Vision
RESEARCH / FOCAL AREAS
Sustainability Transformations
Escalating socio-ecological crises demand profound, non-linear transformations that reconfigure socio-technical and socio-ecological systems toward equitable and regenerative futures. The Focal Area on Sustainability Transformations (AF1) positions itself as a hub for theoretical, methodological, and empirical excellence on governance, agency, and just transitions. Bringing together researchers from the social and natural sciences, AF1 is uniquely equipped to address the complexity of contemporary sustainability challenges through integrated and systemic perspectives. We seek to understand and actively shape the depth, breadth, and speed of transformations by integrating perspectives on socio-technical transitions with socio-ecological, regenerative approaches and justice. Grounded in inter- and transdisciplinarity and attentive to power, vulnerability, and equity, AF1 combines a strong focus on local and global contexts—conducting research in diverse settings such as oceanic nations and post-disaster regions—to generate insights that inform global sustainability efforts while addressing specific place-based challenges. Through reflexive engagement with diverse epistemologies—including feminist, decolonial, and post-growth perspectives—and a strong expertise in participatory methods, we aim to co-create actionable knowledge that supports inclusive, place-based, and regenerative pathways across territories.
Objectives
Our research agenda focuses on two interrelated priorities. First, we advance conceptual and methodological integration by deepening theoretical dialogue on sustainability and place-based regenerative transformations and by developing innovative participatory, comparative, and digital methods. Through workshops, a positioning paper, and a handbook of methodologies, and comparative case studies, we consolidate a shared research framework and generate analytical and practical tools to examine governance configurations, just transitions, agency dynamics, and institutional innovation in diverse territorial contexts.
Second, we strengthen transformative capacity and impact by supporting early-career researchers, and mobilizing collaborative projects at European and international levels. By linking research to policy engagement, community challenges, training initiatives, and strategic proposal development, AF1 aims to contribute actionable, evidence-informed insights to debates on vulnerability, equity, and systemic change, while scaling its academic and societal impact through joint publications, networks, funded research initiatives, and participatory projects.
PROJECTS
The Fellowship of Hope: Regenerative Leadership for a Changing World
01-01-2026
Guillermo Palau Salvador
GreenDEMO. Making Green Transitions More Democratic and Democracies Greener
01-01-2025
ASSOCIATED STAFF
Míriam Acebillo Baque
Alejandra Boni Aristizábal
Cristina Chaminade
Ana Escario Chust
Pablo F. Méndez
Álvaro Fernández-Baldor Martínez
Cristina Galiana Carballo
Cédric Gossart
Judit Manuel Martín
Diana Carolina Velasco Malaver
Oksana Udovyk Saviak
Antonio Moya Latorre
Ximena Adriana Pardo Fuentes
Maria del Pilar Bustamante Lliria
