CENSE - Warwick Training School (26-31 July 2026)

The HoPE Connected Community invites applications from Early-Career Researchers for the 2026 CENSE Advanced Training Summer School organised in collaboration with the CENSE Research Centre at NOVA University of Lisbon.

The 2026 CENSE Advanced Training Summer School theme is 'People and Nature (lack of) Connectedness'. We welcome contributions exploring critical concepts, innovative tools or models, and group case-studies on one or more of the following:

People–nature connectedness; ecosystem services; nature restoration; urban ecology; environmental governance and resilience
Advances in valuing nature (e.g., relational & instrumental frameworks, including IPBES)
Immersive, speculative, and creative approaches to reduce disconnection from nature
Living in/with Protected Areas and multi-scale environmental governance
Nature connectedness and risk
Urban ecology, resilience, and adaptive capacity within/across communities
Historical perspectives and diverse geographies (Global South/North; urban/rural; marine/other)
Policy design and analysis to reconnect with nature across scales.

The Summer School seeks innovative ways to reverse declining human–nature relationships, especially in urban contexts. We aim to shape new connections between people and nature in research and everyday life (hands-on experience), and identify pathways to scale these initiatives.

Provisional Programme

Day 1

Sunday (26/7):

Arrival, with formal welcome, dinner and wander around the convent.

Setting the scene presentations and preliminary exercise.

Day 2

Monday (27/7):

8.30-9.00: Breakfast and daily arrivals

9.00-9.45: Introduction to the Summer School by NOVA & Warwick

9.45-10.45 Keynote 1 by Harini Nagendra (Azim Primzi, India) on Global and bottom-up perspectives on urban resilience, wellbeing and governance.

10.45-11.00: Coffee break

11.00-12.00: Interactive workshop led by Elena Korosteleva (Warwick) - Philosophies of living with nature and participants’ place-based experiences.

12.00-13.00: Creative session 1 led by Harriet Richmond (Warwick) - Introduction to creative sessions: nature beyond conceptualization.

13.00-14.00: Lunch

14.00-16.00: Creative session 2 led by Harriet Richmond & Jane Webb (Warwick) - Group discussions, project and material for assemblage.

16.00-18.30: Participant coursework (supported by mentors)

18.30-20.00 field exercise - Walk within Arrábida

20.00-21.00: Dinner

Day 3

Tuesday (28/7)

8.30-9.00: Breakfast and daily arrivals

9.00-9.15: Day layout

9.15-10.00: Lecture - Nature restoration

10.00-10.45: Lecture by Christopher Ives (Geography) - Methodological framework and related developments (online).

10.45-11.00: Coffee break

11.00-13.00: Workshop 1 led by Jane Webb and Harriet Richmond - The emotional/material dimension: Nature as object and resource.

13.00-14.00: Lunch

14.00-16.00: Workshop 2 - “23 miles” documentary: screening and debate.

16.00-18.00: Participant coursework (supported by mentors)

18.00-18.30: Creative session 3 led by Harriet Richmond and Jane Webb

18.30-20.00: Arrábida convent guided tour

20.00-21.00: Dinner

Day 4

Wednesday (29/7)

8.30-9.00: Breakfast and daily arrivals

9.00-9.15: Day layout explainer

9.15-10.00: Lecture - Ecosystem services framework and relational values.

10.00-10.45: Lecture - Participatory research in a protected area.

10.45-11.00: Coffee break

11.00-12.00: Lecture by TBC - Business and Nature.

12.00-13.00: ECR project pitch

13.00-14.00: Lunch

14.00-18.30: Field visit to Protected Area

18.30-20.00: Visit to the beach (optional) with Yorgos Stratoudakis

20.00-21.00: Dinner

Day 5

Thursday (30/7)

8.30-9.00: Breakfast and daily arrivals

9.00-9.15: Day layout explainer

9.15-10.45: Lecture by Lory Barile (economics, Warwick) - Behavioural environmental economics and policy.

10.45-11.00: Coffee break

11.00-12.00: Dialogue on conflicts by Miguel Sequeira, Elena Korosteleva, Yorgos Stratoudakis & Lory Barile - Moderated debate on natural resource use conflicts on land and at sea (and ways to overcome them).

12.00-13.00: Workshop 4 - Post-fire replanting with volunteers (Environmental NGOs).

13.00-14.00: Lunch

14.00-15.00: Field exercise

15.00-16.00: Creative Session with Harriet Richmond - Wrap-up of assemblage and reporting.

16.30-18.30: Participant coursework with mentors

18.30-20.00: PNA exploration

20.00-21.00: Dinner

Day 6

Friday (31/7)

8.30-9.00: Breakfast and daily arrivals

9.00-11.00: Keynote by Adela Glyn-Davies (Warwick) - Design & Policy.

11.00-12.30: Policy Dialogue for policy impact with Elena Korosteleva, Lory Barile, Francisco Ferreira - Moderated debate on environmental policy and governance.

12.45-13.45: Lunch

14.15-14.30: Concluding event

14.30-16.30: Group presentations

17.00-18.00: A Final Plenary

How to apply

We are inviting prospective Warwick researchers to fill in the registration form below, accompanied by:

a CV
an abstract (500 words maximum - see guidance below)
a brief motivation letter (no more than 2 pages)
a supervisor/line manager support letter (download template).

The deadline for submitting the above is

10 April 2026 (17:00).

Selected candidates will be informed by the end of April.

Apply Now

Important Information

Application submission deadline: 10 April 2026
The call is open to all PhD students and postdoctoral researchers.
Places are limited to five University of Warwick PhD/Postdoc researchers.
All expenses will be covered by the University of Warwick, including a registration fee.

Selection Criteria

Suitability of the submitted abstract to the call’s theme.
Interdisciplinary background of the participant.
Strong cover letter to explain how participation within the summer school would support/relate to the applicants’ study and research or practice.
Career stage of participants (preference will be given to those at mid to advanced stages of their research/practice).
Gender diversity and participants from underrepresented geographies/areas of conflict will be prioritised.

Any enquiries can be directed to EutopiaHoPE@warwick.ac.uk.

Venue

Convento da Arrábida, Azeitão, Portugal

The training school will be held within the Arrábida Natural Park, 40 km south of Lisbon, Portugal, within a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Abstract: Guidance for Applicants

We welcome applications from researchers who are able to identify a clear area of interest they would like to explore during the CENSE Interdisciplinary School.

This might take different forms. For example, you may wish to:

develop a conceptual or theoretical framework
explore a practice-based or methodological approach
apply your research to a real-world sustainability challenge
or test out new ways of thinking across disciplinary boundaries.

What matters most is that you can articulate a focus and explain why this opportunity is valuable to you. In your application, we encourage you to:

briefly describe the area, question, or idea you would like to develop
outline how it connects to your current research, interests, or practice
reflect on how participating in an interdisciplinary, collaborative environment could support your thinking, approach, or future work.

We are not looking for fully formed project proposals. Instead, we are interested in your curiosity, openness, and readiness to engage with interdisciplinary perspectives. Strong applications will demonstrate a willingness to explore, collaborate, and contribute to a shared learning environment, while also showing a clear sense of what you hope to gain from the experience.

Related Opportunities

Sustainability Training Academy (STA) - See previous Sustainability Training SchoolsLink opens in a new window organised by the Institute for Global Sustainable Development at the University of Warwick.