[Call for Papers] 'Mobilising urban residents into environmental action' symposium on 14 Jan 2026 (Uni. of Newcastle & via Zoom)

[Elaine Xu]

Dear AANZCA Colleagues,

We will like to invite you to submit your paper proposals for the hybrid symposium we are organising on 14 January 2026. The symposium will be held at the University of Newcastle (NSW) as well as via Zoom. 

Call for Papers -- the full Call for Papers is attached as a PDF

Mobilising Urban Residents into Environmental Action: Strategic and Creative Ways to Engage Communities in Sustainability

Human-nature relationships have never been more important in the Anthropocene as we face a triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Currently, over 58% of the world's population (4.7 billion) live in urban areas, a figure estimated to reach 70% by 2050 (Our World in Data, 2024). With expanding urbanisation, cities risk becoming uninhabitable as the unfolding urban climate crisis escalates the risks of floods, temperature extremes, severe droughts, and food scarcity in urban areas. 

This symposium's call for papers seeks contributions from scholars or practitioners from academia, government, industry, non-governmental organisations, and civil society organisations. Paper proposals with a focus on sustainable urban policies, sustainable urban behaviour, or the role of Indigenous knowledges in environmental mobilisation and conservation are particularly welcomed.

We welcome individual paper proposals that (i) align with one of the four research themes and (ii) provide actionable insights or policy insights into the Sustainable Development Goals, (inter)national policies, or behavioural change interventions.

Research Themes:

1. Role of communication in driving engagements in sustainable urban behaviour and bridging the behavioural gap between intention and action.
2. Influence of the digital world on environmental ethics and urban engagements in proenvironmental behaviour.
3. Use of immersive technologies in raising awareness of the urban climate crisis or the climate risks and opportunities for cities and their residents.
4. Potential of environmental volunteering in shaping an understanding of human-environment interactions and the nature connectedness of urban residents.

Key Dates:

• Submission of extended abstract: 27th October 2025, 11 :59pm (AEST)
• Notification of acceptance*: Between 3rd and 7th November 2025 (AEST)
  * A small number of in-person presenters may be invited to an engagement and networking lunch event on the day of the symposium in Newcastle, NSW (Australia).
• Hybrid symposium: 14th January 2026 (Wednesday), 9am to 5pm (AEST)

Registration Information:

All attendees must register for the symposium. There is no registration fee for virtual attendees. The registration link will be provided by the organisers in subsequent updates about the symposium.

Registration fee for in-person attendees (includes lunch and afternoon tea)

• University Students/ Unwaged: AUD$50
• Academics and Professionals in Contingent Employment: AUD$80
• Academics and Professionals in Ongoing Employment: AUD$120

We look forward to welcoming you to Newcastle and meeting you on Zoom!

Please feel free to share this Call for Papers with your networks. 

Best regards,
Elaine Xu (on behalf of the organising committee members Lex Xia, Phillip McIntyre, Yuqin Zhou, Catherine Archer, and Aya Okada)

---

Dr Elaine Xu MCPRA (she/her)
Lecturer in Strategic Communications | The University of Newcastle
Program Convenor, Bachelor of Media and Communication 
Member, Institute for Regional Futures