Final reminder: URBIO Australia conference - call for papers extended until 30 May
- s-architecture
- Jun 12
- 3 min read
Dear all,
Please find enclosed information about upcoming conference.
Note: this is the second call as we have extended the abstract submission until the 30 May.
Urban Biodiversity and Design in Australasia: research, teaching, and collaboration opportunities East to West 2025 International Conference
University of Western Australia (UWA), Perth, Australia
31 July 2025 – 2 August 2025
The goal of this conference is to recognise and reflect upon existing research, teaching and the collaboration of implemented projects across Australasia and to discuss current and future directions for joint research, teaching and professional projects, as well as the exchange of expertise between researchers and practitioners from Australasia and other regions of the world. This conference specifically targets Australian and New Zealand scholars, practitioners and stakeholders across landscape architecture, planning, urban design, and the ecological sciences. However, scholars from other regions as well as other fields of expertise such as geography, architecture, ecology, and conservation biology would be warmly welcomed to contribute to the emerging conversation.
About URBIO:
Urban biodiversity and designing biodiversity-friendly environments are critical themes in research and teaching globally. To advance these through sustained engagement with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the International Network on Urban Biodiversity and Design (URBIO) was established in 2008 in Erfurt, Germany. Since then, URBIO has grown into a well-connected international network of scholars and professionals focused on various aspects of urban biodiversity and urban ecology, with particular emphasis on applying research to urban planning and design, landscape architecture, maintenance and social and human wellbeing.
While the majority of URBIO's research has originated in Europe and the United States, biodiversity-friendly landscape and planning projects, as well as urban ecology research are becoming increasingly popular in Australia and New Zealand. At the beginning of the 21st century, the loss and fragmentation of landscapes along with the decline of their unique flora and fauna has become particularly acute in Australia and New Zealand. On the one hand, these countries still host unique biodiversity (recognised as biodiversity hotspots) and Indigenous cultural landscapes. On the other hand, they are experiencing rapid urbanisation and a sustained ecological crisis.
Urban ecology and the design of biodiversity-friendly urban landscapes in Australia are still in their infancy, and there is currently a lack of a forum for the exchange of research, teaching, and project ideas and experiences. Typically, Australian and New Zealand-based conferences on urban biodiversity target the native components of urban ecosystems and their restoration. This conference, however, opens up a broader conversation, welcoming research and projects that showcase other approaches, perspectives and framings of urban biodiversity and design. This includes new viewpoints on urban nature such as informal, spontaneous, and designed natures, green infrastructure, novel ecosystems, as well as biodiversity friendly design and nature-based-solutions (NBS).
About the Conference:
This conference also introduces URBIO's ideas and provides an opportunity for stronger integration into the international research and teaching activities.
The conference will host a range of keynote speakers from across the region and internationally and will combine key moments for discussion and dialogue among participants through engaging thematic-based speed talks and roundtables that will establish new levels of understanding and participation. This will be of interest to existing scholars, practitioners, local and state government representatives, and others.
PhD and other students will be very welcome.
This conference specifically targets Australian and New Zealand scholars, practitioners, and stakeholders across landscape architecture, planning, urban design and the ecological sciences. However, scholars from other regions as well as other fields of expertise such as geography, architecture, ecology, and conservation biology would be warmly welcomed to contribute to the emerging conversation.
We plan to publish a multiauthor peer-review paper based on the outcomes of the conference and will also call for publishing a special issue in Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, Urban Ecosystems or Landscape Review.
Organising Committee:
Dr. Maria Ignatieva (chair) Professor of Landscape Architecture, School of Design, The University of Western Australia President of URBIO, Urban Biodiversity and Design International Network: maria.ignatieva@uwa.edu.au
Dr. Simon Kilbane (vice-chair) Discipline Chair (Landscape Architecture) School of Design
The University of Western Australia: simon.kilbane@uwa.edu.au
Conference fee:
$150AUD: 3 days participation
$50AUD: student fee
$50AUD: online participation
Thanks and please reach out if you have any queries. All details including abstract submission details can be found at: https://urbio2025.tilda.ws/
Simon Kilbane | Senior Lecturer | Discipline Chair (Landscape Architecture)
School of Design
University of Western Australia
