The RUSTIK project will contribute to the upcoming 10th EUGEO Congress, taking place from 8–11 September 2025 at the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna. Under the theme “Geographies of a Changing Europe”, the event will bring together geographers from across the continent to address Europe’s complex territorial and social transformations.
RUSTIK is taking part in the scientific programme with Session 106: The relevance of diverse information collection in research on transition of rural areas, scheduled for Wednesday, 10 September 2025 (09:00–10:30). The session is chaired by Prof. Ewa Korcelli-Olejniczak and Prof. Jerzy Bański, and features contributions from RUSTIK Living Labs in Austria, Slovenia, Serbia, and Poland.
Session Focus: How We Know What We Know
The aim of the session is to explore the role that different data collection methods—both quantitative and qualitative—play in shaping how knowledge is built around rural transitions. Rather than focusing solely on the findings of research, the session will spotlight the “how”: how data is gathered, how participatory methods are implemented, and how research processes influence both the outcomes and the territories themselves.
Drawing on experiences from RUSTIK’s pilot regions, participants will discuss how data collection tools and methods affect participatory action research, and reflect on questions of transferability, universality, and replicability. The session invites a methodological dialogue on the tools and approaches that can meaningfully support the transitions of rural and peri-urban areas across Europe.
Presentations from RUSTIK Partners
- Combining Data and Stakeholder Engagement to Support Rural Transitions
Living Lab: Nockregion-Oberkärnten, Austria
Karin Schroll, Daria Ernst, Ingrid Machold (Federal Institute of Agricultural Economics, Rural and Mountain Research)
A mixed-methods approach to mapping and understanding the role of small rural businesses, with a focus on spatial data and participatory validation through mapping workshops. - Supporting Social Entrepreneurship and Food Redistribution: A Modelling Approach
Living Lab: Osrednjeslovenska, Slovenia
Matic Soklič, Emil Erjavec, Ilona Rac (University of Ljubljana)
Development of a system dynamics model connecting food redistribution to social impact, combining logistics data with qualitative insights from a social cooperative. - A Living Lab Approach in Functional Rural Areas
Living Lab: Radomski Subregion, Poland
Marcin Mazur, Ewa Korcelli-Olejniczak (Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization PAS)
An exploration of methodological experimentation in a socially challenged region, highlighting the integration of bottom-up knowledge and formal data sources. - Developing an Inclusive Short Food Supply Chain to Meet Tourism Demand
Living Lab: Zaječar District, Serbia
Natalija Bogdanov, Saša Todorović (University of Belgrade – Faculty of Agriculture)
Use of surveys, social network analysis, and spatial mapping to connect local food producers with tourism demand, aiming to build resilient, short supply chains.
The session supports RUSTIK’s overarching goal to co-produce data-driven and context-sensitive knowledge that empowers rural communities and informs better policy-making. Participation in the EUGEO Congress offers a valuable opportunity to engage with the broader geographical research community on methods, practices, and the future of rural transitions in Europe.
