The international conference Eco-Cultural Heritage: Research & Education focuses on the complex interconnections between ecosystems and cultural heritage in contemporary research and educational practice. It provides a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue on landscape research, the economic aspects of heritage and nature preservation, and inclusive strategies supporting sustainable development.
In addition to keynote lectures and workshops, the conference will feature thematic sessions reflecting a wide range of current research directions and methodological approaches. Particular emphasis will be placed on interdisciplinary collaboration accross the humanities, social sciences, and environmental studies. The event aims to foster exchange between scholars and practitioners, encourage innovative perspectives, and support the development of sustainable and inclusive approaches to ecocultural heritage.
The conference is structured around several key thematic areas:
- Research – current research directions and interdisciplinary perspectives on ecocultural heritage
- Economics & Marketing – economic aspects of heritage, sustainable tourism, and regional development
- Education & Practice – educational approaches, knowledge transfer, and practical applications in the field
Further thematic details and session specifications will be announced in due course.
Keynote Speakers
Prof. Mauro Agnoletti (University of Florence, Italy)
Prof. Caitlin DeSilvey (University of Exeter, England)
Dr. Martin Michette (University of Oxford, England)
Capacity to care: Transdisciplinary Education for Ecocultural Heritage
(Dr. Martin Michette)
By acknowledging the inherent links between ecology and culture, ecocultural heritage provides a promising framework for fostering natural and cultural diversity whilst renewing the relevance of the historic environment in an era of rapid environmental and societal change. A key challenge is providing practitioners and decision makers with the skills and knowledge to understand complexity and recognise integrated values whilst also facilitating action. Effective cultural heritage management has always demanded interdisciplinary collaboration. Beyond the disciplines traditionally associated with the historic built environment, ecocultural approaches require collaboration across landscape, environmental, and traditional/Indigenous knowledge disciplines. Building capacity in ecocultural heritage practice and expertise needs to reflect this inherent diversity and provide a suitable transdisciplinary platform.
This keynote presents recent initiatives in educational practice that respond to this need for new skills, knowledge, and forms of engagement in ecocultural heritage management. These include Managing Loss in the Historic Environment: Ecocultural Approaches, a professional training course aimed at a cross-sector, mid-career audience, and the Academy of Conservation and Care for the Environment (ACCE), a transdisciplinary living lab aimed at young professionals. Managing Loss builds upon the emerging concept of ‘adaptive release’, which frames the management of transformative change as a dynamic ecocultural process with potential co-benefits for natural and cultural heritage. ACCE utilises large heritage sites and cultural landscapes to foster common understanding and expose students to diverse real-world initiatives. Drawing on the broader experience of the Sites at the Intersection of Natural and Cultural Heritage (SXNCH) network from which these training programmes emerged, and related research projects, the keynote argues that new forms of transdisciplinary education are essential to embedding ecocultural approaches within future heritage practice.
Programme Overview
- Monday, 2 November (Aula JU)
Welcome and registration - Tuesday, 3 November (Aula JU)
Registration
Welcome speech
Keynote lectures
Eco‑Cultural Heritage, Cultural Landscapes and Memory of Place
Lunchbreak
Literature, Narratives, Arts and Environmental Imaginaries
Community Participation, Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Landscape Stewardship
Poster section + Social evening - Wednesday, 4 November (Aula JU)
Sustainable Tourism, Regional Development and Heritage‑Based Economies
Governance, Policy and Legal Frameworks of Heritage Protection
Guided Tour Český Krumlov (Heritage site) + Social dinner (Madeta)
- Thursday, 5 November (Aula JU)
Digital, Immersive and Technological Innovations in Heritage Studies
Education, Inclusion and the Social Dimensions of Eco‑Cultural Heritage
Lunchbreak
Workshops + Poster ceremony
Closing roundtable
- Friday, 6 November
Guided tour České Budějovice + Departure
Registration Fees
- Standard fee: €120
- KreativEU members: €90
- Students not affiliated with USB: €60
- Students and active participants from USB: free of charge
