Abu Dhabi: Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi (SUAD) has announced that it will host the 7th Scientific Conference of the Association of Environmental Law Lecturers in the Middle East and North African Universities (ASSELLMU) from 9th to 10th February 2026.
According to Emirates News Agency, the conference will be held under the theme 'Environmental Law in the Digital Age' and will explore how digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies are reshaping the teaching, research, practice, and implementation of environmental law and policy in the MENA region.
This edition marks the first time the conference will take place in the UAE, providing a forum for educators, university instructors, researchers, and practitioners with expertise in environmental law and policy, as well as computer and data science, to collaborate on strengthening legal education and advancing sustainability development.
SUAD has invited scholars, practitioners, and educators to submit abstracts that explore the intersection of environmental law and digital innovation, aligning with one or more of the conference themes. These themes include teaching and practicing environmental law in the MENA region amidst the digital transition, the potential of digital technologies to enhance business practices' environmental considerations, legal pathways to harness digital technology for sustainability, the regulation of emerging technological risks, and the legal status and regime of environmental data.
The deadline for abstract submission is 15th July 2025. Selected authors will be notified by 15th September 2025 and invited to submit full drafts of their papers by 15th December 2025. Revised versions will be presented at the conference, and final papers may be considered for publication in a journal special issue or edited volume.
Dr. Beatriz Garcia, Associate Professor of Law, Economics, and Management, and Spokesperson for Sustainability at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, expressed pride in hosting the 7th ASSELLMU Conference, marking its first edition in the UAE. She emphasized the milestone reflects SUAD's commitment to advancing sustainability-focused legal education and highlights the importance of the region's voice in shaping global environmental discourse.
She added that the conference will serve as a platform for leading scholars, practitioners, and institutions to reimagine the future of environmental law in a way that is both locally grounded and globally informed.