22 - 24 November 2026 @ McMaster Innovation Park
Future of Our Planet 2026 (FOP2026) is an international conference dedicated to advancing Planetary Health by bringing together research, policy, innovation, and leadership to address interconnected global challenges affecting human and environmental well-being. It will be hosted from 22 to 24 November 2026 at McMaster Innovation Park.
FOP2026 represents the first major conference under this platform, setting the foundation for an ongoing series of Planetary Health-focused convenings.
The scale and complexity of today’s challenges—climate change, environmental degradation, resource constraints, and widening health and equity gaps—demand new ways of working across disciplines and sectors.
FOP2026 was established in recognition that:
Sustainability challenges are increasingly interconnected
Evidence must be translated into action
Dialogue between researchers, decision-makers, and practitioners is essential
The conference provides a dedicated space for collective learning, reflection, and forward-looking discussion.
FOP2026 is grounded in the Planetary Health framework, which recognizes that human health and societal well-being depend on the stability of Earth’s natural systems.
As part of McMaster University’s Planetary Health initiative, FOP2026 supports the University’s commitment to:
Systems-level understanding of sustainability challenges
Evidence-informed decision-making
Interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaboration
The conference serves as a focal point for advancing Planetary Health thinking and practice.
FOP2026 is intentionally designed to move beyond traditional academic conference models.
Key distinguishing features include:
Interdisciplinary scope that bridges health, environment, economics, policy, and innovation
Systems perspective that emphasizes connections rather than isolated issues
Solution-oriented dialogue focused on implementation and impact
Cross-sector participation including academia, government, industry, and communities
These elements ensure discussions are grounded, relevant, and forward-looking.
FOP2026 welcomes participants from diverse backgrounds, including:
Researchers and students
Policymakers and public-sector leaders
Industry and innovation stakeholders
Community and non-profit organizations
Practitioners working across sustainability and health domains
The conference is designed to be inclusive, rigorous, and collaborative.
Submissions that bridge multiple themes or propose integrative frameworks are strongly encouraged.
This theme focuses on pathways toward low-carbon, resilient, and sustainable energy systems that support planetary and societal well-being.
Topics include (but are not limited to):
Energy transition and decarbonization pathways
Clean and emerging energy technologies
Mobility systems and electric cities
Emerging nuclear energy and next-generation energy systems
Healthy ecosystems are foundational to Planetary Health. This theme examines the protection, restoration, and sustainable management of natural systems under increasing environmental pressures.
Topics include:
Ecosystem resilience and living labs
Water security and water systems
Biodiversity and ecosystem governance
Nature-based and ecosystem-driven solutions
This theme explores how environmental change affects human health, social systems, and quality of life across populations and communities.
Global health in a changing environment
Healthy societies, including aging populations
Social dimensions of wellbeing, mental health, and housing
Environmental determinants of health
The FOP2026 program is being developed to support rigorous, interdisciplinary exchange and meaningful dialogue across research, policy, innovation, and practice within the Planetary Health framework.
Full program details will be announced as the conference approaches.
FOP2026 is designed around the principle that Planetary Health challenges require integrated, solution-oriented discussion rather than isolated disciplinary presentations.
The program emphasizes:
Interdisciplinary engagement
Systems-level perspectives
Evidence-informed dialogue
FOP2026 will be delivered as an in-person conference at McMaster University, with program elements structured to encourage interaction, reflection, and collaboration.
The conference format is designed to balance:
Formal knowledge exchange
Interactive discussion
Cross-sector engagement
As the conference planning progresses, this page will be updated with:
Detailed program schedule
Confirmed session formats
Keynote speakers and panelists
Session descriptions and abstracts
Participants are encouraged to check back regularly for updates.
Conference Chair
Partnership Advisor
Local Organization Coordinator
Local Organization Chair
Co-program Chair
Professor
Professor and HOPE Chair in Peace and Health
Faculty of Humanities, McMaster University
Professor, Department of History
Associate Professor, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University
Associate Professor
Chair in Entrepreneurial Leadership
Director of the MBA Programs / Michael Lee-Chin & Family Professor in Strategic Business Studies
McMaster University
Associate Professor, McMaster University
Nonresident Fellow, Brookings Institution
Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Enterprise
Associate Professor of Remote Sensing
Canada Research Chair in Remote Sensing of Terrestrial Ecosystems
Assistant Professor, Medicine
Health Research Methodologist, Mixed Methods and Knowledge Mobilization Researcher, and Intersectional Environmentalist
Assistant Professor
School of Earth, Environment & Society
BScN, NP, ARNP, FNP-BC, CPMHN(c), EdD, C. Psych. LLD(hc)
Full Professor of Mechanical Engineering at The Higher Institute of Industrial Systems (ISSIG), University of Gabes, Tunisia.
FOP2026 conference invites academic researchers and scholars to submit research abstracts for consideration. Authors of accepted abstracts will be invited to submit full papers for presentation at the conference.
FOP2026 is a peer-reviewed academic conference dedicated to advancing Planetary Health through rigorous interdisciplinary research.
Faculty members and researchers
Postdoctoral fellows
Graduate students (PhD and research-based Master’s programs)
All authors must first submit a research abstract.
Abstracts should:
Present original research or scholarly work
Clearly state research objectives, methods, and contributions
Demonstrate relevance to Planetary Health and conference themes
Reflect academic rigor and clarity
Only abstracts will be reviewed at this stage.
Submit your abstract
Authors of accepted abstracts will be invited to submit a full paper.
Full papers should:
Present complete and well-developed research
Demonstrate methodological and analytical rigor
Be suitable for academic presentation and discussion
Submission guidelines for full papers will be provided with acceptance notifications.
Abstracts should align with one or more of the FOP2026 conference themes:
Abstracts will undergo academic peer review by the Scientific Committee
Acceptance will be based on originality, relevance, and scientific quality
Full papers will be reviewed for inclusion in the final Special Issue hosted by our partner journals.
The Energy Studies Review Journal serves as an interdisciplinary journal, publishing papers on major themes including energy policy, energy systems optimization, energy management, sustainable energy and decarbonization, energy technology, renewable energy, social impacts of energy utilization, and surveys of experimental and theoretical approaches.
August 3, 2026
August 10, 2026
September 7, 2026
October 31, 2026
FOP2026 is a research-focused academic conference.
Submissions that are promotional, commercial, or non-scholarly in nature will not be considered.
FOP2026 will feature academic speakers and contributors selected through a rigorous peer-review and invitation process. The conference prioritizes scholarly excellence, interdisciplinary insight, and contributions that advance Planetary Health research.
Dr. Kai Chan is a Professor and Canada Research Chair in Rewilding and Social-Ecological Transformation at the University of British Columbia. Kai leads CHANS lab, where inspiring students study Connected Human-and-Natural Systems. Kai is also a former Coordinating Lead Author of the IPBES Global Assessment, Commissioning Editor for the journal People and Nature, a member of Canada’s Clean16 for 2020, a TEDx speaker, and co-founder of CoSphere (a Community of Small-Planet Heroes).
Distinguished Professor John Pomeroy, FRSC, FRGS, and AGU Fellow, is the UNESCO Chair in Mountain Water Sustainability and a world-renowned hydrologist. He serves as Co-Chair of the UN Advisory Board for the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation and Chair of the Ad Hoc Strategic Management Committee for the Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences. Professor Pomeroy is Director of the Global Water Futures Observatories, the University of Saskatchewan Centre for Hydrology, and the Coldwater Laboratory in Canmore, Alberta.
Dr. Cheryl L. Holder is an internist, HIV specialist, and former Medical Director of one of Miami’s largest community health centers. She has served on NIH and CDC advisory panels and dedicated her career to improving the health of underserved populations. She joined Florida International University’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine in 2009, where she taught social determinants of health, diversity, and climate-related health impacts. She retired in 2022 as Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, Inclusivity, and Community Initiatives.
Speakers and contributors will be selected based on:
Scholarly merit and originality
Relevance to Planetary Health themes
Methodological and analytical rigor
Contribution to interdisciplinary dialogue
Invited speakers will be selected by the Conference Organizing Committee in consultation with the Scientific Committee.
FOP2026 is committed to:
High standards of academic integrity
Disciplinary and methodological diversity
Inclusive representation across career stages, disciplines, and geographies
The conference seeks to foster a respectful and intellectually rigorous environment for scholarly exchange.
FOP2026 conference will be hosted by McMaster University, located in Hamilton, ON, Canada, from November 22 to 24, 2026.
FOP2026 will take place at McMaster Innovation Park (MIP), located at 175 Longwood Rd S Suite 101A, Hamilton, ON L8P 0A1
Specific venue details, including buildings and rooms, will be announced closer to the conference date.
McMaster Innovation Park, located at 175 Longwood Road South in Hamilton, is accessible from Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) by several transportation options.
For guests arriving at John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport (YHM), McMaster Innovation Park is easily accessible within Hamilton.
Visitors Inn is a west Hamilton hotel located at 649 Main Street West near Highway 403, offering convenient access to McMaster University and McMaster Innovation Park. The hotel provides guest rooms, kitchenette rooms, suites, and family accommodations, along with free parking, Wi-Fi, an indoor pool, and on-site dining.
Location: 649 Main St W, Hamilton, ON L8S 1A2
Hampton Inn by Hilton Hamilton is a modern downtown hotel located at 7 Queen Street North in central Hamilton. It offers convenient access to McMaster University and McMaster Innovation Park for conference guests, along with amenities such as free Wi-Fi, complimentary hot breakfast, a fitness centre, and an indoor pool. On-site parking is available for a daily fee.
Location: 7 Queen St N, Hamilton, ON L8R 2T9
Homewood Suites by Hilton Hamilton is an all-suites downtown hotel located at 40 Bay Street South in central Hamilton. It offers convenient access to McMaster University and McMaster Innovation Park and is well suited to guests seeking extended-stay comfort. Amenities include free hot breakfast, complimentary Wi-Fi, in-room kitchens, an indoor pool, a fitness centre, and on-site parking for a daily fee.
Location: 40 Bay St S, Hamilton, ON L8P 0B3
Sheraton Hamilton Hotel is a downtown Hamilton accommodation option located at 116 King Street West in the city core. It offers convenient access to McMaster University and McMaster Innovation Park and features amenities such as free Wi-Fi, an indoor pool, a fitness centre, on-site dining, and on-site parking for a daily fee.
Location: 116 King St W, Hamilton, ON L8P 4V3
Participants are encouraged to check back for updates.
FOP2026 conference welcomes partnerships and sponsorships that align with its academic mission and Planetary Health framework. All partnerships and sponsorships are governed by principles of academic independence, transparency, and integrity.
The Centre for Global Peace, Justice and Health is a collaborative, interdisciplinary centre that focuses on peace education, social justice, environmental and climate justice, and health justice, working with researchers, practitioners, educators, students, community leaders, and activists to address local and global inequities that undermine peace, justice, and health. Building on more than 35 years of legacy under its former name, the Centre for Peace Studies, it has expanded its mandate to amplify the intersections of peace and justice studies, including inequity, injustice, and human rights.
PEACH Health Ontario is a McMaster-based initiative dedicated to reimagining a healthcare system that prioritizes people and the planet. Housed within the Faculty of Health Sciences, PEACH works at the intersection of environmental sustainability and healthcare, developing tools, guidebooks, and community partnerships to advance green health facility practices and mobilize climate action across health systems.
More information about the roles, selection criteria, and expectations of our Partners and Sponsors can be found below.
Partners and sponsors play a supporting role in enabling the delivery of an academically rigorous and accessible conference.
Their contributions may support:
Conference organization and logistics
Student and early-career researcher participation
Academic programming and knowledge exchange
Partners and sponsors do not influence the scientific content, peer-review process, or speaker selection.
FOP2026 welcomes academic and mission-aligned institutional partners, including:
Universities and research institutions
Academic networks and scholarly societies
Research centers and institutes
Public or non-profit research organizations
Partnerships are intended to strengthen academic collaboration and scholarly exchange.
Maintaining full academic independence
Upholding rigorous peer-review standards
Ensuring transparency and ethical governance
All partnerships and sponsorships are subject to review by the Conference Organizing Committee to ensure alignment with these principles.
Organizations interested in exploring partnership or sponsorship opportunities that align with the academic mission of FOP2026 may contact the conference organizing team.
Your abstract has been accepted — now what?
Congratulations, and welcome to FOP2026! Here is everything you need to do to confirm your place at the conference.
If you are the presenting author, please complete the required registration and submission steps outlined below to secure your presentation slot.
If you are not presenting a paper, you are still warmly invited to join FOP2026 as an attendee and participate in the conference sessions, networking activities, and discussions with researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers from around the world.
Complete your registration using our registration portal and submit your payment. Your spot is not confirmed until registration is complete. Early bird rates are available until September 22, 2026. You can use this guide to help you with the registration and payment process.
Accepted abstracts are invited to submit a full paper for peer review by September 7, 2026. Papers accepted through peer review will also be considered for inclusion in the FOP2026 Special Issue journal publication. Submission is through the conference portal at openconf link.
Papers should be submitted using the FOP2026 paper template.
McMaster Innovation Park is located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Visit our Venue & Logistics page for recommended accommodation options and travel information. We encourage early booking, as the conference takes place during a busy period.
Presentation guidelines and scheduling information will be communicated to registered participants ahead of the conference. Keep an eye on your inbox and check the conference website for updates at planetaryhealth.mcmaster.ca/fop2026.
Questions? Reach us anytime at fop@mcmaster.ca.
All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing to fop@mcmaster.ca. Cancellations received on or before September 15, 2026 are eligible for a full refund minus a $25 CAD administrative fee. Cancellations received between September 16 and October 21, 2026 are eligible for a 50% refund. From October 22, 2026 onward, no refunds will be issued. If you are unable to attend, you are welcome to transfer your registration to another eligible participant at no additional charge — please contact us to arrange this. For changes to registration details such as affiliation, dietary requirements, or accessibility needs, reach out to us at fop@mcmaster.ca at any time prior to the conference.