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The 11th World Sustainability Forum

The 11th World Sustainability Forum

The 11th World Sustainability Forum

Sustainable and Resilient Cities

Part of the World Sustainability Forum series
2–3 October 2025, Barcelona, Spain
Abstract Submission Deadline
18 June 2025
Abstract Acceptance Notification
18 July 2025

Early Bird Registration Deadline
7 August 2025
Covering Author Registration Deadline
7 August 2025
Registration Deadline
18 September 2025
Sustainability, Resilience, Ecology, Environment, Landscape
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Welcome from the Chairs

The 11th World Sustainability Forum (WSF11) will be a 48-hour event held in Barcelona, and it stands as a catalyst for urban resilience and environmental sustainability, with a clear focus on forging partnerships and harnessing innovation to create novel solutions for today’s most urgent sustainability challenges. It provides a platform where ideas and visions are translated into concrete solutions for measurable progress in ecology, sustainability and environmental development.

The forum will have six main subjects focused on urban resilience, landscape and sustainability for social community impact.
WSF11 is part of a global sustainability forum series that is organized and supported by MDPI.

We are particularly hoping to address STEM research with the social sciences and policy makers.
We look forward to welcoming you in person and virtually!

Manuel Pedro Rodríguez Bolívar
Department of Accounting and Finance, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
Irene Petrosillo
Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy
Global Conference Chairs

Conference Secretariat
wsf11@mdpi.com

Event Chairs

Prof. Dr. Irene Petrosillo

Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy

Introduction
Bio
Irene Petrosillo is an Ecology professor at the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies at the University of Salento, Italy. Prof. Petrosillo has a degree in Biological Sciences with a specialization in Ecology. In 2005 she obtained her Ph.D. in Basic Ecology at the University of Salento and, after a period of post-Doc, she became a researcher of Ecology. Her research interests are mainly focused on multi-scales ecological assessments, landscape ecology, ecosystem services valuation, Land-use/land-cover change, and land degradation.

Prof. Dr. Manuel Pedro Rodríguez Bolívar

Department of Accounting and Finance, University of Granada, Granada, Spain

Introduction
Bio
Prof. Manuel Pedro Rodríguez Bolívar is Full Professor of Accounting at the University of Granada. He teaches Financial Accounting and Public Sector Accounting in the Department of Accounting and Finance, and he has been the coordinator of all subjects of Financial Accounting in the degrees of Finance and Accounting, Administration and Business Management, and double degree in Business Administration and Management and Law for more than 25 years. He has also been a visiting professor at the Utrecht Universiteit and the Sapienza University of Rome, and he is currently a professor of more than 4 official master's degrees, as well as a visiting lecturer in master's degrees in other universities such as the Autonomous University of Madrid. His research interests are mainly related to the disclosure of financial information, accountability, the implementation of emerging technologies in Public Administration, open government, smart governance in smart cities, public sector financial sustainability and analysis of international public sector accounting standards. He is considered one of the most influent scientists in the world in the field of e-government and smart cities, and he is author of a paper included in the list of the 20 "highly cited paper" by the Web of Science database (Thompson Reuters) in the field of smart cities.

Keynote Speaker

Prof. Dr. Cosimo Magazzino

Department of Political Science, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy,
Department of Methods and Models for Economics, Territory and Finance, Sapienza-University of Rome, Rome, Italy

Introduction
Bio
He is currently a Professor of Economic Policy, European Economic Policy, and Environmental and Energy Economics in the Department of Political Science, Roma Tre University (Italy); International Financial Markets, LINK Campus University (Italy); Environmental and Tourism Economics, "Niccolò Cusano" University (Italy). He is a member of the Ph.D. Council on Political Science, Roma Tre University (Italy). He coordinated the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) Research program “Quality of public finances and impact on potential output”. His research interests include: public finance; energy econometrics; environmental Kuznets curve; time series econometrics; panel data models; Machine Learning experiments; Artificial Neural Network analyses; environmental sustainability; circular economy; waste management; transportation infrastructure; agricultural economics.

Professor Weiqi Zhou

Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

Introduction
Bio
Weiqi Zhou received his B.Sc. degree in environmental sciences from Peking University, Beijing, in 2001; his M.Sc. degree in cartography and geographic information systems from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, in 2004; and his Ph.D. degree in natural resources from the University of Vermont, Burlington. He is currently working at the State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences as a research professor. He is experienced in urban landscape dynamic analysis using geographic information system and remote sensing technologies, especially with high spatial resolution remote sensing images.

Prof. Dr. Adel Ben Youssef

GREDEG CNRS, Université Côté d’Azur, 5 Rue du 22ème BCA, 06300 Nice, France

Introduction
Bio
Adel Ben Youssef is a Professor of Economics at the Université Côte d'Azur and a member of the CNRS research laboratory (GREDEG - CNR UMR 7321). He is also an associate researcher at the Economic Research Forum in Cairo and the Global Labor Organization in Bonn. He is an international expert on digital and ecological transitions for many international institutions. He is a founding member of the African Association of Artificial Intelligence and Industry 4.0 (AISMA). In addition, he was a negotiator for Tunisia at COP 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 (2017-2023) in the field of climate finance. He has published more than 100 academic articles in various renowned international journals. He is Editor-in-Chief of the Platforms Journal (MDPI), Associate Editor of the journals Development and Sustainability in Economics and Finance (Springer) and Green and Low-Carbon Economy (GLCE). He is ranked among the top 4% of economists in the last 10 years by REPEC and the top 2% of economists by scholar GPS.

Invited Speaker

Dr. Tommaso Caloiero

National Research Council of Italy - Research Institute for Geo-Hydrological Protection (CNR-IRPI), Rende (CS), Italy

Introduction
Bio
Tommaso Caloiero graduated in Civil Engineer (specialization in Hydraulic) from the University of Calabria. He received a Second level Master Degree in Mathematical Modelling of Hydrogeological Disaster from the same University and a Ph.D. in Hydraulic Engineering from the Politecnico of Milan. Since June 2011, he has been a researcher at the National Research Council - Institute for Agricultural and Forest Systems in the Mediterranean (CNR-ISAFOM), Rende (CS), Italy. In July 2017 he received the National Scientific Habilitation to be Associate Professor for the Scientific Discipline 08/A01. Since April 2018, he has been a Member of the Scientific Board of the PhD in Sciences and Environmental Engineering, Construction and Energy at the University of Calabria.

Registration


In-Person Registration

The registration fee includes attendance of all conference sessions, morning/afternoon coffee breaks and lunch, as well as all the virtual conference sessions, and recordings afterwards (please note that the registration does not include travel or accommodation arrangements).

Important Information

Participation to the conference is considered final only once the registration fees have been paid.

Please note that, in order to finalize the scientific program in due time, at least one registration by anyone of the authors, denoted as Covering Author, is required to cover the presentation of any accepted abstract. Covering Author registration deadline is 7 August 2025. Your abstract will be withdrawn if your registration is not complete by this date.

When registering, please provide us with your institutional email address. This will accelerate the registration process. If you are registering several people under the same registration, please do not use the same email address for each person, but their individual institutional email addresses. Thank you for your understanding.

Certificate of Attendance: Participants of the event will be able to download an electronic Certificate of Attendance by accessing their dashboards on Sciforum.net once the event is concluded. The certificates will be found under "My Certificates" category.

Discounts

Reach out to us if you're from a low-income or lower-middle income country to apply for reduced fees.

Members from partnering societies are granted a 20% discount on all registration fees. Please make sure to provide us with proof that you are indeed part of one of our partnering societies. Are you part of a society that isn't partnering with the conference? Contact us to discuss a possible partnership!

In case you should be eligible for a price reduction, please note that special prices and discounts will be added to your registration when processing. This means that you will not have to pay the stated price immediately upon registration, and you will receive an invoice with the price adjustment after you have registered.
Start date - End date Price Supported documents
In-Person Chairs, Invited Speakers, MDPI Guests ...-... Free
DISCOUNTED Academic ...-7th August 2025 370.00 EUR
DISCOUNTED Student ...-7th August 2025 140.00 EUR Scanned copy or photograph of your current student ID (not expired)
DISCOUNTED Non-Academic ...-7th August 2025 520.00 EUR
Academic ...-18th September 2025 450.00 EUR
Student ...-18th September 2025 220.00 EUR Scanned copy or photograph of your current student ID (not expired)
Non-Academic ...-18th September 2025 600.00 EUR

Cancellation policy

Cancellation of paid registration is possible under the terms listed below:

> 2 months before the conference

Full refund but CHF 50.- are retained for administration

> 1 month before the conference

Refund 50% of the applying fees

> 2 weeks before the conference

Refund 25% of the applying fees

< 2 weeks before the conference

No refund

Visa Information

Please note that you must apply for your own visa application. MDPI is not responsible for any visa application, however, MDPI can provide a Visa Support Letter.

  • Applicants must have paid for registration and submitted an abstract in order to get a letter of support.
  • Applicants must provide us with a scan of their valid in date passport that contains a photo of them.
  • Applicants must provide us with a letter of support from their institution to confirm that they support the delegate attending the meeting.
  • This must be carried in good time before the meeting, “last minute” requests will not be processed.

    Please click here to check the conditions for entry into Spain.
Disclaimer

We will endeavour to present the program advertised. However, in the unlikely event that MDPI shall deem it necessary to cancel the conference, all pre-paid registration fees will be reimbursed. MDPI shall not be liable for reimbursing the cost of travel or accommodation arrangements made by individual delegates. Tours run by third parties may be subject to cancellation or alteration.

Beware of Unauthorized Registration and Hotel Solicitations

Note that Sciforum is the only official registration platform to register to WSF11, and that we are not associated with any hotel agency. While other hotel resellers and travel agencies may contact you with offers for your trip, they are not endorsed by or affiliated with WSF11 or Sciforum. Beware that entering into financial agreements with non-endorsed companies can have costly consequences.

Insurance

The organizers do not accept liability for personal accident, loss, or damage to private property incurred as a result of participation in the WSF11. Delegates are advised to arrange appropriate insurance to cover travel, cancellation costs, medical, and theft or damage of belongings.

Photographs and/or video will be taken during the conference

By taking part in this event you grant the event organizers full rights to use the images resulting from the photography/video filming, and any reproductions or adaptations of the images for fundraising, publicity or other purposes to help achieve the conference’s aims. This might include (but is not limited to), the right to use them in their printed and online publicity, social media, press releases and funding applications.

Instructions for Authors

Abstract Submission

The 11th World Sustainability Forum will accept abstracts only.

The accepted abstracts will be available online on Sciforum.net during and after the conference.

Please note that abstract submission and conference registration are two separate processes. Please use the same email address during registration and when submitting your work.

What are the benefits in getting your abstract accepted at the WSF2025?

  • You get to present and discuss your latest findings with your peers.
  • You get to network and exchange ideas and resources with like-minded researchers.
  • Your research will be highlighted in an MDPI announcement and social media post. You will be mentioned in the News section of MDPI.com, as well as in one of the MDPI Sustainability Foundation Social Media Posts.
  • You will receive the opportunity to submit your full manuscript to a dedicated Special Issue with a 20% discount on the publication fees.

Submit your research

Create an account on Sciforum if you do not have one, then click on ‘New Submission’ on the upper-right corner of the window, or by clicking on ‘Submit Abstract’ at the top of this webpage. Indicate what thematic area is best suited for your research.

  • Submit an abstract in English (maximum 400 words). The deadline to submit your abstract is 18 June 2025.
  • The structured abstract should include the identification of the research gap based on prior research, the aim of
    the paper, introduction, methods, results, and conclusion sections of about 200–400 words in length.
  • Upon submission, you can select if you wish to be considered for an oral presentation or a poster presentation.
  • Following assessment by the Selection Committee and the Chairs, you will be notified by 18 July 2025 in a separate email whether your contribution has been accepted for oral presentation.
  • Please note that, in order to finalize the scientific program in due time, at least one registration by any of the authors, denoted as Covering Author, is required to cover the presentation and publication of any accepted abstract. Covering Author registration deadline is 7 August 2025. Your abstract will be withdrawn if your registration is not complete by this date.

Oral Presentations

Oral Presentations will be given in person. If a selected speaker cannot attend in person to give their oral presentation, they forfeit their right to present.

All presentations must be sent to the Conference Organizers before the day of their presentation.

Poster Presentation

Posters can be displayed in the venue near the meeting hall.

Publication Opportunities

Participants will be able to submit their full manuscript to the upcoming Topics, which will conclude multiple journals. Details of the topics will be announced here later. All submitted papers will undergo MDPI’s standard peer-review procedure. The abstracts should be cited and noted on the first page of the paper.

MDPI Sustainability Foundation Awards

The MDPI Sustainability Foundation proudly presents the World Sustainability Award and Emerging Sustainability Leader Award as part of the World Sustainability Forum. Starting in 2025, this global event and its awards ceremony will take place annually, celebrating the scholarly contributions of individuals to sustainability research. You can submit your application for the following awards:

Please send your application by 31 March 2025 and join us at the WSF11 and watch the presentation of the awardees in Barcelona, 2-3 October 2025.

For more information, please visit: https://mdpi-foundation.org/.

Venue, Travel and Accommodation

Location

Barcelona is the capital and largest city of Catalonia and Spain's second-largest city, with a population of over one and a half million people. Located on the northeastern Mediterranean coast of Spain, Barcelona boasts a rich and diverse history, with roots dating back to Roman times. The prosperous medieval period established the city as the economic and political center of the Western Mediterranean. Its Gothic Quarter stands as a testament to the splendor Barcelona experienced from the 13th to the 15th centuries.

The 20th century saw widespread urban renewal, culminating in the development of the iconic Eixample district, which showcases some of the city's most distinctive Catalan Art Nouveau, or Modernista, architecture. One of the most renowned architects of this movement, Antoni Gaudí, designed landmarks such as La Pedrera, Casa Batlló, and the world-famous Sagrada Família.

In 1992, Barcelona gained international recognition by hosting the Olympic Games, which spurred significant growth in its tourism industry. Today, the city seamlessly blends its historical heritage with modern innovations, creating a dynamic and vibrant urban landscape. Barcelona offers an abundance of outdoor markets, restaurants, shops, museums, and churches. The city is highly walkable, and for longer distances, it boasts an extensive and reliable Metro system.

For a complete overview, see wikitravel.org or visit barcelonaturisme.com.



Venue

Espai Pujades is a modern and versatile venue located in the vibrant heart of Barcelona, providing an ideal setting for conferences, seminars, and workshops. The venue is situated on C/ Pujades, 350, in the Poblenou neighborhood, which is known for its innovative and technological character, serving as a hub for creative companies, startups, and cultural spaces, while still retaining its historical charm as the city's former industrial area.

https://www.espaipujades350.com/es/

Address: C/ Pujades, 350, 08019 • Barcelona • Spain


Travel

By plane:
The international airport of Barcelona is called Barcelona-El Prat and is located 10 km from the city center. The airport is well connected to airport hubs in Europe and several locations around the world. For more information about the airport and flights, please visit the official website at https://www.aena.es.
Once you get to the airport, you have several options to reach the city center.

To the city center:

  • By shuttle bus: AEROBUS (https://aerobusbarcelona.es). This bus connects Barcelona Airport (Terminal 1 and Terminal 2) with the city center (Pl. Espanya / Pl. Catalunya) in 35 minutes. It runs every day of the year with departures every 5 minutes and costs EUR 6.75.

  • By train: TRAIN R2 NORD (https://rodalies.gencat.cat). This train connects Terminal 2 of the airport with the city center (Barcelona–Passeig de Gràcia). It runs every day of the year with departures every 30 minutes and costs EUR 4.60.

  • By taxi: Taxis just outside the arrival area. The taxi from the airport to the city center (Plaza Catalunya) costs approximately EUR 30–35. Public taxis in Barcelona can charge four types of fares. These fares must be visible inside the taxi and are usually printed on a sticker over the window. Finally, the amount payable must be indicated on the taximeter. VTC apps that work in Barcelona are Bolt and Cabify and might offer cheaper rates.

To the conference venue:

  • By train:

    Barcelona Sants station is Barcelona's largest train station and provides rail services both in and around Barcelona and for the whole of Spain and beyond. For more information about the station and train service, please visit the official website at https://www.renfe.com.

    Once you get to the station, you have the following options to reach the conference venue:

  • By metro: Take LINE L5 and L4 or LINE L1 and L4 (https://www.tmb.cat).

  • By taxi: Taxis are available just outside the station. A taxi from the station to the conference venue costs approximately EUR 15-25.

Accommodation
We want your stay in Barcelona during the conference to be as comfortable as possible. With that in mind, we have agreed on a discount with several hotels to make your choice of accommodations easier. Please book your accommodation online and contact the hotels directly with any issues or requests related to accommodation bookings.
We are delighted to announce that the following hotels will offer a discounted price for all WSF11 attendees:
Hotel
Description
How to book

Catalonia Hotels offers a collection of exceptional hotels in Barcelona, combining comfort, style, and convenience in prime locations across the city.

The hotels offer excellent connections to various public transport options, making it easy to explore Barcelona for both tourism and business.

Click below to make a reservation with a 10% discount or use the code “CATALONIABCN”

Located in the heart of Barcelona, Holiday Inn Express Barcelona offers the perfect blend of comfort, modern amenities, and convenience. Its prime location allows you to reach the venue in just 10 minutes by tram.

Click below to make a reservation with a 10% discount or use the code “WORLD SUSTAINABILITY FORUM 11”.
These accommodations have been carefully chosen to provide comfort and convenience for our guests while ensuring affordability through negotiated rates. Prepare to make the most of your conference experience with our exclusive lodging options designed to enhance your stay.
Beware of Unauthorized Registration and Hotel Solicitations
Note that Sciforum is the only official registration platform to register to WSF11 and that we are not associated with any hotel agency (other than those listed above). While other hotel resellers and travel agencies may contact you with offers for your trip, they are not endorsed by or affiliated with WSF11 or Sciforum. Beware that entering into financial agreements with non-endorsed companies can have costly consequences.

Sponsors and Partners

For questions regarding sponsorship opportunities, check out our sponsorship brochure or contact wsf11@mdpi.com.

Organizers


Sponsors


Media Partners

Event Secretaries

Dr. Liliane Auwerter
Ms. Judith Wu
Ms. Theodora Felegean
Dr. Laura Pérez-Martín

Email: wsf11@mdpi.com For inquiries regarding submissions and sponsorship opportunities, please feel free to contact us.

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