The University of Perpignan Via Domitia (UPVD), in cooperation with the Bialystok University of Technology (BUT), is organizing the Across Border Think Tank (ABTT) workshop entitled โManagement of Transboundary Natural Resources in the Context of Global Change: Challenging Areas and Future Directionsโ from 1 to 5 June 2026.
The five-day event will bring together researchers, academics, and experts from the universities of the Across Alliance with the aim of exchanging knowledge, experiences, and research findings related to the management of natural resources in cross-border regions. Through a series of thematic sessions, participants will explore current challenges arising from climate and societal change, as well as opportunities for developing sustainable solutions based on scientific research and international cooperation.
The first day of the workshop will introduce the Across Border Think Tank, its members, working groups, and research activities. Particular attention will be devoted to the role of universities in addressing global change through sustainable development, climate action, and the transformation of higher education. Presentations in this session will be delivered by Prof. Dorota A. Krawczyk from the Bialystok University of Technology, Prof. Sophie Masson from the University of Perpignan Via Domitia, and Dr. Constantin Sulea-Iorgulescu from the University of Craiova.
The second day will focus on sustainable agriculture and smart rural development. Participants will discuss innovative agricultural practices, the resilience of food production systems to climate change, and the concept of smart villages as a response to contemporary rural development challenges. Researchers from Poland, Slovenia, and Romania will present their work and share experiences from their respective regions.
The third thematic session will address transboundary water governance. Discussions will focus on cooperation between neighbouring countries in ensuring equitable access to water resources and promoting sustainable management of rivers, lakes, groundwater, and seas, while also considering the different legal and institutional frameworks that shape water governance.
The fourth day of the workshop will examine biodiversity and forestry in Europe, with particular emphasis on the importance of cross-border management of forest and wetland ecosystems for preserving biodiversity and ecological balance. Among the participants will be Prof. Vladimir Petkoviฤ from the University of Banja Luka, who will contribute to discussions on the challenges of biodiversity conservation in the context of global change.
The final day will be dedicated to energy transition, energy efficiency, and the potential of renewable energy sources in cross-border regions. Researchers from Poland, France, and Romania will present ongoing projects and examples of good practice that can contribute to a fair and sustainable transition towards cleaner energy systems.
The workshop builds upon the research activities already being conducted within the Across Alliance universities in the field of transboundary natural resource management. Its objective is to deepen understanding of shared challenges, strengthen scientific cooperation, and develop recommendations that can contribute to the sustainable management of natural resources across Europe.
The workshop is jointly organized by Working Group 4 of the Across Border Think Tank, led by the Bialystok University of Technology and the University of Perpignan Via Domitia. All sessions will be accessible online and recorded, ensuring that the workshopโs content is available to a broader academic and research community.
