2026 CENSE-Warwick Training School (July 2026, Portugal)

From 26 to 31 July, 25 early-career researchers and practitioners from EUTOPIA and beyond participated in the first edition of the CENSE-Warwick Training School. Co-organised by academics from the Centre for Environmental and Sustainability Research at NOVA Lisbon UniversityLink opens in a new window and from Warwick's Institute for Global Sustainable DevelopmentLink opens in a new window and School for Cross-Faculty StudiesLink opens in a new window who are involved in the EUTOPIA 'HoPE Nexus: A Habitat for Planetary Ecologies'Link opens in a new window Connected Community, the school focused on 'People and Nature (lack of) Connectedness'.

The School was hosted at the Convento da Arrábida, in the Arrábida Natural Park, within a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve which provided an ideal setting to explore these issues and connect with nature.

Colleagues Elena KorostelevaLink opens in a new window (Institute for Global Sustainable Development), Adela Glyn-DaviesLink opens in a new window (Design Studies) and Lory BarileLink opens in a new window (Economics) gave lectures, whilst Jane WebbLink opens in a new window (School of Cross-Faculty Studies) and Harriet RichmondLink opens in a new window (Leadership and Management Development) led a series of creative sessions throughout the week.

Through lectures, workshops, creative sessions and field visits, the participants explored Human-Nature relationships from a cross-disciplinary perspective. Working in groups, researchers were tasked with an Inquiry Project to shift their perspective from traditional research methods. Participants also took part in dilemma- framing sessions during which they presented one of the central questions they explore in their research and got feedback from their peers. Finally, the ECRs were asked to write a reflective essay about their experience at the Training School. The School was a success and a transformational experience for some.

Here is what some of the participants said:

Rosie Charles:
The Summer School was incredible, and I have taken away knowledge, connections, and memories that will shape my future thinking and research.”

Dóri Novák:
“It was a wonderful experience, with wonderful people, and I still think about it almost every day. :)”

Bindu Devkota Sapkota
The dilemma-framing sessions and wider discussions provided valuable insights that have helped me further develop my research ideas around people–nature connectedness, wellbeing and clinical leadership.”

Those who successfully completed the individual assignment will receive a EUTOPIA Micro-credential certificate.