Abstract Submission Guidelines

Abstract Submission is Now Closed

The deadline for all submissions is April 1, 2019.

Abstract submissions are invited for:

Academic paper — poster
Academic paper — presentation
Practitioner — poster
Practitioner — presentation
Practitioner — workshop or field trip

The program committee will review submissions on a rolling basis and will notify proponents from April 1, 2019 onwards. Select papers accepted for publication by the Program Committee will be published by Springer in an edited volume. Additionally, all accepted abstract authors will be invited to have their abstract and/or a full paper or presentation published in an online Summit proceedings organized by Ecocity Builders.

Please refer to the Important Dates for more information regarding notifications. Further guidelines will be provided to accepted Authors. In all cases, the decision of the Program Committee will be final.

All accepted submissions will be assigned to a poster or program session, organized by theme and track. Full details of session days, times and status of abstract (oral vs poster) will be issued on June 3, 2019.

Note: notifications were sent on June 4. If you haven't received your notification, please contact .

Summit Themes

The following themes will be present across the Summit program to spark ideas that build bridges for action through interactive and inter-disciplinary engagement:

Primary theme: Socially Just and Ecologically Sustainable Cities
Sub-theme 1: Climate Action
Sub-theme 2: Circular Economy
Sub-theme 3: Informal Solutions for Sustainable Development

All submissions must identify only one theme or sub-theme. Submissions may be relevant to multiple themes and more information to help you choose is provided on this page and related links. The Program Committee will use the selected theme to guide the initial placement of an accepted abstract in a program session. Themes and sub-themes will be given equal consideration.

For more information, please refer to the Theme, Vision and Goals page: http://ecocity2019.com/theme-vision-and-goals/

Summit Tracks

There are four concurrent tracks within the Summit program, based on the four pillars of the International Ecocity Standards as follows:

Urban Design
Bio-geophysical Conditions
Socio-cultural Features
Ecological Imperatives

Within these pillars reside 18 standards that describe the conditions of an ecocity.

In addition to identifying a Summit theme, all submissions must identify one or more listed keywords in the abstract portal. The keywords align with the 18 International Ecocity Standards. This will allow the Program Committee to place an accepted abstract in an appropriate program track.

For more information, please refer to the Program at a Glance page: http://ecocity2019.com/program-at-a-glance/

Choosing a Theme/Sub-theme

When choosing which theme or sub-theme best represents your abstract, consider the following points to help guide your decision:

Building the Bridge to Socially Just and Ecologically Sustainable Cities

Building and operating cities in balance with nature
Using biomimicry and regenerative design
Managing human impacts to ensure ecological integrity is maintained
Providing equitable access to resources needed to live a dignified life
Reconciling benefit-takers with cost-bearers in resource consumption and development
Using intelligence of design to create sustainable solutions
Using the public realm to support community participation and development

Climate Action

Aligning the urban environment with ecosystem services
Working within ecological limits and systems interdependence
Recognizing the city as interface between climate action and impacts
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Accounting for consumption-based emissions (not just production)
Working towards resilience and adaptation across the spectrum of biophysical conditions (air, water, soil, resources/materials, energy, food)
Understanding international migration resulting from dislocation of people (climate refugees)
Identifying clean technology solutions for efficient and renewable energy
Mobilizing community for one-planet living

Circular Economy

Changing assumptions about economic processes that help or hinder prosperity
Increasing opportunity while reducing absolute energy and material flows (decoupling)
Bending the urban metabolism
Sharing and repurposing things through new socioeconomic pathways
Using bioregional approaches to local provisioning

Informal Solutions for Sustainable Development

Addressing the limited administrative capacity to respond to multitude of issues
Understanding informal settlements as spaces of innovation to drive solutions for climate action, adaptation to environmental risk, and access to shelter and services
Recognizing, capturing, and engaging spontaneous solutions for sustainability and resilience
Supporting participatory decision making
Evolving healthy culture in lifestyles and behaviours
Practising permaculture

For more information, please contact .

Preparing and Formatting an Abstract

Thank you for your interest in submitting an abstract for Ecocity World Summit 2019. The deadline for all submissions is April 1, 2019. The Program Committee will review abstracts on a rolling basis with notifications on acceptance and rejection in the program from April 1, 2019 onwards. In all cases, the decision of the Program Committee will be final.

All accepted submissions will be assigned to the appropriate session for an oral/poster presentation, workshop/field trip. Full details of session days, times and status of abstract (oral vs poster) will be issued on June 3, 2019.

Preparing and Formatting an Abstract:

Abstracts can only be submitted online using the Abstract Submission portal available on the conference website
Abstracts must be submitted in English
There is no fee for submitting an abstract
Abstracts must not exceed 400 words in length (not including title and authors)
There is no limit to the number of abstracts you may submit. However, an individual may not be offered more than two presentations (oral or poster)
No references, tables or graphics should be included in the abstract
It is the responsibility of the author to ensure abstract text does not contain any typos or grammatical errors. The Program Committee will not be responsible for any errors published
Please carefully review the affiliation of all co-authors as this is how it will appear in the Online Abstract Book as well as the Ecocity World Summit 2019 Program. You will be given the opportunity to identify a presenter at the time of abstract submission
Once submitted, you will no longer be able to make edits to the abstract. If you need to make changes prior to the submission deadline, please contact us at

Abstract Submission and Important Dates

Abstract Submission is now open!

You should receive a confirmation email within 24 hours of submitting your abstract. If you do not, please contact us at .

Important Dates:

Abstract submission site opening: September 19, 2018
Abstract submission deadline: April 1, 2019 (23:59 PST)
Abstract notifications: rolling basis from April 1 – June 3, 2019
Session notifications to accepted presenters: June 3, 2019
Presenter confirmation deadline: June 10, 2019
Presenting author registration deadline: September 1, 2019
Presenting author and abstract title change deadline: September 1, 2019

Academic Paper Presentations Oral

A paper presentation refers to a developed theoretical topic, policy area, an ongoing project or program evaluation suitable for publication in an academic journal. Presenters from any organizational setting are welcome to present an academic paper. Paper presentations will have the following characteristics:

15 – 20 minute duration
One presenter per abstract submitted
In a session with up to four other presentations
A question-and-answer period will take place at the end of the session

Academic Paper Submission Rules:

Each paper can be submitted under one theme
Each paper must select at least one track from the pre-populated list of keywords
Paper submissions should be original work. Any papers selected for publication by Springer will require confirmation of the author(s) ability to assign copyright to the publisher
No changes can be made to the submitted abstract after the submission deadline

Practitioner Presentations

A practitioner oral presentation provides a structured format to a group of experts wanting to present on a common topic for the purpose of accelerating action towards ecocities. Expertise is broadly defined to include, but is not limited to, urban professionals, Indigenous leaders, community activists, public officials, scholars, artists and entrepreneurs.

Presentations should engage the Summit audience in critical reflection and discussion on key issues. Professional presentations should have the following characteristics:

15 - 20 minutes for each presenter
One presenter per abstract submitted
In a session with up to three other presenters
A question-and-answer period will take place at the end of the session

Practitioner Presentation Submission Rules:

Each presentation can be submitted under one theme
Each presentation must select at least one track from the pre-populated list of keywords
No changes can be made to the submitted abstract after the submission deadline

Workshop and Field Trips

Limited spots are available for workshops or field trips. These sessions provide an opportunity for a group of interested delegates to be engaged in intensive discussion and activity on a particular topic. They can feature educational material with a focus on emerging trends, promising practices, applied research and replicable programs. In addition to building new knowledge, workshops and field trips can educate delegates on particular skills that can be used in a practical setting such as participatory research methods, community engagement strategies, use of social media, mobile applications, building local ecocity food systems, ecocity finance and ecocity design.

These sessions may be structured in a form of a crafted panel, a dialogue or debate, case studies and interactive activities. Workshops and field trips should have the following characteristics:

One to two hours, half day or full day in duration. You must include this information within your abstract submission
They may be held in the Vancouver Convention Centre or the field, please note that no expenses will be covered by the Summit. If the Workshop is to be held in the Convention Centre, a room and basic AV will be provided
One to three facilitators/speakers
No changes can be made to the submitted workshop submission after the submission deadline

Workshop and Field Trip Abstract Submission Rules:

Each abstract must select at least one track from the pre-populated list of keywords
Include your proposed duration (one to two hours, half day or full day)
Include the location of the Workshop or Field Trip (Vancouver Convention Centre or in the field)
No changes can be made to the submitted workshop submission after the submission deadline
Ensure you have identified all the facilitators within the workshop
Each workshop abstract can only be submitted under one theme