AESOP Young Academic Conference 2025

In the face of unprecedented urbanisation and environmental challenges, the demand for innovative and sustainable approaches to urban and regional development and design has reached a critical juncture. This is the starting point to further examine and elaborate the concept of circularity.

The 19th AESOP Young Academics Conference, with the focus on ’Circular Cities and Regions - Planning for Sustainable Social and Inclusive Communities’ took place in Hanover, Germany, from 17 to 21 March 2025.

Young Academics and practitioners were invited to submit their research and innovative ideas. The objectives encompass integrating circular principles into the very fabric of cities and regions, seeking to minimise waste, maximise resource efficiency, and cultivate sustainable innovation and development. This ensures that solutions are intricately tailored to the unique needs of each region, addressing issues of equity, accessibility, social innovation and cohesion. The discussions delved into evaluating existing policy frameworks and proposing novel strategies facilitating the transition to circular urban and regional planning, emphasising regulatory incentives and governance structures. Therefore, representatives from different disciplines (e.g. science, politics, associations, etc.,) as keynotes were invited to discuss and exchange various opinions, circumstances and options. The conference was divided into four tracks:

• Space: Built Environment and Urban Design

Traditionally perceived as linear, planning and architecture have contributed to significant resource consumption and land use. In response to climate change, there’s a shift towards sustainable, circular planning models endorsed by initiatives like Amsterdam’s circular strategy. This transition necessitates planners to embrace adaptive strategies for evolving environmental and societal conditions.

Keynote speaker: Mina Di Marino

• Links: Mobility, Economy and Energy

Regions and cities, as future logistic and mobility hubs, must integrate circular solutions to transform infrastructure into accessible and clean mobility systems, thus reducing pollution and congestion. Collaborations are essential between economic, social, and municipal actors to enhance synergies, such as sustainable waste management and better utilization of resources, fostering a circular economy. Increasing public awareness and strategic incentives are vital for developing sustainable energy solutions and transforming excessive infrastructure into green spaces, thereby involving local knowledge in the transition process.

Keynote speaker: Meike Levin-Keitel

• Communities: Societies, Culture and Participation

This track emphasizes the exploration of circular urban planning and design and its transformative effect on communities, aligning with the Global Sustainable Development Goals, particularly target 12. It focuses on how circular initiatives impact lifestyles, social structures, and community well-being, highlighting the importance of cultural diversity and community engagement in developing circular cities that reflect unique local identities. Participants are encouraged to participate in discussions and examine case studies, with an emphasis on collaboration among citizens, businesses, and local communities to create socially inclusive, innovative, and circular communities.

Keynote speaker: Francesco Campagnari

• Recycling: Waste Management, Nutrition and Food

In alignment with the Global Sustainable Development Goals, specifically target 12, the EU aims to halve food waste by 2030, necessitating both technological innovations and cooperative circular systems for production and consumption. Track 4 emphasizes creating and implementing circular waste management strategies, as highlighted by the European Consumer Food Waste Forum’s identified interventions to reduce food waste. Achieving these goals requires widespread support and participation from industry, local initiatives, and citizens, embedding the principles of reducing, reusing, and recycling in daily life to realize ecological, social, and economic benefits such as reduced transport for regional foods and sustainable practices in gastronomy.

Keynote speaker: K.B.J. (Karel) Van den Berghe

This event brought together young academics and practitioners from around Europe to share their latest findings and ideas. The conference featured a diverse program including keynote speeches, presentations, workshops and small social events:

The conference will be hosted by Young Academics from the Faculty of Architecture and Landscape Sciences (FAL) at Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University Hannover. The conference is funded by the Ministry of Science and Culture of Lower Saxony (“Programm zukunft.niedersachsen“) and from the Faculty of Architecture and Landscape Sciences Hanover (FAL).

Further details see AESOP YA Conference 2025

Dr. Lena Greinke, Dr. Arch. Federica Scaffidi, Dr. Linda Lange & Johanna Richter Ph.D (Local Organising Committee (LOC)) with Student Assistance Gizem Yilmaz (M.Sc.) & Aaron Gibson (M.Sc.)