Behavioral Economics for Sustainability Transitions
The Summer School on Behavioral Economics for Sustainability Transitions, hosted by Unitelma Sapienza University of Rome, will take place on 24, 25 and 26 September 2026. The school aims to bring together early-career researchers and leading international scholars to explore how behavioral insights can support effective and inclusive sustainability transitions.
Sustainability challenges—ranging from climate change and biodiversity loss to sustainable consumption and production—are deeply shaped by human behavior. Behavioral economics offers powerful tools to understand decision-making, design policy interventions, and promote systemic change. Building on this foundation, the 2026 edition of the summer school will place a special emphasis on the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in advancing behavioral research and policy design for sustainability.
The program will feature lectures and keynote talks by top researchers from around the world, covering both theoretical advances and applied research at the intersection of behavioral economics, sustainability science, and AI. Topics will include, among others, behavioral interventions for sustainable consumption, digital nudging, algorithmic decision support, ethical and distributional implications of AI-driven policies, and the use of machine learning in behavioral data analysis.
A core objective of the summer school is to foster dialogue between senior scholars and early-career researchers. PhD students will have the opportunity to present their own research, receive feedback from leading experts, and engage in in-depth discussions with peers working on related topics. Dedicated sessions will be organized to encourage exchange, collaboration, and mentoring.
The summer school is designed for PhD students and early-career researchers in economics, behavioral science, sustainability science, public policy, and related disciplines, as well as for practitioners with a strong research focus. Participants will benefit from an intensive, interdisciplinary learning environment in the academic setting of Unitelma Sapienza University of Rome.
Further details on the call submission, program, speakers, and application process will be announced soon.
Additional info
If you need support or additional information regarding the SEEDS Summer School, please write to: sustain@unitelmasapienza.it