ISSAS 2026

International Summer School in Affective Sciences (ISSAS)

Emotions and Sustainability

30 June – 7 July, 2026

Chateau de Bossey, Switzerland

 

 

Climate change, loss of biodiversity, and pollution of air, land, and water are advancing rapidly. A transition to a more sustainable lifestyle is one of the most pressing tasks facing humanity.

 What is the role of emotions in this sustainability transition? Which emotional responses do people experience toward challenges such as climate change? Under which circumstances can emotions be mechanisms of change and drivers of action? How should we treat emotions when communicating about sustainability? How do emotions influence international climate negotiations and collective sustainability transitions?

 The 2026 edition of ISSAS, organized by the Swiss Center for Affective Sciences (CISA), will be dedicated to exploring how emotions shape and are shaped by the current environmental crises, and how they intersect with environmental action at the individual and at the systemic level.

 The topic will be addressed in a highly interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary manner, with plenary lectures by internationally renowned scholars from psychology, philosophy, communication sciences, political science, and innovation studies. In addition, the summer school will leverage the strong existing collaboration between the CISA and the UN Geneva. A number of workshops will be organized jointly with the UN Beyond Lab to explore how insights from the affective sciences can be implemented in concrete sustainability problems, and we will have the opportunity to visit the UN premises in Geneva. Finally, students will work on hands-on student group projects that will be presented at the end of the summer school.

 

 Speakers include:

  • Kristina BOGNER (Utrecht University)
  • Susan CLAYTON (Wooster College)
  • Victor GALAZ RODRIGUEZ (Stockholm University)
  • Matthew GOLDBERG (Yale University)
  • Simon KOSCHUT (Zeppelin University)
  • Edward MISHAUD (Beyond Lab Geneva)
  • Darrel MOELLENDORF (University of Frankfurt)
  • Panu PIHKALA (University of Helsinki)
  • Claudia SCHNEIDER (University of Canterbury)

 

ISSAS offers its participants the possibility of learning from and discussing with key researchers in the field, exploring interdisciplinary perspectives on affective sustainability research, and building a strong professional network. In addition, participants will enjoy the beauty of Switzerland, as the summer school takes place against the scenic backdrop of the French Alps and Lake Geneva at Château de Bossey.

 

 We look forward to meeting you at ISSAS 2026!