Conference Theme and Topics

Across the world, communities are confronting rapid ecological change, aging infrastructure, shifting social dynamics, and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. These challenges highlight the importance of adaptive systems– ecosystems, infrastructure systems, and social systems that are able to recover from and adjust to changing conditions– and how resilience in these systems is critical to sustainable futures. Adaptivity requires acknowledging that these systems are interdependent, and collaborative planning across organizations, disciplines, and political boundaries is essential. By openly sharing knowledge and addressing ecological, cultural, and institutional challenges, we strengthen our ability to anticipate and plan for change rather than merely react to it. The vision for ICOET 2027 is to celebrate adaptivity in action and highlight how colleagues across the world are advancing technology, improving ecological connectivity, bolstering infrastructure, and more intentionally designing, managing, and restoring systems to better endure and adjust to change.