Futures Under Construction: The Biosphère Gatherings

Take part in Futures Under Construction, a conference series at the Biosphère that invites you to reflect on the transformations needed in the field of urban planning in response to the climatic crisis.

These gatherings bring together specialists in architecture, urban planning or even in design. Drawing on their diverse perspectives, these experts offer concrete avenues for imagining sustainable ecological and social futures.

Inspired by the Transformer: Design and Energy Futures exhibition, these conferences offer an opportunity to join the conversation and contribute to an essential debate.

Hosted by: Marc-André Carignan, author and columnist specializing in urban development

Thinking the World

Futures Under Construction is the 2026 edition of the Biosphère Gatherings. This event series encourages collective reflection on the kind of world we want to build. Researchers, practitioners, scientists and members of the public come together to share their perspectives, break down silos and spark new solutions.

Each annual edition explores a theme that invites participants to reflect collectively on the futures we want for our societies.

IN FRENCH ONLY

Watch the conferences online →(opens in a new tab)

Conferences

January 22 | Design tomorrow

Opening Remarks

Alexandre Shields, environmental reporter, Le Devoir

Tomorrow is a collective choice

• André-Yanne Parent, director of leadership development – McCall MacBain Scholars, McGill University
• Éric Pineault, professor, Department of Sociology, UQAM
• Laure Waridel, ecosociologist and associate Professor at the Institute of Environmental Sciences at UQAM

Between dependency and transition

• Pierre-Olivier Pineau, full professor, Chair in Energy Sector Management, Department of Decision Sciences, HEC Montréal
• Sidney Ribaux, director, Office of Ecological Transition and Resilience, City of Montréal

February 12 | Build less, build better

Opening Remarks

Franck Scherrer, full professor at the School of Urban Planning, Architecture, and Landscape Design, academic director of Chemins de transition

Reinvent what already exists

• Marie-Ève Cantin, architect and chief executive director, Écobâtiment
• Claudine Déom, associate professor, School of Architecture, Université de Montréal
• Annie Levasseur, full professor, Department of Construction Engineering, ÉTS

Build differently

• Cécile Bulle, professor, School of Management Sciences, UQAM
• Marc-Olivier Champagne, associate architect, Appareil Architecture
• Céline C. Mertenat, senior associate, architect, Provencher_Roy

March 19 | Reweaving our territories - FULL

Opening Remarks

Aziza Chaouni, architect and engineer, assistant professor of architecture and sustainable construction, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne

Cities under pressure : cohabiting rather than coexisting

• Paula Negron-Poblete, Director and Associate Professor, School of Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture, University of Montreal
• Christian Savard, chief executive officer, Vivre en ville
• Fee Stehle, program management specialist, human settlements, UN-Habitat

Designing for protection

• Alain Fournier, architect, senior associate and director, EVOQ Arcjtecture
• Olivier Riffon, professor of eco-consulting, UQAC
• Frédérique St-Arnaud, professional in land use planning, co-founder of the Le Picbois cooperative

April 30 | Design as a superpower 

Opening remarks

Simon-Matthew Séguin, Professor, School of Design, UQAM

Pecha Kucha*

Following a call for applications organized by the Bureau du design and the Biosphere, four applicants were selected. These designers will present their respective visions of design as a superpower for supporting the socioecological transition.

• Allan MacDonald, product and UX/UI designer and facilitator
• catherine d'amours, transdisciplinary designer and a professor at the School of Design at UQAM
• Melania Grozdanoska and Sébastien Beauregard, co-founders of the social economy enterprise SURCY
• Manuel R. Cisneros, architect, urban designer and Director of Environmental and Regenerative Strategies at Sid Lee Architecture

Explore their profiles on the Bureau du design’s website(opens in a new tab)

* For your information, Pecha Kucha is a presentation method that involves showcasing a few slides in a fast-paced format. It relies on visual information to convey a message and requires eloquence, a sense of storytelling, rhythm, and conciseness.