On 29–30 October 2026, the The Green Care Research Collective will organize the first edition of our annual symposium on sustainable healthcare, activism, and planetary health at the University Medical Centre Groningen (UMCG). During the symposium, established keynote speakers will present, and early career researchers will contribute contextually relevant poster presentations and pitches. In addition, campfire sessions will be organized to spark interdisciplinary discussions on topics within the scope of the symposium. Our call for abstracts is now open, be sure to send in yours (see deadline on the abstract submission form) and to safe the date!
The GCRC Symposium brings together researchers, PhD candidates, healthcare professionals for two days of inspiration, exchange, and collaboration around sustainable healthcare, planetary health, and systemic change. The programme combines keynote lectures, PhD pitches, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities. The programme is spread across two days and will be organized at the University Medical Centre Groningen, the Netherlands.
The symposium opens late morning with welcome coffee, followed by an introductory session and the first keynote speakers on sustainable healthcare, Prof. Dr. Schelto Kruijff and Prof. Dr. Patricia van den Bemt.
A shared lunch with poster presentations provides space for discussion and networking. Throughout the day, short PhD pitches are interspersed with keynote lectures focused on planetary health by Dr. Chiara Cadeddu and Dr. Cristina Richie. The day concludes with capacity building activities. In the evening, participants are invited to join a social dinner, drinks, and informal celebration.
The second day begins with a keynote talk by Cornelie van Kampenhout addressing activism and systemic change. Additional PhD pitches will highlight emerging research. Mid-morning campfire sessions offer small group discussions and interactive exchange. The symposium closes with a final keynote session on planetary health by Dr. Carlos A. Faerron Guzmán followed by a joint wrap-up and optional lunch, providing a final opportunity to connect and reflect.
Across both days, the program blends inspiring talks, early-career researcher visibility, interactive formats, and social moments to strengthen the GCRC community and stimulate collaboration.
Our call for abstracts is now open! Is your research associated with sustainable healthcare and/or planetary health, and would you like to provide a short pitch, present a poster or guide a campfire session on your topic? Please feel free to use the Microsoft forms below to submit your abstract.
TBA, open from June.
