Call for Papers. International Conference The Caspian Sea: Issues, Prospects, and Opportunities for Sustainable Development

Conference Overview

The Caspian Sea is undergoing a long-term decline in water levels with significant environmental, economic, infrastructural, and social consequences. This conference invites researchers and policy-makers to explore the causes, impacts, and adaptation strategies related to these transformations. The event aims to support evidence-based decision-making, enhance regional cooperation, and promote sustainable development across the Caspian region (for more information see HERE.

Sessions and Topics:

The conference welcomes submissions that address the following thematic areas:

Logistics and Infrastructure

• Transformation of port infrastructure under declining sea levels
• Future of maritime and coastal transportation in the Caspian region
• Resilience of logistics chains and regional transport corridors
• Engineering and infrastructure adaptation solutions
• Development of multimodal logistics systems

Energy Security, Low-Carbon Transition, and Environmental Challenges

• Vulnerability of offshore, energy and coastal oil and gas infrastructure
• Energy strategies of Caspian littoral states
• Low-carbon transition and renewable energy potential
• Climate-related risks for energy facilities
• Energy security under environmental change

Water Systems, Climate Dynamics, and Ecological Risk

• Hydrological and climatic drivers of Caspian Sea level change
• Ecological consequences of shoreline transformation
• Sustainable water-resource governance
• Biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration
• Transboundary environmental cooperation

Socioeconomic Impacts, Community Resilience, and Regional Development

• Economic consequences of declining sea levels
• Sustainable development of coastal regions
• Social vulnerability and community adaptation
• Transformation of fisheries, tourism, and agriculture
• Human capital development and regional policy

Authors are also welcome to propose additional topics that align with the overall thematic scope of the conference sessions.

Submission Guidelines

Authors are invited to submit an abstract of 250-300 words that clearly outlines the research prob-lem, objectives, methodology, and key findings or expected contributions. Each abstract must be accompanied by 3-5 keywords that accurately reflect the thematic focus of the paper.

Submissions must be prepared in English and should include the following author information:

• full name(s),
• institutional affiliation(s),
• academic position or title (optional),
• email address and any additional relevant contact details.

In addition to the abstract, authors are encouraged to submit an optional full paper ranging between 6000 and 8000 words. Full papers will undergo peer review for potential publication in one of the academic outlets. All submissions should be formatted in accordance with guidelines that will be provided at later stage.

Publication Opportunities

Accepted papers will be considered for publication in one of the following venues: a high-ranking international academic journal indexed in Scopus or Web of Science (subject to peer review), the Central Asian Journal of Water Research, or the official Conference Proceedings.

Important Dates

Abstract submission deadline: 28.02.2026

Notification of acceptance: 30.03.2026

Full paper submission: 30.05.2026

Conference dates: October 2026

Contact

For submissions and inquiries, please contact: conference_cs@dku.kz