The Open Landscape Academy (OLA) invites researchers, practitioners, and activists to submit proposals for an online symposium exploring the intersections of landscape democracy, co-creation, and democratic landscape transformation. This symposium aims to foster a dynamic exchange of ideas and practices that advance more inclusive, participatory, and equitable landscapes. We welcome contributions in the form of 10-minute presentations accompanied, if applicable, by a 30-minute methods workshop, providing an opportunity for both knowledge sharing and hands-on engagement. For inspiration, we encourage participants to consult the OLA Charta for Democratic Landscape Transformation.

The symposium will take place on Zoom on May 23, 2025, starting approx. around 14 pm CEST. The symposium extends the OLA online spring seminar.

Presenters will have the opportunity to have their work featured in an upcoming special issue of an open-access journal (tba). A short paper of max 2000 words should be completed by July 15, 2025. The short paper will be blind peer-reviewed.

Themes of Interest

OLA welcomes contributions that address, but are not limited to, the following themes:

• Landscape Democracy in Action: Case studies and theoretical reflections on participation in landscape transformation.

• Co-creation and Community Engagement: Methods, tools, and experiences in collaborative design and decision-making.

• Policy and Governance for Democratic Landscapes: Exploring frameworks, policies, and institutional approaches to participatory landscape management.

• Education and Capacity Building: Innovations in teaching and learning for empowering communities in landscape co-creation.

• Digital and Hybrid Tools for Participation: The role of digital platforms and new media in fostering democratic landscape transformation.

• Living Labs and Experimental Approaches: The role of Living Labs as real-world environments for testing and co-developing participatory landscape practices.

Important Dates

• Submission Deadline: 13.04.2025

• Notification of Acceptance: 27.04.2025

• Seminar Date: 23.05.2025 (and a second date in September tba)

Submission Process

Please submit your long abstract as a PDF or Word document via this platform.

For inquiries, contact info@openlandscapeacademy.org