Brightcon 2026 — Call for Abstracts
In environmental sustainability assessment, we have reached a point of abundance. We have increasing amount of data, tools, and more specialized methodologies than ever before.
But abundance brings a specific risk: recreating the wheel behind closed doors.
This year, Brightcon is about Collaboration, about breaking those silos.
Themes
Abstracts are welcome across the following themes. Please select the session theme(s) that best fit your submission. You may select multiple themes that fit your submission, however, if accepted, the Scientific Committee will assign your submission to a single specific session based on your preferences and reviewer feedback.
Open Tools and Development
This session track focuses on the latest development of open-source software, packages, and libraries, alongside core methodological advancements. We invite developers and researchers to showcase the tools that underpin modern environmental modeling.
Application and Case Studies
This session track highlights the practical power of combining open-source sustainability assessment tools and data in solving real-world environmental challenges. We invite researchers, practitioners and policy makers to showcase integrated workflows, industrial applications in commercial or policy settings, and academic innovations that bridge the gap between theoretical modeling and reproducible impact.
Open Data
This session track focuses on the lifecycle of data within environmental modeling, covering creation, management, standards, and sharing. We invite contributions that explore how open data can be made more accessible and interoperable, as well as the application of advanced data science techniques, such as machine learning and automated data cleaning, to enhance LCA workflows.
Community Governance, Education and Training
This session track focuses on the "human infrastructure" of our community and ecosystem. We invite contributions regarding the future of open-source LCA, community growth, and sustainable governance models. Discussions will center on how we maintain shared standards, ensure project longevity, and foster an inclusive, collaborative environment across borders and disciplines. It also includes discussions on education, training, and capacity building for new and existing practitioners in the community.
Application of AI in LCA
This session track explores the frontier of artificial intelligence within environmental modeling. It covers the integration of LLMs, autonomous agents, and context engineering to streamline and enhance LCA workflows. Focus areas include the use of AI for automated data mapping, "vibe coding" for rapid prototyping, and the development of intelligent assistants that support complex decision-making in sustainability assessments. We prioritize technical demonstrations that show how these emerging technologies can be applied transparently and reproducibly within the open-source ecosystem.
Collaboration
This session track serves as the bridge between tools, data, and people. It focuses on fostering connections and defining best practices for interdisciplinary integration, such as combining complex LCA models, and developing open infrastructure based on FAIR data and semantic web principles. Contributions should highlight successful exchanges between academia, industry, consultancy, and policy, emphasizing methods that prevent "reinventing the wheel" and encourage collective advancement within the open-source community.
Submission Types
Select the format that best suits your contribution. Each type offers flexible duration options to accommodate different levels of detail and interactivity.
Presentation (with notebook)
Presenting work using an open/reproducible format (e.g., Jupyter, R, Julia, Markdown) that includes live-runnable code/data: while the presentation should communicate the logic and results through visuals and explanations, the underlying code must be available to ensure interactivity and transparency.
Duration: 15 min, 20 min, or 30 min
Presentation (slides)
Traditional presentation format. Should still involve open-source or open-data subjects, or screenshots of code snippets if possible.
Duration: 10 min, 15 min, or 20 min
Workshop
Hands-on, interactive session focused on teaching a tool, gathering feedback, or collaboratively solving a problem (e.g. using Miro board/Mural, stimulating new thoughts, using a new library, getting feedback on work, etc).
Duration: 45 min
(Plenum) Discussion
A guided discussion on a specific open-source topic, community challenge, or overlapping area identified in the community, with moderator(s) and involving the conference participants (e.g., overlaps between packages, "I have this topic/point which we could discuss").
Duration: 30 min, 45 min, or 60 min
Poster
Show your content on a poster, and potentially give a short pitch in the main session. Emphasize direct, one-on-one discussion with attendees for feedback on your open work (e.g., via QR code to a GitHub repository).
Duration: Subject to scientific program finalization. Accepted posters will be notified with detailed information.
Ready to submit your abstract?