The conference program worked out very well in Belgrade this year. We had more than 100 presentations spanning from regular papers, ignite talks, symposia and panel discussions, including both experienced researchers and members of the network, and emerging researchers.
The conference began with an opening workshop that addressed this year’s special call from the network From the Margins to the Mainstream (or) what happens when every education becomes an environmental education? with contributions from Maria Kondratjic and Maarten Deleye in the convenor group of NW30, and Elisabet Langmann from NW13 Philosophy of Education. We also addressed the 50 years anniversary for the Belgrade Charter, a policy document with a prominent position in the history of environmental education. Background and resources for a critical appreciation of the charter was provided by Alan Reid, editor of Environmental Education Review, also shared in advance. These two issues were discussed in groups using padlet, summed up by Paul Vare.
The opening session this year also included an art project involving Rachel Wooller and Juliane Höhle, with support from the EERA. The project will be followed up at ECER 2026 in Tampere.
Local colleagues led by Milica Marušić Jablanović, Institute for Educational Research, Belgrade organized the social event on Wednesday 10 September, where we met with representatives of the environmental movement in Serbia sharing their activities and concerns. They also presented central aspects of the history of environmental education in Serbia in the business meeting on Thursday 11 September. These significant contributions gave us a valuable sense of place, further strengthened by regular presentations in the conference program.
Our membership continues to grow. We now have 518 members on our mailing list. We send out a newsletter to this list every 6 weeks to share news across the field.
We have had a shift in link convenor this year, Elsa Lee stepped down after 5 years, succeeded by Güliz Karaarslan Semiz and Ole Andreas Kvamme who share the role. Two new co-convenors were elected this year, Konstantinos (‘Kostas’) Korfiatus and Katrien Van Poeck.