The Critical Pathways community at Utrecht University, in collaboration with Towards a Circular Economy and Society, is inviting applications for the 2026 Fellowship Programme. This is an opportunity for people from all backgrounds and fields to explore building more sustainable and just futures, by uncovering the hidden stories, systems, and power structures that drive ecological breakdown and deepen inequality, as well as bringing to light the promising alternatives that too often go unnoticed.
The fellowship is interested in how social, cultural, and ecological values, power dynamics, and global inequalities shape production and consumption patterns, resource-use, and the transition to a circular society world – and how a fairer, more equitable alternatives can be imagined.
The fellowship welcomes applications from anyone whose work challenges the status quo, reveals hidden truths, or reimagines how we can live more sustainably and justly. This includes (but is not limited to):
- Artists, filmmakers, and writers
- Activists, organisers and community leaders
- Journalists, legal practitioners, and policy advocates
- Conservationists, sustainability practitioners, and entrepreneurs
- Academics from any discipline
This year’s theme is ‘Making Visible the Invisible’. Fellows are expected to be in Utrecht, the Netherlands, from October to November 2026 for four to six weeks.
The fellowship offers a budget of up to 10,000 EUR to cover travel, accommodation, living expenses, and visa costs. The organisers can also help arrange travel and housing if needed. Fellows will have access to office and meeting spaces, the university library, and ICT resources.
