31st Annual Conference

Transdisciplinary
Science in Action

Join researchers, practitioners, and policymakers from around the world to explore how transdisciplinary science shapes real-world impact.

August 23–26, 2026 Conference Dates
KU Leuven, Belgium Historic Venue
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Conference 2026

Society for Design and Process Science

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Submission Deadline: May 31, 2026
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About the Conference

Bridging Disciplines for Global Impact

The 31st Annual Conference of the Society for Design and Process Science (SDPS 2026) invites scholars, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers from around the world to submit original research contributions under the theme "Transdisciplinary Science in Action."

As global challenges grow increasingly complex and interconnected, solutions demand collaboration that transcends disciplinary boundaries. SDPS 2026 provides an international forum to explore how transdisciplinary science can be effectively designed, implemented, evaluated, and translated into real-world impact.

The conference aims to foster dialogue among natural sciences, social sciences, humanities, engineering, industry, government, and civil society, highlighting both theoretical advances and practical applications of transdisciplinary research.

31 Years Running
10+ Research Topics
4 Days of Sessions
KU Leuven Founded 1425
Call for Papers

Topics of Interest

We welcome paper submissions, workshop proposals, case studies, methodological contributions, and practice-oriented work on the following themes.

Theme

Transdisciplinary
Science

01

Foundations of Transdisciplinary Science

Philosophy, history, theory, epistemic integration, and conceptual frameworks underpinning transdisciplinary research.

02

Integrative Research Design and Process

Strategies for co-design, problem framing, and managing complexity in diverse teams.

03

Transdisciplinary Science in Policy and Governance

Evidence-based policymaking, science diplomacy, and addressing global challenges (SDGs, climate change, health).

04

Community-Engaged and Participatory Research

Citizen science, crowdsourcing, and methodologies for engaging local communities in scientific inquiry.

05

Methodologies and Tools for Transdisciplinary Research

Mixed methods, systems thinking, modeling, data integration, and digital platforms supporting collaboration.

06

Education and Capacity Building for Transdisciplinary Science

New pedagogies, curriculum design, training models, and institutional support structures.

07

Ethics, Equity, and Responsibility in Transdisciplinary Research

Power dynamics, inclusivity, indigenous knowledge, and responsible research and innovation (RRI).

08

Measuring Impact and Evaluation of Transdisciplinary Outcomes

Assessment frameworks, indicators, and evidence of societal, environmental, and policy impacts.

09

Case Studies of Transdisciplinary Science in Action

Lessons learned from real-world projects, including successes, failures, and best practices.

10

Digital Transformation and Transdisciplinary Collaboration

AI, big data, open science, and digital infrastructures enabling cross-boundary research.

Submit Your Work

Submission Guidelines

SDPS 2026 welcomes a variety of contributions from researchers and practitioners worldwide.

Accepted Submission Types

Submit General Paper
Full Research Papers
Short Papers & Work-in-Progress
Case Studies & Applied Research
Methodological & Conceptual Papers
Practice-Based & Policy Contributions
Download General Paper Template

Important Dates

Submission Deadline May 31, 2026
Acceptance Notification June 15, 2026
Final Manuscripts Due June 30, 2026
Early Registration Ends June 30, 2026
Registration Closes July 15, 2026
Conference Dates August 23–26, 2026
Doctoral Program

PhD Symposium

An opportunity for doctoral students to showcase their dissertation research and receive valuable feedback from experts.

Showcase Your Research

The SDPS 2026 doctoral symposium is an opportunity for doctoral students to showcase their dissertation research. Participants submit a required two-page abstract written according to the format set out by the symposium organizers.

All submissions will be considered by reviewers assigned by the symposium program chair. Notifications of decisions will be made at least a month before the conference start date.

10-Minute Presentation

Present your doctoral research with 5 minutes for Q&A

Expert Panel of Judges

Each presentation evaluated by three expert judges

Three Awards

Winners recognized at the Awards Banquet

Submit PhD Symposium Abstract

Limited to 3 accepted submissions. The symposium occurs on the first day of the conference.

Download PhD Symposium Abstract Template

Symposium Organizer

Dr. John N. Carbone

John_Carbone@Baylor.edu
Get in Touch

Conference Committee

Have questions? Reach out to our organizing committee.

Conference Chair

Dr. Ying Chyi Chou

ycchou0601@gmail.com

Co-Chair

Dr. Mey Goh

y.goh@lboro.ac.uk

Co-Chair

Dr. Varadraj Gurupur

Varadraj.Gurupur@ucf.edu

Co-Chair for Logistics

Dr. Pei Shan Chi

peishan.chi@kuleuven.be

Conference Coordinator

Dr. Hsin Chueh (Lily) Chen

pinkjaja@gmail.com

Conference Coordinator

Dr. Ching-Hua (Jimmy) Lu

chluds25@gmail.com

Treasurer

Dr. Fan Xiong

bearfran@gmail.com

PhD Symposium Organizer

Dr. John N. Carbone

John_Carbone@Baylor.edu

Committee Member

Dr. Raymond Yeh

raytyeh@gmail.com