Carleton Sustainable Energy student presents the results of their research at major international conference
By Ainsley Salmon
At the beginning of the month, I attended the International Sustainability Transitions Conference (IST 2026) in Zurich. As I embark upon my Master’s in Public Policy – Sustainable Energy and the Environment, spending a week engaging with researchers and practitioners working on climate and energy transitions was an invaluable experience.
IST 2026 brought together researchers, practitioners, and graduate students from around the world to explore how societies can navigate the challenges of sustainability transitions. With this year’s theme, “Hope in Challenging Times,” the conference created space to examine the barriers facing transitions and think critically about the opportunities for creating more equitable futures.
One of the things I found most valuable about IST was the breadth of research represented. Sessions brought together perspectives from across the natural and applied sciences, as well as the social sciences, offering a broader picture of what it takes to transform socio-technical systems. I had the opportunity to learn about emerging technologies and innovations while also engaging with research on the political, institutional, social, and economic conditions that shape how those technologies are adopted. Being exposed to research across different sectors, countries, and transition contexts pushed me to think beyond my own area of focus.
A major highlight of the conference was presenting my research paper, “Blocking the Current: Political Contests Surrounding Electrification in Canada,” which I co-authored with Professor Daniel Rosenbloom. Presenting our work to an international audience with such diverse academic backgrounds was an exciting opportunity to receive new perspectives, challenge some of my thinking, and come away with ideas to shape the research moving forward.
Just as meaningful as the research itself was the opportunity to be part of the IST community. Throughout the week, I had the chance to reconnect with international colleagues, meet researchers whose work I have been following, and build new friendships with graduate students from around the world.
As an incoming Master’s student, IST 2026 was a reminder of how much there is to learn from those working across disciplines, sectors, and parts of the world. I am incredibly grateful to everyone who made the conference such a welcoming and intellectually stimulating experience. I’m excited to carry this new knowledge with me as I begin the next chapter of my academic journey.