Presentation

Should we stand idly by, or take action to create a more hopeful future for our world?

This is one of the great dilemmas of this unstable and contradictory century, characterised by increasingly polarised societies and disillusioned people who have forgotten the importance of the common good, instead focusing on obtaining the greatest possible benefit from their individual actions. This is anchored in the old idea that for one to win, another must lose, and is taken to the extreme when deciding whether to support a community initiative, for example.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) make this matter clear:

Building sustainable futures requires a combination of education, public policies, technological innovation and social participation. Every individual and collective action contributes to creating a fairer, more resilient and more balanced system. Rather than being an isolated goal, sustainability is a continuous process that integrates the economy, society, and the environment to ensure the well-being of both the present and future generations.

But do we really have the option of transforming things without depleting our present in order to preserve our future? As we constantly hear from experts, will we be able to: live well today without mortgaging tomorrow?

What individual, social and structural changes would generate a real impact and enable us to choose the desired future, in which society, the economy and the environment develop in appropriate balance?

And, delving a little deeper, what role do cultures play in this process?

We know that cultures are dynamic and capable of adapting and transforming. At the same time, they generate and foster niches in which the exchange and fusion of ideas takes place.

But how exactly does this transformative process work? What factors influence whether it develops smoothly or becomes stalled? How much time is necessary?

Our proposal is that, during the 13^th AIBR International Conference of Anthropology, and under the motto 'TRANSFORMATIVE CULTURES, SUSTAINABLE FUTURES', we will work to provide answers to these questions, as well as those that arise during the sessions. Moreover, we will offer viable proposals to contribute to shaping the best possible pathways to more hopeful, equitable and balanced futures.

We are delighted to announce that the Costa Rica Institute of Technology (School of Culture and Sports, School of Social Sciences, and the Sociocultural and Educational Research and Extension Programme – PISCyE) will be collaborating with us as co-organisers for this edition, alongside the University of Costa Rica (School of Anthropology, Graduate Programme in Anthropology, and the Centre for Anthropological Research – CIAN) who will be acting as the academic hosts.

The event will take place from 7 to 10 September 2027 at the Central Technological Campus of TEC in Cartago. We look forward to welcoming you to bring this 13^th Conference to life.

See you in Costa Rica in 2027!