Scientific-Organizing Committee: Valeria Saiu (Università di Cagliari), Giorgia Tucci (Università di Genova), Giorgia Malavasi, Eleonora Righetto, Marco Rossitti (SIEV Giovani), Giada Limongi, Alessandra Longo, Maria Somma (INU Giovani)
Major events, large-scale public works, and extraordinary regeneration programs have always been privileged instruments for urban and territorial transformation. From universal expositions and international sporting events to macro-regional infrastructural projects, and from complex urban redevelopment plans (such as those tied to extraordinary funding streams) to temporary and local activations, these transformations deeply mark development processes. They represent extraordinary opportunities for design experimentation, economic development, social innovation, and the strategic positioning of places on both a national and international scale.
However, the impact of such programs on spatial areas characterized by delicate environmental, social, and institutional balances often generates tensions, contradictions, and asymmetries. While on one hand extraordinary intervention acts as an accelerator of resources and investments, on the other hand managing its medium- and long-term effects introduces highly complex challenges for ordinary planning. Indeed, mega-projects and major events leave permanent, multidimensional legacies (legacy): land consumption dynamics, accelerations in tourism phenomena (overtourism) and gentrification, but also opportunities for ecological repurposing, energy transition, and the reactivation of marginal or fragile territories.
In this scenario, scientific research plays a central role in the critical analysis of complex transformations, offering methodological, interpretative, and evaluative tools capable of guiding governance and planning toward equitable, resilient, and sustainable development trajectories. The Conference intends to promote an open and transdisciplinary reflection, welcoming original contributions from PhD candidates and researchers addressing the theme through a plurality of scales (metropolitan, urban, local) and methodological approaches.
How to participate
The call is open to PhD candidates enrolled in PhD programs in Italy or abroad who have not yet obtained their degree. To apply, candidates must fill out the form available at the following link: https://forms.gle/wYiDHfEfPMnFaohJA by entering their details and submitting an abstract in both Italian and English (approximately 300 words) by September 13, 2026.
Participation costs
By October 12, 2026, selected authors must send their proof of payment for the participation fee, which amounts to €100 (reduced to €80 for INU and/or SIEV members, subject to verification via membership card), to the following email addresses: urbanpromo.uphd@gmail.com and tesoreria@urbit.it.
Bank Transfer Details:
- Payment Reason (Causale): First Name Last Name – UPhD Green 2026
- Beneficiary: Urbit – Urbanistica Italiana Srl, Via Castro dei Volsci 14, Roma
- Bank: Banca Intesa
- IBAN: IT72 F 03069 09606 100000155381
The full call for papers can be downloaded from the ‘Download’ section of this page.
Italiano