On 15 October 2026, the UNU-Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (UNU-MERIT) will host the online masterclass "Policy Research translated to Action: Migration and Climate Change", bringing together experts from across the United Nations University system to examine the growing connections between climate change, migration and digital infrastructures.
Designed for policymakers, government officials, researchers, practitioners and members of the public, the two-hour session will explore how environmental change, technological developments and public policy intersect, and how research in these areas can inform decision-making.
Melissa Siegel, Professor and Head of Migration Studies at UNU-MERIT, will introduce the links between climate change and migration, addressing common misconceptions and highlighting key challenges in the field. Robert Oakes, Associate Academic Officer at the UNU-Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS), will discuss approaches to modelling climate-related mobility and how projections can support policymaking.
Representing UNU-EGOV, Bushra Ebadi will present a session titled "Digital Infrastructures of Displacement". Drawing on insights from the Just-CARE initiative, the presentation will examine how digital infrastructures, including data centres and checkpoints, can have social, environmental and political impacts that contribute directly and indirectly to the displacement of local communities.
By the end of the masterclass, participants will have gained a deeper understanding of the relationship between climate change and migration, the role of modelling in assessing future mobility, and the implications of digital infrastructure development for affected communities.
The session forms part of the Policy Research Translated to Action Series, which brings together speakers from different UNU institutes to share research insights and demonstrate how academic knowledge can be translated into practical policy advice and action.
For more information about the speakers, fees and discounts, please visit the official page of the online masterclass "Policy Research translated to Action: Migration and Climate Change".
