Opportunities for Early Career Researchers (ECRs) at TC/ESG 2025
At TC/ESG 2025, Early Career Researchers (ECRs) will find a range of opportunities to engage in collaborative learning, networking, and career development throughout the conference. Whether you’re looking to expand your research, connect with peers and mentors, or gain recognition for your work, there’s a place for you to connect, learn, and advance your work.
Early Career Participant Discount – Extended Access
- You are within 5 years of either:
- Completing your highest degree, or
- Entering the field of sustainability, systems change, or community transformations.
- You are not in a senior or leadership role (e.g., full professor, executive director, principal investigator, or equivalent).
- You have limited institutional or grant-based support for professional development or conference attendance.
The Early Bird pricing for the TC/ESG25 Conference is as follows:
- $680 – Full Conference (3-Day Pass)
- $480 – Full Conference (3-Day Pass) For South African Attendees
- $340 – Full Conference (3-Day Pass) for Participants from Low and Lower-Middle-Income Countries and the Rest of Africa
TC/ESG25 Publication Opportunities
The Transformations Community and Earth System Governance Project offer several publication opportunities for conference attendees. These pathways enable you to share your research and practice insights in respected academic and practitioner journals, extending the impact of your work beyond the conference.
ECR-Focused Roundtable with Journal Editors
Engage with journal editors in this exclusive ECR-focused roundtable, offering insights into the publishing process. Early-career scholars will gain practical guidance on navigating academic publishing, from preparing manuscripts and peer reviewing to joining editorial boards. Editors from leading journals and publishers will share their reflections and advice, with ample time for your questions in an extended Q&A. It’s an opportunity to discuss your work, receive feedback, and advance your publishing journey.
Oran Young Prize by ESG Project
The Oran R. Young Prize, awarded by the ESG Project and co-sponsored by MIT Press, recognizes outstanding research in earth system governance by early-career scholars. This prestigious prize celebrates cutting-edge research on earth system governance and honors the contributions of Prof. Oran R. Young, whose pioneering work has profoundly shaped the field of environmental governance. This award will be given to the best paper presented by an ECR at TC/ESG 2025.
Applications are closed
Mentor and Mentee Opportunities for ECRs
The TC/ESG 2025 Mentor-Mentee Program offers early-career researchers (ECRs) an opportunity to connect with more experienced colleagues in the transformations field.
Whether you’re looking for professional guidance or offering your own expertise, this flexible program helps build relationships across the TC/ESG community. Participants will be paired based on shared interests and availability, with the freedom to define your own goals and level of engagement, from informal chats to ongoing support.
Interested in mentoring?
Interested in being mentored?
This is a participant-led initiative, designed to encourage flexible, goal-oriented connections. There’s no fixed structure, but rather an opportunity to engage in conversations that support your research, ideas, or career development.
Accommodation Support Form
As part of making TC/ESG 2025 more accessible, we’re circulating this form to conference participants to gather accommodation needs. If you require assistance with accommodation arrangements, please fill out the form. This will help us better support those who need assistance in securing accommodations to attend the conference.
Funding Opportunity for Emerging Scholars in Sustainability Transitions
The Education and Learning in Sustainability Transitions thematic group offers a grant program for emerging scholars in sustainability transitions. Current STRN ECR members of the NEST are invited to apply for up to 1,500 EUR to support courses, workshops, or research collaborations that will enhance their work in sustainability transitions.
Application Deadline: June 1, 2025.
We invite all Early Career Researchers to explore these opportunities and make the most of their participation in TC/ESG 2025. Whether you’re looking to expand your research, connect with peers and mentors, or gain recognition for your work, there’s a place for you at this transformative event.
Early Career Researcher Winter School (Aug 11-15)
The ECR Winter School is an interdisciplinary program designed for Ph.D. candidates and postdoctoral fellows working on sustainability, climate change, and governance topics. Themed Navigating Transformations in the Context of Justice and Equity, this Winter School will provide participants the opportunity to engage with experts and fellow researchers through interactive discussions, hands-on fieldwork, and group projects. Co-hosted by the Global Change Institute (GCI) at the University of the Witwatersrand, the Winter School will take place in Skukuza, Kruger National Park, offering a unique setting for deep intellectual engagement.
A diverse lineup of academics will lead sessions, with further details to be announced soon. We anticipate 20 available places, 10 for African candidates and 10 for the global community.
Program Includes: Transport, food, and lodging.
Applications are closed.
Selected candidates will be notified by: June 30, 2025
For inquiries about the ECR Winter School, please contact Gwinyai Taruvinga at gwinyai.taruvinga@wits.ac.za.
TC/ESG25 Conference
Aug 18–21, 2025
Johannesburg, South Africa
TCX-York
June 25–27, 2025
University of York, UK
TC/ESG25 Conference starts in:
Transformations Conference™ All Rights Reserved.