An international symposium on social, spatial, and legal research related to subsurface implications of the transforming energy sector


Aim and Background

The emerging energy landscape is likely to profoundly reshape where and how humans interact with the subsurface, and, with it, the legal, social and cultural institutions and relationships in extractive territories. These changes require a critical reconsideration of the social contract as it exists between stakeholders involved in the exploration and exploitation of the subsurface.

Addressing questions of fairness and sustainability in the extractives sector on a global scale and within the context of climate change presents a challenge with inextricable social, economic, geographical, legal, and technical dimensions. The objective of the conference is to make an exploration of the spatial-legal relationships that apply to the subsurface and the potential evolution of such frameworks as a tool for the just transformation of the energy sector. Intervenors in the conference will examine different issues of governance, planning, property ownership, rights, and power applicable to the subsurface throughout all stages of extraction.

This event is organized as part of a joint research project, Transatlantic Exploration of Strategies for Decarbonization of Energy and Industrial Sectors, between the University of Wyoming and the University of Pau and the Pays de L’adour (UPPA). The event is organized as part of the work carried out under the Energy Justice & The Social Contract chair held by Louis de Fontenelle, the SESAME project (PEPR Decarbonisation of Industry, funded under the French Future Investment Programme), the Justice Pathway for Extractives & Critical Minerals project (PEPR “Sous Sol Bien commun”, financed by the French “Programme d’investissement d’avenir”), and the Occidental Chair for Energy and Environmental Policies, held by Professor Tara Righetti. The event is further supported by an International Conference Hosting Grant from the University of Wyoming Center for Global Studies.

SYMPOSIUM DETAILS

The symposium will be held on October 21-23, 2025, in Laramie at the University of Wyoming.

Limited travel funding will be available to intervenors with financial need.

KEY DATES

Submission of abstracts: EXTENDED TO 21 APRIL

Notification of acceptance: April 30, 2025

Submission of full papers: September 15, 2025


SCOPE OF TOPICS

We invite papers on the following themes below:

  • Cultural transitions in regions of extraction
  • New extractives of the energy transition (critical minerals, geologic hydrogen, geothermal)
  • Social-Ecological relationships in extractive territories
  • Uses of the subsurface for disposal of waste (CO2, Nuclear)
  • Circularity and reutilization of the subsurface or extractive residuals
  • Restorative justice and economic diversification efforts in extractive communities
  • Labor relationships
  • Equity issues, local to global
  • The role of law and institutions in maintaining the social contract for extractives

The organisers especially welcome proposals for interdisciplinary and comparative law papers.

Papers will be compiled into an edited volume for publication in Spring of 2026.

The compiled work will be compiled into an edited volume for publication in Spring 2026

GUIDELINES FOR ABSTRACT SUBMISSION

Authors are requested to submit the following by email:

  • A 500-word abstract
  • A short reflection (under 1000 words) on key research questions related to the subsurface and energy transition and how the work aligns with the conference objectives.


Proposals for papers should be sent, in English, by APRIL 21, 2025 to:

Tara Righetti ([email protected]) & Louis de Fontenelle ([email protected])

Contributions from doctoral students, early career researchers, policymakers, and practitioners are encouraged.