BUP Symposium 2025
The very first in-person BUP Symposium took place on 26-28 November 2025 at Uppsala University. Close to 100 colleagues from all over the Baltic Sea Region, coming from 9 countries, representing 41 universities, attended the event. This year, the participants at the BUP PhD Students Training also took part in the event.
The theme of the Symposium was ‘Strengthening the Security and Resilience of the Baltic Sea Region – Environmental, Political, Social, and Economic Shocks and Crises’. The event was an opportunity to disseminate multi- and interdisciplinary research and it created opportunities for regional educational and research communities to come together. The Symposium started with the keynote speech by Professor Skytteana Li Bennich-Björkman (Uppsala University), followed by parallel sessions with research presentations, poster presentations and concluded with a panel discussion to sum up the Symposium. There was also a Supervisor Collegium information session and workshop.
The participants got the opportunity to meet and discuss issues related to the Symposium's core theme and make new connections while gathering knowledge to fuel future research ideas and projects.
The BUP Symposium would not have been possible to arrange without the hard work and valuable contributions of the colleagues at Hamburg University of Applied Sciences and Södertörn University.
Outcomes of the Symposium
The Symposium featured five parallel sessions focused on: 'Climate Change in Times of Environmental and Geopolitical Instability'; 'Energy Security and Energy Transitions'; 'International Relations: Cooperation and Conflict'; 'Civil Society and Preparedness'; and 'Resilient Food Systems and Water Security'. Each session brought together a diverse group of researchers, enabling rich interdisciplinary discussions on these themes, one of the aspects most appreciated by participants. The insights from these discussions were later carried into the final panel session, where all attendees had the opportunity to reflect on and connect the key themes explored throughout the event.
The participants have stated that some things they will bring with them from the event are new connections, inspiration, knowledge and new perspectives.
Participants at the BUP Symposium, held in Uppsala. Photo: Adam Sjöström
Book of Abstracts - BUP Symposium 2025
This publication contains 65 abstracts from oral presentations held at the BUP Symposium 2025. In total, there are 140 authors of the presented abstracts. Those who gave the presentations are colleagues at BUP participating universities.
Each session brought together a diverse group of researchers and included presentations, reflecting the breadth of current research efforts in the region.
If you would like to learn more about the research presented in the parallel sessions, please take a look at the Book of Abstracts from the BUP Symposium 2025 pdf, 4 MB..
Evaluation of the event
The evaluation was completed by 44 participants and received an overall rating of 9/10. Particularly highlighted were the parallel sessions and panel discussion and the participants thought that the event was worthwhile in attending, in terms of their research, future aspirations and career. Participants also appreciated the informal discussions during breaks, lunches and dinners where they could make new connections and further discuss their research.
Quotes from the evaluation
”The networking and the very diverse topics even within the same panels were useful for inspiration and understanding new perspectives.”
”I liked that the panel invited researchers from different fields of disciplines and countries, which has enriched the discussion around the common topic of the panel.”
”All parts of the conference were well organized and held at the highest level.”
”I especially appreciated the time dedicated to discussing each paper in depth, which allowed for meaningful engagement with the authors and deeper academic exchanges.”
Organiser voice
”We are delighted to have hosted this year’s BUP Symposium at Uppsala University, bringing together senior and junior researchers from across the Baltic Sea Region. As the first on-site BUP Symposium, the event proved to be highly successful, fostering discussions and meaningful connections.
Feedback from participants highlights the value of the Symposium in generating new ideas, strengthening professional networks, and creating opportunities for collaboration across universities and countries. For us as organisers, witnessing the energy, interest, and engagement of the community around this year’s theme is immensely rewarding. We look forward to building on this foundation in future editions of the Symposium to further enhance collaboration and knowledge exchange in addressing the complex challenges facing the Baltic Sea Region.”
Participant evaluations
- The participants rated their expectations before the event at 7.3/10.
- Participants gave the parallel sessions an overall rating of 8.7/10.
- Communication between the event staff and participants was highly rated at 9.7/10 before the event and 9.6/10 during the event.
All overall ratings were made on a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 is considered negative and 10 is considered positive.
Voices of participants
Isabelle Karlsson - Participant from Lund University
To be honest, I did not really have any concrete expectations because I had never been to the BUP Symposium before and neither had my colleagues. But I was looking forward to going to a new conference, and the great communication around the BUP Symposium made me confident that it would be a very nice and rewarding event.
The best part of the symposium was meeting so many great people from different disciplines, which I would probably not have met otherwise. I was – in the most positive way – surprised by how different our approaches are, yet that we have so much in common. It was truly inspiring!
I will take with me from the BUP Symposium that exchanging ideas, discussing, and working together across and beyond our disciplinary boundaries is not only enriching but necessary if we want to understand the challenges of our time. I hope to be able to join the BUP Symposium again in the future!
Piotr Staszkiewicz - Participant from Warsaw School of Economics (SGH)
Before attending, I thought it would be another networking event, but it completely rewired how I see my work. I didn’t expect to leave with this feeling.
The best part? Real conversations with people who actually challenge your ideas and make you laugh at the same time. I didn’t just learn, I had moments that will stick with me forever.
I’m taking home connections that feel more like friendships and a confidence boost I didn’t know I needed.
Jelena Barbir - Participant from Hamburg University of Applied Sciences
I expected the Symposium to be a nice occasion to connect with partners from BUP participating universities that I have already had the opportunity to work with in the past, discuss future opportunities with them, as well as with colleagues that I haven't collaborated with yet.
I appreciated the lively discussions that came out of the presentations. It was great to see how participants from various disciplines were able to connect on one topic.
From the Symposium, I will bring with me that the research on climate change in times of environmental and geopolitical instability is very broad and full of interesting fields that can be explored, with people from different backgrounds.
Images from the event
Photo: Adam Sjöström
Pontus Ambros, Project administrator at the BUP, opened the Symposium. He gave an introduction to the Programme, current opportunities and the importance of the Symposium theme.
Photo: Adam Sjöström
The keynote was given by Professor Skytteana Li Bennich-Björkman, Uppsala University. The presentation focused on the shared history, trends and what defines the Baltic Sea Region.
Photo: Adam Sjöström
In each session, scholars presented and discussed their current research. Ukrainian colleagues who were unable to travel to attend on-site presented online.
Photo: Pontus Ambros
Each presentation and the following discussion lasted for 30 minutes. The discussions then continued long thereafter during breaks and dinners.
Photo: Adam Sjöström
At the end of the second day, there was a mingle and a group of participants from the BUP PhD Students Training introduced their research posters.
Photo: Adam Sjöström
The participants of the BUP PhD Students Training took part in the whole BUP Symposium as well. Some of them also gave presentations during the sessions.
Photo: Kiana Islamian
Over the course of the event, more than 60 different research presentations were held in the sessions.
Photo: Adam Sjöström
To conclude the BUP Symposium, there was a panel discussion. The panelists were Virginia Brenner Music (Södertörn University), Justas Kazys (Vilnius University), Vera van Zoest (Swedish Defence University/Uppsala University), Victor Shadurski (Independent) and Hanna Eneroth (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences).
Photo: Adam Sjöström
Some participants chose to take part in a Supervisor Collegium information session and workshop. The workshop was held by Anna Westin and Rabbe Hedengren from the Career and Leadership Development Centre at Uppsala University.
Photo: Adam Sjöström
During the workshop, the participants got the opportunity to discuss the role of a supervisor and they received material to assist in their continued work.