Making Visible the Invisible – Critical Pathways Fellowships 2026

The Critical Pathways to Sustainability community at Utrecht University, in collaboration with Towards a Circular Economy and Society, is excited to invite applications for our 2026 Fellowship Program. This is an opportunity for people from all backgrounds and fields to join us in exploring 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. 

We are 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 we can imagine fairer, more equitable alternatives. Often, the most powerful ideas come from voices and perspectives that are underrepresented in traditional academic spaces. For this fellowship, you do not need a PhD or an academic background – just a drive for uncovering what is often overlooked and imagining how things could be different. 

Who Can Apply?    

We welcome 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 isn’t limited to): 

• Artists, filmmakers, and writers
• Activists, organizers and community leaders
• Journalists, legal practitioners, and policy advocates
• Conservationists, sustainability practitioners, and entrepreneurs
• Academics from any discipline 

If your work helps us see the world in new ways, we encourage you to apply.

What Would We Like Fellows to Do?  

• Explore questions that matter to you, especially those that reveal the unseen impacts of how our world is organized. What stories aren’t being told, but would make a difference for sustainable futures? Who is negatively affected by the way things are, and who is left out of discussions on a planetary future? Who is positively affected by the current systems and structures, and how do they benefit from maintaining the status quo?
• Share your work in a way that feels meaningful to you. This could be a workshop, performance, film screening, public discussion, or something entirely different. The goal is to spark conversation and collaboration.
• Connect with others inside and outside the university. We’ll help with introductions, but we encourage you to take the lead in building collaborations that enrich your work and our community.

You don’t need to fit into an academic mold. If your work uncovers hidden stories, challenges assumptions, or imagines new possibilities, we want to hear from you.

Your work should fit the themes of the communities Critical Pathways and Towards a Circular Economy and Society, 

This Year’s Theme: Making Visible the Invisible 

Much of what defines our world today, its infrastructures, economies, technologies, and power dynamics, operates beneath the surface of everyday awareness and lives. This year, we’re inviting fellows to explore the hidden dimensions of contemporary life: 

• What are the overlooked consequences of the way we live, produce, and consume? From the environmental toll of digital technologies or fast fashion to intensive resource extraction, and the impacts of technological transitions.
• Who bears the brunt of these hidden costs? Marginalized communities and ecosystems often pay the price for decisions made far away, particularly when supply chains are long.
• How can we shift from extractive, growth-focused economic systems to more regenerative, equitable ways of living? What would it look like to value human and non-human life and labor differently? 

We are looking for proposals that do not just critique, but especially experiment with new ways of thinking, doing and living. We want to expand what is deemed possible in the current discourse and practice.   

When to Visit and What Does the Fellowship Cover?   

• Timing: Fellows are expected to join us in Utrecht in October-November 2026 (exact dates flexible)
• Duration: 4 to 6 weeks
• Support: We offer a budget of up to €10,000 to cover travel, accommodation, living expenses, and visa costs. We can also help arrange travel and housing if needed.
• Resources: you’ll have access to office and meeting spaces, the university library, and ICT resources.   

Fellows will be integrated into our communities, providing an excellent opportunity to connect and collaborate with leading scholars from various fields. We encourage fellows to actively engage with the university and external partners to enrich their experience and contribute to the goals of our communities and will support them in doing so.   

How to Apply    

Interested? Fill out this form and send it, together with your CV, to coordinator Tom Gerritsen at criticalpathways@uu.nl. Deadline: 27 April 2026   

Selection Process   

A group of representatives from both communities will review all applications. We’re looking for proposals that align with our goals and bring fresh, critical perspectives. You’ll hear back from us within six weeks of the deadline. 

Let us know if you have any questions, we’re happy to help. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table.

Apply now and help us make visible the invisible.