WILLEMSTAD – Researchers from Curaçao and the other five Dutch Caribbean islands can now submit proposals for the 21st Islands of the World Conference. The international conference will take place on Curaçao from June 6 through 10, 2027.
The gathering brings together researchers, policymakers, professionals, students, and civil society organizations from island communities around the world. Central to the event is the question of how islands navigate major societal challenges and what solutions they develop themselves.
Researchers from Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten are explicitly encouraged to submit proposals. Topics may include climate, disaster preparedness, health, migration, tourism, economics, energy, food and water security, and nature conservation. Contributions drawing on practical experience, policy, or local knowledge are also welcome.
According to Renske Pin, chair of the local organizing committee, the conference should not only highlight the vulnerability of small islands, but — more importantly — the knowledge, creativity, and solutions that emerge from islands themselves. The organization also aims to actively connect the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands with international researchers and other island communities.
The conference is organized under the International Small Islands Studies Association (ISISA), an international network dedicated to research on islands and island communities. The deadline for abstract submissions is October 15, 2026.
