GALLANT Gathering 2026
Monday the 9th to Wednesday the 11th of November 2026
Advanced Research Centre, University of Glasgow
Welcome to the GALLANT Gathering 2026!
Five years ago, the eyes of the world were on Glasgow as global leaders signed the historic COP26 Glasgow Climate Pact. While those international commitments set our collective target, the real groundwork happens locally. It is within our cities that the promise of a low-carbon, climate resilient future will be delivered.
Over the past five years, the GALLANT programme has worked in partnership with Glasgow City Council and a wide range of stakeholders across the city. Through interdisciplinary research, collaboration and real-world testing, we have applied systems thinking (considering how actions in one area can influence outcomes in others) to explore practical approaches to climate resilience, biodiversity recovery and urban sustainability. This Gathering provides an opportunity to share and reflect on that work, discuss lessons learned, and consider how our research can inform future activity in Glasgow and beyond.
With everyday economic pressures and the cost of living crisis dominating current headlines, it is vital that attention remains on the ongoing climate and biodiversity emergencies. Cities are on the frontlines of all of these challenges, making a systems approach to local climate action more urgent than ever. As the global conversation continues at COP31, the solutions emerging from Glasgow demonstrate the important role of cities in driving change. We invite you to collaborate, innovate, and find ways to help bridge the knowledge-to-action gap.
Tickets are entirely free, and you can choose to register for one day, two days or all three days of the GALLANT Gathering 2026.
What to Expect
As we approach the end of GALLANT, our 2026 Gathering is an opportunity to celebrate successes, share impact and build project legacy. The event will bring together GALLANT researchers and existing partners, as well as providing an opportunity to share our evidence and learning with wider local, national and international audiences.
Our packed 3-day programme includes:
- Plenary talks and panel discussions
- Interactive workshops to share knowledge and ideas
- Research presentations and poster displays
- Walking tours to situate our research within the city
Discover our preliminary programme below.
Monday 9th November
| Time | Session details | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00-9:30 | Registration | |||
| 9:30-10:30 | Session 1: Plenary | |||
| Welcome and Opening Remarks: Jaime Toney | ||||
| Keynote: Heather Claridge | ||||
| 10:30-11:00 | Break | |||
| 11:00-12:30 | Session 2: Parallel | |||
|
2A. Long Term Monitoring of Urban Biodiversity in Glasgow Dominic McCafferty |
2B. Dear Green Trees: Making Sense of Community Tree Data Ria Dunkley, Sarah Gambell & David Treanor |
2C. Empathy Machine: The GALLANT Stakeholder Analysis Experience Sarah Lester |
2D. What Makes a 'Thriving Glasgow?': Demonstrating Doughnut Economics in Practice (Walking Tour) Invisible Cities |
|
| 12:30-13:30 | Lunch | |||
| 13:30-15:30 | Session 3: Parallel | |||
|
3A. Promoting Sustainable Travel in Glasgow Emma Lawlor, Cindy Gray, Jason Gill & Maria Bissett |
3B. Session content to be confirmed | 3C. Session content to be confirmed |
3D. communiMap in Action: Walking, Noticing and Mapping Urban Nature (Walking Tour) Sarah Gambell |
|
| 15:30-16:00 |
Break |
|||
| 16:00-17:00 |
Session 4: Plenary |
|||
|
Panel Discussion: Glasgow Beyond 2035: What Kind of Future Are We Planning For? Session leads: Andy Inch, Jo Winterbottom, James White |
Tuesday 10th November
|
Time | Session details | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00-9:30 | Registration | |||
| 9:30-10:30 | Session 5: Plenary | |||
| Welcome: Petra Meier | ||||
| Keynote speaker to be confirmed | ||||
| 10:30-11:00 | Break | |||
| 11:00-12:30 | Session 6: Parallel | |||
|
6A. Using Systems Thinking in Practice: What Works? Jaime Toney & Elaine Heslop |
6B. Is Glasgow Thriving? Evidence from the Glasgow Doughnut Nick Bailey, Michail Georgiou & Luning Li |
6C. It Takes a Village: Collaborative Storytelling for a Changing Climate Sarah Gambell & Ria Dunkley |
6D. What Makes a 'Thriving Glasgow?': Demonstrating Doughnut Economics in Practice (Walking Tour) Invisible Cities |
|
| 12:30-13:30 |
Lunch |
Exhibit: Sustainable Transport in the Glasgow City Region | ||
| 13:30-15:00 | Session 7: Parallel | |||
|
7A. Systems Transformation: Identifying Barriers, Enablers and Accelerators of Systems Change Jo Winterbottom |
7B. From Rooftop Solar to Vacant and Derelict Land and Low-Carbon Heat: Can Glasgow's Communities Benefit? Gioia Falcone & Nicola Tait |
7C. EMRC-led session: Legacy Sandpit | ||
| 15:00-15:30 | Break | |||
| 15:30-17:00 | Session 8: Parallel | |||
|
8A. The 'Organising Power of Communities' featuring Low-carbon Community Energy Interactive Mapping Exercise Gioia Falcone, Graeme Hunt, Anton Soderqvist & Nicola Tait |
8B. Climate and Community Courtyards: Transformative change across Glasgow Stephen Woroniecki
|
8C. Playing with the Glasgow Digital Doughnut Michail Georgiou, Luning Li, Stephen Brown & Cris Hasan |
Wednesday 11th November
| Time | Session details | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00-9:30 | Registration | |||
| 9:30-10:30 | Session 9: Plenary | |||
| Welcome: Marian Scott | ||||
| Keynote Speaker to be confirmed | ||||
| 10:30-11:00 | Break | |||
| 11:00-12:30 | Session 10: Parallel | |||
|
10A. NERC Research Culture Session Sarah Currier, Annette Ewence, Sarah Froom, Rachel Hayman, Helen Driver & Vanessa Gordon |
10B. Data Storytelling for Nature Federico Stachurski, Claire Miller & Marian Scott |
10C. Building a Thriving Glasgow: Community Wealth Building Meets Doughnut Economics Laavanya Varadarajan Semi-permanent Scotland: Land Uses for Uncertain Times Jenna Kirk & Kat Fradera |
10D. What Makes a 'Thriving Glasgow'?: Demonstrating Doughnut Economics in Practice (Walking Tour) Invisible Cities |
|
| 12:30-13:15 | Lunch | |||
| 13:15-15:00 | Session 11: Plenary | |||
| 11A. Cèilidh Workshop: Imagining GALLANT's Legacy | ||||
| 11B. Closing Remarks: Jaime Toney |
Confirmed Speakers
Heather Claridge - Strategic Spatial Planning Group Manager for Glasgow City Region
Heather Claridge is the Strategic Spatial Planning Group Manager for Glasgow City Region, overseeing the long‑term vision for one of the UK’s largest metropolitan areas, and helping guide how the region grows, adapts and responds to the climate and nature crises. During her extensive career as a chartered planner and urban designer working in the public sector, Heather has led major green and blue infrastructure programmes in Glasgow’s east end, supported regional regeneration initiatives in the Forth and Clyde canal corridor, and championed creative, community‑led approaches such as the award‑winning Stalled Spaces programme and urban lighting projects. Widely recognised for her contribution to the sector, Heather is a Fellow of the RSA, an Academician of the Academy of Urbanism, a former RTPI UK Young Planner of the Year, and an Affiliate of UN‑Habitat’s Planners for Climate Action network. She also serves as Co-Chair for the Green Action Trust and Chair of the Kelvin Catchment Partnership, reflecting her long‑standing commitment to tackling environmental and social inequalities through practical, place‑based action.
Her keynote will focus on the role of place and partnerships to support healthier communities and a more resilient future, and how this is being translated into Glasgow’s new Regional Spatial Strategy.
Satellite Events
An Evening with Kate Raworth
Tuesday 10th November, 17.30–19.30pm
We are delighted that the Advanced Research Centre will be hosting a lecture and drinks reception with Professor Kate Raworth from the University of Oxford. Kate is co-founder and Chair of the Doughnut Economics Action Lab (DEAL), providing a steering guide on the organisation's mission and broad strategic direction. She is the author of the international best-seller Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st Century Economist which has been translated into over 20 languages. She is also a senior teaching fellow at Oxford University's Environmental Change Institute. Since 2024 she has loved being the Ringmaster of Doughnut Economics Circus.
Event Livestreaming
We will confirm which sessions will be available via livestream closer to the event dates. Please check back here for the latest updates and to access livestream links when they are shared.
Venue and Travel
The Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Centre
11 Chapel Lane
University of Glasgow
G11 6EW
Accessibility at the Advanced Research Centre
Nearest subway stations: Hillhead Subway, Kelvinhall Subway
Nearest rail station: Partick
Bus routes from City Centre: First Bus 2/3, First Bus 4/4A, West Coast Motors 15,
Nearest car park: Bunhouse road carpark, G3 8DP (pay and display)
Contact us
If you have any questions at all, please do not hesitate to get in touch with the Gathering Team at: gathering-conference@glasgow.ac.uk
We look foward to hearing from you, and will be happy to assist with any enquiries.