Beyond Oil 2023: Refuelling Transformation

The 2023 theme is "Refuelling Transformation"

Society is inevitably moving beyond oil.  

And yet, the ongoing energy crisis demonstrates that transforming to low-carbon societies is bound up in multiple crises, backlashes and setbacks. Fossil fuel displacement remains both urgent and challenging. We have the knowledge and technology needed, and with political and individual will, we can refuel transformation in a just and inclusive manner. The historical moment also asks us to rethink, re-evaluate and reflect on existing transformative efforts. 

Join us in a collective reckoning of the present, informed by the past, facing the future.

Beyond Oil is an interdisciplinary and international conference organised biennially by the Centre for Climate and Energy Transformation (CET) at the University of Bergen. We provide an arena to discuss how to move society beyond oil, in its broadest sense. This conference edition dives deeper into questions and answers to how we can rethink and critically reflect on what transformation includes (and excludes). We invite scholars from a range of disciplines to unpack and jointly explore how we can revive and refuel transformation to mitigate climate change.  

Registration is now closed

Confirmed speakers for the conference:

• Zarina Patel, Associate Professor, University of Cape Town
• Helene Ahlborg, Assistant Professor, Chalmers University of Technology
• Derk Loorbach, Professor and director of DRIFT, Erasmus University Rotterdam
• Jessica Jewell, Associate Professor, Chalmers University of Technology & UiB. 
• Ketan Joshi, Global Strategic Communications Council (GSCC)
• Alexander Dodge, Associate Professor, NTNU
• Marie Claire Brisbois, Senior Lecturer, University of Sussex
• Eva Maria Fjellheim, PhD fellow, University of Tromsø

Programme 

Download the digital programme

Download the parallel sessions overview (updated October 13)

Download the book of abstracts 2023

Monday 16th of October

For those arriving in Bergen on Monday afternoon, we invite you to an event in collaboration with Empowered Futures Research School. Roundtable on Roles Academics Play in Sustainability Transformation from 16.30 - 18.00 at Cafe Opera, Engen 18

Some food and drink will be provided. 

The plenary sessions will be streamed. Click on the session name in the programme to watch the stream. 

Practical information

• Questions can be sent to beyondoil@uib.no 
• The format for the parallel sessions is 8-minute presentations followed by group discussions.  
• The conference will be organized in line with the CET Low- Carbon Travel Policy. 
• This is an in-person-only conference, but keynote sessions will be streamed, recorded and posted online subsequently. We are also working on offering hybrid arrangements for some plenary sessions. Let us know if you are interested in presenting digitally. 

Conference fee

• 1200 NOK (this includes lunch and refreshments both days)
• Conference dinner is an extra 300 NOK
• Bachelor and Master's students: 250NOK

If you have a good reason for a fee waiver, please submit a short explanation to beyondoil@uib.no once you have submitted an abstract. If you have registered, the payment link will be sent out at the beginning of August.   

Conference venue: Literature House of Bergen (Litteraturhuset) Østre Skostredet 5, 5017 Bergen

How to get there:

We encourage ground transport to the conference where possible. 

If you arrive at Bergen Train station, you are already in the middle of Bergen city. The train station is within walking distance of most facilities in the city centre, including the House of Literature.

If you arrive at Bergen Airport, Flesland, there are several ways of getting to the city centre:

• Bergen light rail runs from Bergen airport to ‘Byparken’, in the city centre. The trip takes 45 minutes.
• The airport bus (Flybussen) has frequent departures to the city centre. The bus ride will take 25-45 minutes, depending on the traffic.

Follow updates and the conversation on Twitter #Beyondoil23.