Dates
January 22 to April 30 2026
FREE
Hours
2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Museum
Public
For all
Futures Under Construction: The Biosphère Gatherings
Take part in Futures Under Construction, a conference series at the Biosphère that invites you to reflect on the transformations needed in the field of urban planning in response to the climatic crisis.
These gatherings bring together specialists in architecture, urban planning or even in design. Drawing on their diverse perspectives, these experts offer concrete avenues for imagining sustainable ecological and social futures.
Inspired by the Transformer: Design and Energy Futures exhibition, these conferences offer an opportunity to join the conversation and contribute to an essential debate.
Hosted by: Marc-André Carignan, author and columnist specializing in urban development
Thinking the World
Futures Under Construction is the 2026 edition of the Biosphère Gatherings. This event series encourages collective reflection on the kind of world we want to build. Researchers, practitioners, scientists and members of the public come together to share their perspectives, break down silos and spark new solutions.
Each annual edition explores a theme that invites participants to reflect collectively on the futures we want for our societies.
IN FRENCH ONLY
Conferences
January 22 | Design tomorrow
Opening Remarks
Alexandre Shields, environmental reporter, Le Devoir
Between dependency and transition
Caroline Brouillette, executive director, Climate Action Network Canada
Pierre-Olivier Pineau, full professor, Chair in Energy Sector Management, Department of Decision Sciences, HEC Montréal
Sidney Ribaux, director, Office of Ecological Transition and Resilience at the City of Montréal
Tomorrow is a collective choice
André-Yanne Parent, director of leadership development – McCall MacBain Scholars, McGill University
Éric Pineault, professor, Department of Sociology, UQAM
Laure Waridel, ecosociologist and associate Professor at the Institute of Environmental Sciences at UQAM
February 12 | Build less, build better
Opening Remarks
Upcoming
Reinvent what already exists
Marie-Ève Cantin, architect and chief executive director, Écobâtiment
Claudine Déom, associate professor, School of Architecture, Université de Montréal
Annie Levasseur, full professor, Department of Construction Engineering, ÉTS
Build differently
Cécile Bulle, professor, School of Management Sciences, UQAM
Marc-Olivier Champagne, associate architect, Appareil Architecture
Céline C. Mertenat, senior associate, architect, Provencher_Roy
March 19 | Reweaving our territories
Opening Remarks
Aziza Chaouni, architect, Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Architecture and Sustainable Construction, École Polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne.
Cities under pressure : cohabiting rather than coexisting
Paula Negron-Poblete, associate professor, School of Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture, Université de Montréal
Christian Savard, chief executive officer, Vivre en ville
Fee Stehle, program management specialist, human settlements, UN-Habitat
Designing for protection
Alain Fournier, architect, senior associate and director, EVOQ
Olivier Riffon, professor of eco-consulting, UQAC
Frédérique St-Arnaud, professional in land use planning, co-founder of the Le Picbois cooperative
April 30 | Design as a superpower
Opening remarks
Simon-Matthew Séguin, Professor, School of Design, UQAM
PechaKucha – new voices in design
Four designers selected following a call for applications