CONFERENCE
RUR_DYNAMIX 2026 – IV International Conference on Rural Dynamics, Resilience and Innovation
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
RUR_DYNAMIX 2026 is the fourth edition of an international conference dedicated to rural dynamics, resilience and territorial transformation in times of uncertainty. The event brings together researchers, policymakers, practitioners and territorial actors to foster interdisciplinary dialogue on innovation, sustainability and the future of rural regions.
First launched in 2022 at the University of Porto, the conference has grown in scope and participation, evolving into a broader international platform. In 2026, it returns with a strengthened biennial structure and an expanded focus on the environmental, social and economic challenges facing rural territories.
CONFERENCE OBJECTIVES
Promote interdisciplinary discussion on rural dynamics and resilience.
Share research results and innovative practices related to rural development.
Foster collaboration between researchers, institutions and territorial actors.
Contribute to policy debates on the future of rural territories.
CONFERENCE STRUCTURE
The conference programme will include keynote lectures, thematic sessions, roundtable discussions and opportunities for networking among participants.
The event aims to create a space for dialogue between academia, public institutions and territorial stakeholders working in rural contexts.
ORGANISING COMMITTEE
Chair
Diogo Miguel Pinto
University of Porto, CEGOT
Co-chair
João Almeida
University of Maia, Rural Move
Members
Aline Pascoalino
Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP)
Ana Gonçalves
IGOT, University of Lisbon
Andrea Barbosa
Rural Move
Anderson Felipe
Universidade Estadual do Piauí (UESPI)
Brigitte Botequim
ForestWISE CoLAB, CEF
Eunice Duarte
University of Évora, CITUR
Hélder Lopes
University of Minho
Iván Tartaruga
FLUP, University of Porto | CEGOT
Maria João Horta Parreira
Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, CICS.NOVA
Raquel Branquinho
FLUP, Universidade do Porto | ArmaSci
Dora Gomes
University of Aveiro, Rural Move
Tiago Mesquita
University of Coimbra, CIAS-UC
SCIENTIFIC HONOUR COMMITTEE
Chair of the Honour Committee
António Covas
University of Algarve
Members
Helena Freitas
University of Coimbra, Portugal
Artur Cristóvão
University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Portugal
Luís Loures
President of the Polytechnic University of Portalegre, Portugal
Elisabete Figueiredo
GOVCOPP, University of Aveiro, Portugal
Firmino Cordeiro
Young Farmers’ Association of Portugal
Francisco Simões
Chair European Rural Youth Observatory
João Pedro Gouveia
CENSE, NOVA-FCT, Portugal
Fátima Vélez de Castro
RISCOS / Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
Mercês Covas
University of Algarve, Portugal
Serafín Pazos-Vidal
AEIDL, Belgium
Paulo Nossa
CEGOT, University of Coimbra, Portugal
Helena Nogueira
Centre for Anthropology and Health (CIAS), University of Coimbra, Portugal
Ana Cristina Câmara
President APROFGEO Association of Geography Teachers, Portugal
Luís Almeida
Associação Vale d’Ouro
Norberto Santos
CEGOT, University of Coimbra
Luís Loures
Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre, Portugal
Álvaro Domingues
University of Porto, Portugal
José Portela
University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Portugal
Firmino Cordeiro
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
Chair of the Scientific Committee
João Almeida
University of Maia, Rural Move, Portugal
Members
Adélia Nunes
University of Coimbra, Portugal
Elisabeth Kastenholz
GOVCOPP, University of Aveiro, Portugal
Fátima Velez de Castro
University of Coimbra, Portugal
Filipe Sampaio Rodrigues
University of Maia, Portugal
Georgios Boustras
CERIDES, European University of Cyprus, Cyprus
Joaquim Mamede Alonso
Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, Portugal
Maria Lúcia Pato
CERNAS, Polytechnic University of Viseu, Portugal
Raquel Barreto
CIDTFF, University of Aveiro, Portugal
Raquel Branquinho
ARMA-Sci, Armamar / FLUP, University of Porto, Portugal
Renata Martins Pacheco
Institute of Agri-Food Research and Technology, Catalunya, Spain
Susana da Silva Pereira
University of Porto, Portugal
Theodore M. Giannaros
National Observatory of Athens, Greece
Fernando Belezas
ESTG, Polytechnic University of Porto, Portugal
Ilaria Mariotti
DAStU-Politecnico di Milano, Italy
Aare Kasemets
Estonian Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture, Estonia
Lisa Moran
Technological University of the Shannon, Ireland
Alistair Adam-Hernández
Universität Vechta, Germany
Mariano Soler-Porta
Universidad de Málaga, Spain
Francisco Simões
CIS-ISCTE, Portugal
Bernardo Mançano Fernandes
São Paulo State University, Brazil
Susana Araújo
MORE CoLAB, Portugal
Gustavo Luís Schacht
Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia, Brazil
Maria Marta dos Santos Buriti
Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Brazil
Eduardo Jonas Gomes
IGOT/CEG, University of Lisbon, Portugal
Diogo Gaspar Silva
IGOT/CEG, University of Lisbon, Portugal
Cláudia Viana
IGOT/CEG, University of Lisbon, Portugal
Karine Bueno Vargas
Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Maria Mercês Covas
University of Algarve, Portugal
Hossein Azadi
Ghent University, Belgium
Marcin Wójcik
University of Lodz, Poland
Roberta Andrade
University of Beira Interior, Portugal
Lívia Madureira
University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Portugal
Luís Moreno
University of Lisbon, Portugal
Marcin Wójcik
University of Lodz, Poland
Maria Elisabete Soares
Polytechnic Institute of Guarda, Portugal
Maria Francisca Saraiva
University of Lisbon, Portugal
Maria José Roxo
Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Portugal
Michael Woods
Aberystwyth University, United Kingdom
Michele Salis
Institute of BioEconomy (IBE), National Research Council, Italy
Milen Penerliev
University of Shumen, Bulgaria
Norberto Santos
University of Coimbra, Portugal
Paula Remoaldo
University of Minho, Portugal
Paulina Tobiasz-Lis
University of Lodz, Poland
Paulo Jorge Santos
University of Porto, Portugal
Regina Cohen Barros
Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Regina Salvador
Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Portugal
Sandra Oliveira
University of Lisbon, Portugal
Slavi Dimitrov
Veliko Tarnovo University, Bulgaria
Suk Kyeong Kang
Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, Turkey
Stella Dermendzhieva
Veliko Tarnovo University, Bulgaria
Tialda Haartsen
University of Groningen, Netherlands
Ulrike Grabski-Kieron
University of Münster, Germany
Valentina Bacciu
Institute of BioEconomy (IBE), Italy
Virgílio Borges Pereira
University of Porto, Portugal
Virgílio Falco
University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Portugal
Yvon Le Caro
Université Rennes 2, France
Ana Isabel Correia Ribeiro
University of Porto, Portugal
José Leandro Azevedo de Almeida Barros
University of Porto, Portugal
Susana da Silva Pereira
University of Porto, Portugal
Aleksandar Lukić
University of Zagreb, Croatia
Fiona Haslam McKenzie
University of Western Australia, Australia
Valeria Paül
University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Antje Jantsch
Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO), Germany
Raquel Branquinho
ArmaSci, GOMA, Portugal
CONFERENCE SECRETARIAT
Members
Célia Figueiras
Município de Barcelos
Sílvia Oliveira
Ministério da Educação, Ciência e Inovação
Beatriz Pinho
Association Maison De L’europe De Lot Et Garonne
Rafael Oliveira
Rural Move, Portugal
Sofia Cardoso
Rural Move, Portugal
Leonardo Andrade
Rural Move, Portugal
Freya van Dien
Rural Move
FORMER MEMBERS OF THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE
Members
Aline Pascoalino
Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP)
Ana Gonçalves
University of Lisbon (CEG)
Andrea Barbosa
Rural Move
Anderson Felipe
Universidade Estadual do Piauí (UESPI)
ORGANISERS & PARTNERS
RUR_DYNAMIX 2026 is organised through a collaboration between academic institutions, research centres and local authorities committed to the sustainable development of rural territories.
