younger and more senior researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and leaders from diverse industries that present novel findings, practical interventions, and effective policy frameworks as they relate to energy transitions.

This thematic call is led by Dr. Ray Offenheiser, Senior Advisor to the Dean, and Director, McKenna Center for Human Development and Global Business, Keough School for Global Affairs, University of Notre Dame. This theme explores the pivotal role of the private sector in advancing sustainability across diverse industries. We invite submissions that showcase innovative strategies, impactful initiatives, and transformative business models that contribute to environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic viability. Contributions may highlight how companies are moving beyond traditional practices to integrate sustainability into their core operations, supply chains, and product development. In particular, we encourage submissions that address: 1. Business and Human Rights: Examining the role of businesses in respecting and upholding human rights across their operations and value chains. This includes topics such as modern slavery, labor rights, and community impacts. 2. Managing the Transition: Strategies and frameworks for businesses to navigate the transition to a sustainable economy. This may include topics like decarbonization, circular economy adoption, and new business models. 3. Sustainable Supply Chains: Investigating the challenges and opportunities in creating sustainable supply chains. This includes issues such as traceability, transparency, ethical sourcing, and environmental impact reduction. 4. Mining: Addressing the sustainability challenges and opportunities associated with the mining sector, including environmental impact, social responsibility, and resource management. We are especially interested in interdisciplinary contributions from younger and more senior researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and business leaders from diverse industries that present novel findings, practical interventions, and effective policy frameworks as they relate to sustainability in the private sector.

This thematic call is led by Dr. Jason Rohr, Galla Professor and Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, and one of three international winners of the 2024 Frontiers Planet Prize for his research that helps improve public health, agriculture, sustainability and poverty in Senegal. Planetary health and human wellbeing are closely connected because of the inseparable links between the health of earth systems and its inhabitants. As part of this call, we invite contributions that explore the profound health implications of ecological and environmental changes, the relationship between different dimensions of health and the environment, and strategies that may address adverse effects of changes in wellbeing associated with ecological decline and local to global breaching of planetary boundaries. We are especially interested in contributions that focus on: 1. Enhancing, assessing and mitigating the health risks of climate change, air and water pollution, and ecological and environmental changes; 2. Exploring the health benefits of biodiversity conservation, landscape and ecosystem restoration, and their interactions with climate and other environmental changes; 3. Understanding the relationship of healthy food and food systems and environmental stewardship for improved nutrition, food security, and health. 4. The relationship of changing climate and environmental conditions with shifts in health and disease 5. Advancing environmental justice and health equity as integral components of planetary health. While these are key areas of interest, we welcome contributions on planetary health and sustainability more generally, including those focusing on One Health and Global Health Equity. We are especially interested in interdisciplinary contributions from younger and more senior researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and community leaders that present novel findings, ideas about practical interventions, effective policy frameworks, and transformative community solutions aimed at achieving planetary health and a sustainable future for all.

This thematic call is led by Dr. Arun Agrawal, Pulte Family Professor of Development Policy; Inaugural Director, Just Transformations to Sustainability Initiative, University of Notre Dame. Over the past several years, scholarship on natural resource governance has responded to growing socio-environmental crises that span loss of biodiversity, climate change, and increasing polarization and increasing threats to wellbeing by highlighting the importance of transformative change. Aligned changes in thoughts, structures, and actions can occur at many different scales, and are critical for sustainable futures. We invite contributions that examine how natural resource governance can be transformative and can bring about transformative changes towards just and sustainable futures. In particular, we welcome: 1. examples of transformative changes across local to higher levels of social and spatial scales; 2. comparative and case analyses of transformative changes in governance of diverse natural resource systems such as forests, water, fisheries, wildlife, irrigation, rangelands, and agriculture; 3. conceptual and theoretical contributions that connect scholarship on transformative change with work on resource governance; 4. documentation on outcomes of transformative natural resource governance and patterns of relationship among resource use and governance outcomes. Approaches that showcase innovative theoretical, analytical, interpretive, and empirical work at the intersection of governance and transformative change towards a sustainable future are encouraged. Contributions from within and across interdisciplinary approaches and frameworks including common property, political ecology, sustainability science, resilience, ecosystem services, environmental policy and governance, and coupled systems are especially welcome.