February 22-26, 2027
Call for applications: August 20 - October 20, 2026
The PhD Academy is led by:
- Duke University
- Boston College
- Ca’ Foscari University of Venice
Environmental peacebuilding is an emerging and rapidly changing field. It engages a range of disciplines, ranging from political science, political economy, and geography to law and environmental sciences. It examines the environmental dimensions of peacebuilding and the peace dimensions of furthering sustainable development. The field of environmental peacebuilding has its origins in understanding the environmental consequences of the Vietnam War and the 1990-91 Gulf War. Many of the wars since the mid-20th century have had a link to the environment and natural resources. For example, high value resources such as diamonds, gold, and oil were used to finance armed conflict in states such as Colombia, Sierra Leone, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. As the field has matured, scholars have examined how the environment and natural resource management are central to rebuilding war-torn societies for a sustainable peace. Notably, the restoration of water services and cooperation over water resources is vital for addressing human needs and fostering trust among adversaries. Recent scholarship has pointed out that while earlier literature focused on international conflicts such as transboundary water conflicts, recent studies tend to examine more localized conflicts and bottom-up approaches. Topics within environmental peacebuilding cross different levels of scale from the local to the national to the international and in different conflict contexts, ranging from social disputes, protests and riots to armed conflict and war.
Faculty
Erika Weinthal, Duke University
Lauren Honig, Boston College
Sara De Vido, Ca' Foscari University of Venice
Patricio Barbirotto, Ca' Foscari University of Venice
Luisa Bialasiewcz, Ca' Foscari University of Venice
Other contributing faculty will be announced
Learning outcomes for participants
- gain knowledge about the role of natural resources/environment throughout the entire conflict cycle.
- familiarity with theories of change pertaining to conflict and peacebuilding outcomes.
- learn skills/tools that are useful for assessing environmental damage and for monitoring and evaluation.
- gain an understanding of different systems of land/property rights and law in conflict-affected countries.
- familiarity with the core legal instruments for the protection of the environment in armed conflict.
- gain exposure to climate-sensitive and gender-sensitive interventions for mitigating conflict and promoting peace and sustainable development.
Who can apply?
The PhD Academy is addressed to students who have already completed at least one year of their PhD, post-docs and junior researchers in Political science, public policy, environmental sciences, law, economics, geography, gender studies.
Open to candidates from all the VIU Member Institutions; applications from excellent candidates from non-member institutions will be also considered and evaluated.
Fees & grant support
Full fee waiver scholarships are available for students from VIU member institutions. In addition, grant support is available to support partially or fully the costs of international travel. Accommodation is provided free of charge.
The participation fee for students of non-member institutions is 1200.00 EUR (incl. VAT). The fee is inclusive of tuition, course materials, accommodation, lunches, social events, and taxes.
Students from non-member institutions are not eligible for VIU grant support.
VIU Alumni are eligible for a reduced fee.
Applicants must submit the (1) application form, (2) a letter of motivation – which should include a short bio and a brief description of the candidate’s research project, (3) a curriculum vitae, and (4) a photo.
For further information please download the brochure and the program or write to: phdacademy@univiu.org
