Island(er)s at the Helm end conference:
Climate challenges in the (Dutch) Caribbean
Climate challenges in the (Dutch) Caribbean
21-23 October 2025
About the conference
The Island(er)s at the Helm project started in 2021 for a period of five years. In the meantime more than 20 researchers have explored a wide range of questions regarding how islanders on St. Maarten, Saba, St. Eustatius, Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao have been living with climate challenges, both in the past and the present. From climate justice, to visual anthropology, to ethnopaleontology, to musicology, and more - our researchers have utilized a myriad of different perspectives from the social sciences, humanities and beyond to ponder a variety of issues surrounding climate adaption. During this conference our researchers will present their findings, reflect on the last four years of the Islanders at the Helm project and share insights that matter for everyone living and working on any of the islands of St. Maarten, Saba, St. Eustatius, Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. More
Call for papers (closed)
The Island(er)s at the Helm research project invites scholars, practitioners, and artists to submit abstracts for its upcoming conference in Curaçao, dedicated to exploring the intersections of cultural, heritage, climate challenges, policy, governance, and sustainable adaptation in the (Dutch) Caribbean. Read more
Confirmed keynote speakers
21 October: Professor Kathryn Yusoff, Professor of Inhuman Geography, Queen Mary University of London
22 October: Dr. Nelson Mota, Associate Professor specializing in housing design and architectural education, Delft University of Technology
23 October: Professor Melanie Newton, Professor of History and Caribbean Studies, University of Toronto
23 October: Dr. Keston Perry, Assistant Professor of African American Studies, Political Economy, & Geography, University of California
Presentations of our researchers
During the conference our researchers will present their findings, reflect on the last four years of the Islanders at the Helm project and share insights that matter for everyone living and working on any of the islands of St. Maarten, Saba, St. Eustatius, Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao. Read more about our researchers.
Program
Please find a preliminary schedule here.
Practical information
Conference speakers and visitors living abroad need to arrange their own travel and accommodation. We chose to host the conference in Curaçao to facilitate inter-island travel and because Curaçao offers accommodation options at varying prices. We hope in this way to welcome as many people as possible. Unfortunately there are no travel grants available from the Island(er)s at the Helm project for conference speakers and visitors. More information will follow soon!
Island(er)s end conference newsletter
Subscribe to our newsletter to make sure you don't miss any news!