Environmental History Beyond Disciplinary Boundaries
Salzburg, Austria | 7-10 September 2027
The European Society for Environmental History (ESEH) is pleased to invite proposals for panel sessions, individual papers, book presentations, posters, roundtables, and more experimental presentation formats for its upcoming biennial conference. The conference theme, Environmental History Beyond Disciplinary Boundaries, aims to highlight and reinforce the interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary nature and culture of environmental history.
The Conference will be held in Salzburg, Austria, from 7 to 10 September 2027. It is organised by the ESEH and the University of Salzburg.
The deadline for submissions is 15 October 2026, 23:59 CET.
Notifications will be sent out in February 2027.
Submit: https://www.conftool.pro/eseh2027/
Conference website: http://www.eseh2027.at/
Download here the call in PDF.
The Conference Theme
Environmental history deals with the mutual interactions between humankind and the rest of nature in the past. It studies people and the rest of nature as intertwined. It includes material, cultural, intellectual and political aspects. Environmental history has been an interdisciplinary endeavour from its beginnings. The field developed in conversations between historians and scholars from other disciplines in humanities, social and natural sciences. In addition to its distinct interdisciplinary nature, environmental history is characterized by transdisciplinarity – research at the intersection of academia and non-academic actors. Environmental history has emerged in tandem with environmental movements and continues to place high value on science communication and public engagement. The strong inter- and transdisciplinary traditions make environmental history a unique field of research looking at the past and its relevance today.
The complexity of environmental history as an inter- and transdisciplinary field is, however, also a challenge. This is particularly true in times when academic debates face populist attacks and budget cuts disadvantage interdisciplinary endeavours as funding is to a certain degree ringfenced in disciplinary silos. Against this background it is especially important to foster research practices that transcend such boundaries in order to raise the understanding of the complexities of the real world.
Following the conference theme, the call for papers is directed at participants from a wide range of disciplines as well as practitioners in the realm of interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary environmental history research, teaching, and outreach. It invites contributions dealing with socioecological formations over time (such as past environments as a result of coevolution between humans and the rest of nature; human attitude toward the rest of nature, etc.), and more-than-human approaches. The conference invites empirical and/or reflexive theoretical, methodological, or epistemological contributions, as well as those dealing with research ethics in environmental history.
Environmental history can be written by experts in humanities, natural, or social sciences but best results are often achieved by interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary teams. We encourage the organisers of panels, roundtables and ‘different world’ sessions (see below) that link more than one presentation to frame sessions in ways that bring multiple disciplines and diverse perspectives in dialogue. At the same time, authors are encouraged to think of possible coauthors to increase the inter- and/or transdisciplinary nature of their contributions. As for the ‘different world’ sessions, the conference particularly welcomes transdisciplinary workshops with non-academic participants, presentations focused on science outreach, knowledge coproduction and teaching. We will consider all historical periods, all geographical areas and all disciplines. To bolster diversity at the event and promote new forms of networking, we strongly encourage panels/interventions where the presenters come from different regions, generations, genders, different institutions or different disciplines. We also encourage demographic balance and the
engagement of emergent scholars as facilitators or session chairs. Graduate students will be offered a special reduced fee.
Presentation Formats
Conventional presentation formats are indispensable and constitute much of the conference, but we also need new modes of conversation (see section ‘Different World’ Sessions). Therefore, we encourage submissions that introduce a productive conflict of views, interpretations, or methodologies:
Conventional Presentation Formats
We invite panel sessions, co-authored or single-authored individual papers, posters, book presentations, and roundtables. For all presentation formats include the author(s), affiliation(s), title, abstract, and keywords in your submission:
1. Panel Sessions
Sessions consist of 3 papers of 20 minutes each, 4 papers of 15 minutes each, or 3 papers of 15 minutes each plus a commentator/discussant. Session proposals include a session title and session abstract of 250 words; a list of contributors and the chair/organiser; and individual paper titles and abstracts of around 250 words each. All sessions should book enough time for a general discussion in the end.
2. Individual Papers
Individual papers can be co-authored or single-authored. In case of acceptance, the Program Committee will combine them into sessions of three to four papers. Paper proposals consist of the name(s) of the author(s), the presentation title and an abstract of 250 words. The authors of accepted individual papers will be notified by late spring 2027 whether their contributions can last for 15 or 20 min, depending on the number of papers in the respective session.
3. Book Presentations
We encourage authors to present their recent books. Authors are invited to choose a suitable format to present their book, focusing on methodologies and a selection of main results. The presentation will be followed by a discussion with the audience. Submit an abstract of 250 words that includes the book author, the full reference of the book and indicates how you plan to present it.
4. Posters
Poster proposals will include the name(s) of the author(s), the poster title and an abstract of 250 words. Poster sessions will be on-site only. There will be a designated display area, and a session for all poster authors to present their research in 5 minutes per poster. The Environment & History Poster Prize sponsored by The White Horse Press is awarded to the best poster (€100 award) and the 2nd place poster (€50 award).
5. Roundtables by Researchers
A 90-minute roundtable, consisting of panels ranging from 3–6 researchers and a chair who speak to a common question or theme. Successful roundtables involve interaction between the panellists, an active chair who shapes the conversation, and time for the audience to interact with the panel. Roundtable proposals consist of the title, an abstract of 250 words and list the names of the chair and panel members.
Roundtables are welcome to examine a wide range of topics, such as the role of environmental history research in relation to present and ongoing environmental crises, our own academic practices, activism, or unconventional contents.
Different World Sessions
In the spirit of rethinking the conventional, we welcome proposals for full sessions with creative formats, focused on environmental history research, writing, teaching, knowledge coproduction or outreach. To submit a proposal for a different world session, please name the organiser(s) and colleagues involved, and provide a 250-word abstract (unless its length is specified otherwise below) that describes the activity and mentions any special logistics you might need (please be modest in this regard). Ideas include, but are not limited to:
1. Transdisciplinary Workshops
Chaired workshops involve environmental historian(s) and non-academic participants. Such a workshop can be a transdisciplinary roundtable discussion, a craftivist workshop presenting the work and goals behind, or any other kind of a transdisciplinary workshop you can think of within environmental history. Creativity in the workshop design will be cherished. Invite relevant non-academic participants, such as artists, farmers, politicians …
2. Teaching Environmental History
Explain the tips and tricks of your success in environmental history classes to inspire others and be inspired by their comments. Proposals consist of the author, presentation title, and an abstract of 250 words.
3. Meet a Scientist
Researchers who submit contributions of this type will be approachable in informal settings (pubs etc.) during one evening. Your abstract targets the general public. In your 250-word abstract, (1) list 1 to 5 keywords that designate the topics you want to discuss, and (2) do your best to persuade the general public of the relevance of these topics.
4. Speakers Corner/Poetry Slam
In this rapid dissemination format, you have 5 minutes to represent your project idea/results or a research problem without digital tools. Proposals consist of the author, title, and an abstract of 100–200 words.
5. Small Exhibitions or Films
Small exhibitions/films presented by authors/film directors. All of them should deal with/are relevant for environmental-history outreach, show results of transdisciplinary knowledge coproduction (e.g., collaborations with historical museums and film makers) or teaching, or present works of art relevant from the vantage point of environmental history. Proposals consist of the author(s)/production team, title of the exhibition/film, film duration/size of the exhibition,
and a 250-word synopsis.
6. Skills Workshops
● Teach others your skills (e.g. in sources interpretation, writing, GIS, or digital humanities) or offer mentorship or field-work tips
● Demonstrate new research tools
● Pedagogy, andragogy, and dissemination workshops
● Policy interaction workshops
Proposals consist of the name(s) of the facilitator(s), the workshop title and a 250-word abstract.
Abstract Guidelines
The criteria for the evaluation of abstracts will be environmental history content, quality, originality, and thematic relevance (in the context of existing environmental history scholarship and/or relevance of the topic today). Environmental history scholars evaluating the abstracts are committed to open-minded, inclusive and welcoming definitions of our research field.
Each research-based proposal should present (at least some) new research insights, based on primary research or sophisticated literature reviews. In your submissions, please describe the sources and methods (details are welcome) used to develop these insights. We discourage presentations of research proposals or research plans.
If the presentation is not research-based but has different objectives, such as environmental history teaching, outreach, knowledge co-production or scholarly debates, different world sessions (see above), roundtables, or posters are more suitable presentation types than panel sessions or individual papers. Such abstracts clearly state what the content will be, what the goal of the contribution is, why that goal is relevant from an environmental history perspective, and how that goal will be achieved.
The official conference language is English. If your transdisciplinary guests are not fluent in English, simultaneous translation into English is expected.
Maximum number of submissions per person: Each participant can be first author of only one panel paper OR one individual paper OR one book presentation OR one poster. In addition, the same person can participate in one roundtable OR in one ‘different world’ session OR serve as commentator in a second session proposal.
If you participate only in different world sessions/roundtables, the upper limit is two contributions per person.
The number of chairings is unlimited.
The number of second, third … authorships is unlimited.
All proposals have to be submitted through our online submission system: https://www.conftool.pro/eseh2027/
Questions about proposals should be directed to the Chair of the Programme Committee, Dr.
Žiga Zwitter, through the email conference@eseh.org.
An Inclusive and Diverse Conference
Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion is at the heart of the ESEH. We recognise the unique contributions of every member of our society and seek ways of ensuring that people of all identities and in all circumstances can contribute to our biennial conferences and to the wider life of our society. We strive to promote equality and diversity at our conference, in relation to conference participation, and the composition of topics comprising the conference programme. We also endeavour to create a platform to encourage active and sustained debate on issues of marginalisation and accessibility amongst our members: we want to create a set of inclusive conference practices and ‘resist the normality’ of hierarchies and thematic silos. This will be reflected in the evaluation of abstracts and at the conference
Travel Grants
The ESEH and the local organisers will make available a limited number of travel grants (of 250 or 500 euros) for ESEH members delivering papers or presenting posters (as main authors) who would otherwise be unable to attend without external support. These grants are intended primarily for graduate students, independent scholars, and participants from low-income countries. Travel grant applications will open after acceptance notifications.
Donate now to our Travel Grant Fundraising Campaign and help bring more diverse voices to Salzburg – Donate now!
In-Person Participation Is Strongly Encouraged but not the Only Option
Due to the many merits of in-person participation, ESEH believes in the value of a physical conference. Mass online participation not only reduces networking but also increases the number of participants attending only a very short section of the conference which jeopardizes the success of the entire conference. Nonetheless, not everyone can participate in person, for financial, environmental, and societal reasons. If funding is an issue, apply for ESEH travel grants. Online participation will be possible for those who cannot make it in person. The conference will thus offer the chance to integrate the virtual and face-to-face experience in a hybrid format that will allow as many scholars as possible to attend plenary events like keynotes and one of the parallel sessions at a time. Mixed participation (a day or two in person, the rest online) is an option if you cannot make it in person all the time. Online presentations are supposed to be part of hybrid sessions; sessions planned entirely online will be rejected.
Summer School
The ESEH Summer School 2027 will be organised in the run-up to the conference. The call for participation will be launched in the autumn of 2026.