SEEDS CONFERENCE

Decarbonisation or Demise - Sustainable Solutions for Resilient Communities

The Suffolk Sustainability Institute (SSI), University of Suffolk are pleased to be hosting the SEEDS 2023 conference; the SSI brings together research and development opportunities for innovative technologies and processes, focusing on changes in physical infrastructure that benefit the environment and promote a carbon-neutral society. The SSI supports Research and Consultancy, enabling innovation, knowledge transfer and skills development for business, community, policy, and place-makers in Suffolk and throughout UK-wide established networks. The SSI has successfully developed several key research initiatives most recently working with the Local Enterprise Partnership and BT to develop a new fully funded living laboratory, the DigiTech Smart House which will develop as a facility for smart homes, decarbonisation of infrastructure and low carbon materials research. Suffolk, as a county, has a commitment to be zero carbon by 2030. Along with many communities within the UK and around the world positive local actions are being taken which sit within a national and global context that demands growth and development.

The conference is organised and co-hosted by Leeds Beckett University, the University of the West of England, University of Suffolk and Loughborough University, developing a sustainable platform to escalate climate action.

This year we ask:

What must we do now to enable transformation towards carbon conscious communities; enabling a resilient carbon neutral future?

The International SEEDS Conference aims to bring together experts from around the world to focus on changes required to minimise the impact of human activity on the environment. This year the conference invites papers aligned to the three main themes of the SSI. The themes are interdependent and resonate with the imperatives we face in addressing the climate crisis, whether through technological transformation, community collaboration or resource management – each theme addresses issues that we know are vital when changing and challenging practice within our built environment. The arguments are well rehearsed, and this year we have witnessed another COP meeting. SEEDS provides an opportunity for us to share knowledge and experience to implement the research and evidence-based change needed within society to respond to and address ecological and climate impacts.

Three main conference themes:

• Blue/Green Infrastructure (Technology – Smart Solutions for Future Smart Cities and Buildings, Data Science and IOT; Ecology – Nature Based Solutions, Ecosystems Services, Natural Systems, Biodiversity Net Gain)
• Sustainable Healthy Communities (Community Engagement; Smart Healthy Living/Health and Wellbeing; Behavioural Science to embed Change)
• Energy and Resource Management (Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Production; Materials Engineering within the Built Environment; Resource Efficient solution and a Circular Economy) 

Key Dates

• 1st Call for abstract submissions 17 January 2023
• 2nd Call for abstracts submissions 3 February 2023
• Final call for abstracts submissions 10 March 2023
• Abstract submission date 10 April 2023
• Reviewer comments return by 17 April 2023
• Paper submission deadline 15 May 2023
• Final paper submission deadline 3 July 2023

Experienced and new researchers are encouraged to attend the conference. Full research papers, posters, reviews, and case studies will be considered through the review process.

You are encouraged to submit abstracts as early as possible in order to receive prompt feedback. Early acceptance will enable you to take advantage of the ‘early bird’ rate for the conference.

To submit your abstract for this conference, visit our submission portal. Please contact lsiconference@leedsbeckett.ac.uk with any questions

RISE Awards

The RISE Awards are once again back this year. These highly regarded awards seek to recognise, celebrate, and showcase exemplar case studies from the Built Environment sharing emerging best practice in Research, Innovation, Sustainability and Enterprise for new and innovative products, technologies, processes, projects, and schemes. Our awards bring together academic, industry, third sector and community groups in a unique celebration of all those who are helping to change the way we build and live in the future. The RISE awards will be presented at the conference dinner on Wednesday 30 August 2023.

Conference Proceedings

The conference has a powerful reputation for working with established publishers. Papers will be put forward for publication with our publishing partners.

SEEDS abstract and paper guidance 2023 ( Download)

Format of Conference

After two-years of running the conference online (2000 and 2021) and following the SEEDS 2022 Conference in Bristol, the 2023 conference will operate a hybrid delivery model; whereby, the first day of the conference will be online only, and the following two days of the conference held in-person at the Waterfront campus in Ipswich. We have adopted this format to enable overseas delegates whose institutions are still not allowing overseas conference attendance to take part in the proceedings. The various options for attending the conference are reflected in the conference pricing structure.

Conference Pricing

Accommodation and travel

Themes for Abstracts