Activities Summer Term 2021  
The starting points for 2022’s IS4CE conference, slated for 15-17 March are collaboration, inclusiveness and systems thinking in an emerging era of circular economy. We hereby invite you to join us on a collaborative journey towards the 2nd Conference of the IS4CE and beyond.

The circular economy, although variously interpreted, is undoubtedly centred on systemic relationships: it could not be otherwise in systems where feedback dominates. Taking a cue from systems means designing eco-effective and not just eco-efficient approaches. It means   working at different scales towards socio-technical transformation which meets the aspirations of sustainable well-being.

To energise the journey, we will organize a series of workshops and seminars. The ambition within this programme is to support you in developing ideas and knowledge and stimulate co-creation with actors that bring in additional value – or indeed values –to your original ideas. Our overall aim is increased collaboration and to generate more system wide solutions and create rich avenues for research. 

Important IS4CE dates and events 
Workshop 1 What are the current and upcoming circular economy related needs?

Part 1 – 17^th MAY 16:00-17:00 (CEST) 
Join either or both parts. The focus in Part 1 will be on identifying circular economy related needs. A consultation workshop for full IS4CE members. Zoom Link in members area, just log in. The questions: does the conference strapline reflect the needs and aspirations of researchers and others when thinking about future directions? If not what is missing or preferable? Short introduction, polling and then breakout groups followed by distillation of responses (to be published on the website). Join us to help shape the development of the conference in tune with the membership.

Workshop 2 What are the current and upcoming circular economy related needs?

Part 2 – 31^st MAY 15:00-17:00 (CEST) 
A follow up workshop. It is possible to join this workshop without having been involved in Part 1 and affiliate members are welcome. The second workshop invites all interested parties, e.g. large, medium and small sized companies, municipalities, NGO’s, industry organizations, researchers, etc. The goal is to start up a dialoge and identify the immediate and practical needs from these parties and to try to find new collaboration forms e.g. that companies finds interesting companies, researchers and organizations to collaborate with that might ends up in new papers or that researchers finds new perspectives covered by other researchers ripe for collaboration.

Workshop 3 An attractive inclusive circular and sustainable world – going beyond emergent needs.

Part 1 – 14^th JUNE 15:00-17:00 (CEST) 
Widening the discussion, a two stage programme. Humanity has always aimed for a better world. We have used our ability to imagine the future and a better life, and with words and other related means done our best to explain and inspire our communities – to get them into the “boat” to the future. At the same time, we are tied to our history and way of thinking, e.g. the current linear economic model, for language, vocabulary and cultural context. This seminar/workshop will discuss several of these aspects, and elaborate on what we think, is core for an attractive inclusive circular and sustainable world from a systems perspective. This workshop will end by the forming of volunteer groups that will work elaborating on this issue in between this meeting and the following 2nd meeting, see below.

Workshop 4 An attractive inclusive circular and sustainable world – going beyond emergent needs

Part 2 – 5^th JULY 16:00-17:00 (CEST) 
This seminar/workshop will follow-up the 1st meeting, see above. Each group will present their findings and it will be an overall “consensus seeking” discussion. The ambition is not to find “an answer” but to get cogent ideas relevant to the title of this workshop. Some related and linked questions will be listed and carried forward. The ambition is to use this consensus as a reference for the March 2022 conference and its presentations. 

Workshop 5 How much is sufficient? 

27^th SEP 15:00-17:00 (CEST) 
This will start with a panel of policy makers, companies, customers and NGOs who will discuss the issue and engage in an extended Q&A. The aim is to locate the circular economy of production, use and exchange within the economy as a whole.

Workshop 6 IS4CE Conference 2022 Follow-up

(Tbc) April 2022 14:00-17:00 (CET) 

Building the Network - Call for Volunteers 
IS4CE is establishing working groups to further activity within a number of key arenas. If members wish to put themselves forward to help shape and deliver IS4CE programmes please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before April 30 th. The key working groups at this stage are:

•  Conferences and Events
•  Social Media and Communications
•  Membership Support and Adminstration (Secretariat) including Technical support for website
•  Ideation/ Special Interest Groups
•  Knowledge sharing/Education and Training 

The expectation will be that working groups will be action orientated and limited to approximately 6 members for ease of working. 
A special someone is invited to manage the networking and liaison between administration and working groups and the temporary board.

Ken Webster Director of the IS4CE (2020-21)

Special Issue of Circular Economy and Sustainability.

Check the Journal website for updates. Online and open access items are available now

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