CALL FOR PROPOSALS
Be part of the conversation shaping the future of rural territories.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Abstract submission deadline: 30 July 2026
Notification of acceptance: 15 August 2026
Conference dates: 27–28 November 2026
Location: MACC – Mosteiro de Ancede Centro Cultural, Baião, Portugal
Languages: Portuguese, Spanish and English (abstracts must be in English)
ABOUT THE CALL
Rural territories are undergoing profound transformations driven by climate change, demographic shifts, technological acceleration and socio-economic pressures.
At the same time, they offer unique opportunities for innovation, resilience and sustainable development.
Under the theme “Rethinking Rurality: Transitions, Innovation and Adaptation”, RUR_DYNAMIX 2026 invites contributions that explore:
- How rural areas respond to contemporary transitions
- How communities adapt and innovate
- How different actors collaborate to build resilient and inclusive futures
This conference aims to strengthen the international dialogue on rural development and generate new pathways for territorial transformation.
CONFERENCE THEMES
Exploring key dimensions shaping contemporary rural territories.
Society & Rural Communities
Social change in contemporary rural areas | Education, skills and pedagogical innovation in low-density territories | Health, well-being and active ageing | Rural youth, generational renewal and community leadership | Traditions, intangible heritage and local identities | Social inclusion, equity and territorial cohesion | Social and economic sustainability in rural communities | Community empowerment, participation and collaborative practices
Innovation & Rural Entrepreneurship
Innovation ecosystems, digital transformation, circular economy and new rural business models.
Territorial Planning & Landscape
Spatial planning, land governance, biodiversity conservation and sustainable land management.
Climate & Territorial Resilience
Climate adaptation, risk management and resilience strategies for rural regions.
Tourism & Territorial Promotion
Sustainable tourism, cultural events and strategies for promoting rural territories
Security & Human Mobility
Migration, geopolitics, cross-border dynamics and security challenges in rural areas.
WHO SHOULD PARTICIPATE?
We welcome submissions from:
Researchers and academics
Practitioners and professionals
Policymakers and public institutions
PhD and Master’s students
Community leaders and territorial actors
SUBMISSION FORMATS
Participants may submit proposals in one of the following formats:
Oral Presentation
Presentation of research papers, case studies or conceptual contributions in thematic sessions.
Poster Presentation
Visual presentation with short oral explanation and discussion.
Poster (Visual Format Only)
Poster displayed during the conference without oral presentation.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
All abstracts submitted to RURDYNAMIX 2026 must be original and aligned with one or more of the conference thematic areas.
Abstracts should have between 200 and 300 words and must clearly present the main elements of the proposed contribution, including:
the research context and relevance;
the main objective(s);
the methodological approach;
the expected or preliminary results;
the scientific, territorial, social, institutional or policy contribution of the work.
Abstracts should be written in clear academic language and should demonstrate the originality, relevance and contribution of the research to the debate on rural dynamics, resilience, innovation and territorial sustainability. Abstract canshould written in English / Portuguese / Spanish.
Submissions that are merely descriptive, lack a clear research question or objective, or do not demonstrate sufficient connection with the conference themes may not be accepted.
Each abstract must include:
title;
author name(s);
institutional affiliation(s);
contact email of the corresponding author;
3 to 5 keywords;
indication of the preferred thematic axis.
All accepted abstracts will be included in the official Book of Abstracts of RURDYNAMIX 2026, to be published by the University of Porto, with ISBN and DOI.
PUBLICATION STRATEGY
RURDYNAMIX 2026 will adopt a multi-level publication strategy to ensure scientific dissemination at different stages of maturity of submitted works.
Book of Abstracts
All accepted abstracts will be included in the official Book of Abstracts of RURDYNAMIX 2026, to be published by the University of Porto, with an ISBN and a DOI.
This publication will serve as the official record of the scientific contributions presented at the conference and will include the abstracts accepted after peer review by the Scientific Committee.
Proceedings Publication
MDPI Proceedings
Following the acceptance of abstracts, selected authors will be invited to submit a Proceeding Paper to a dedicated conference volume to be published in MDPI Proceedings (ISSN: 2504- 3900).
These proceeding papers will be published in open access, made available online, and will be fully citable. No additional publication fees will be charged to authors. The proceeding papers should be written in English and may be up to 8 pages long, following the official MDPI Proceedings template and author instructions.
As in the previous edition, the publication will be subject to a documented peer-review process, using the review report templates previously provided by MDPI. The final selection of papers will be based on scientific quality, relevance to the conference themes, compliance with the publication guidelines, and completion of the review process.
After publication, the conference proceedings volume is expected to be submitted for evaluation for indexing in Web of Science – Conference Proceedings Citation Index (CPCI), following the procedure adopted in the previous collaboration. The final decision regarding indexation remains the responsibility of the indexing database.
Special Issues / Full Paper Opportunities
The Organising Committee is developing additional publication opportunities, including special issues and/or edited publications in partnership with scientific journals and academic publishers.
These opportunities are intended for authors who wish to submit extended, substantially revised versions of their conference papers. Submissions to special issues will be subject to the editorial policies, peer-review procedures, and quality standards of each journal or publisher.
Further information regarding these publication opportunities will be shared with participants
during and after the conference.
PUBLICATION OPPORTUNITY – CADERNOS DE GEOGRAFIA (WEB OF SCIENCE)
RURDYNAMIX 2026 is pleased to announce a publication opportunity in collaboration with Cadernos de Geografia, a peer-reviewed scientific journal edited by the University of Coimbra, the oldest university in Portugal and one of the oldest in Europe.
Indexed in Web of Science and other international databases, the journal provides an excellent platform for the dissemination of high-quality research in Geography, territorial studies, rural development, sustainability, resilience and spatial planning.
Following the conference, a selection of the best contributions may be invited to submit full papers for a thematic dossier in Cadernos de Geografia. All submissions will be subject to the journal’s regular editorial policies and peer-review process.
ORGANISERS
RUR_DYNAMIX 2026 is organised through a collaboration between academic institutions, research centres and local authorities committed to the sustainable development of rural territories.
