As of 2025, the global community is at a crucial moment in determining the future of seabed mineral extraction. Although many states and industries push for early permissions to mine in the deep sea, thirty-two countries urge for a precautionary pause due to concerns about environmental impacts. Representing a trillion-dollar industry, deep sea mining poses a critical test for the international community to navigate economic ambitions, environmental conservation, technological development.
The 2025 Global Negotiation Conference will bring together graduate students and young professionals from around the world to explore the negotiation avenues crucial for developing balanced frameworks to mitigate economic, social, and ecological interests in deep sea mining.
Global Negotiation Conference 2025: "Deep Sea Mining"
⇒ Hosted at the University of Zurich
⇒ 7–11 July 2025
The conference will include workshops and presentations on theoretical and practical aspects of negotiation before culminating in a multilateral simulation.
Participant Application
Regular Applications for the GNC 2025 (7–11 July 2025) are now open.
The regular participation fee is CHF 250,00CHF. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until all participant spots are filled. Applications for this year’s conference will close on May 31st, but preparatory courses and other arrangements might be made by then, so get in touch soon to avoid disappointment as places are limited.
Students and recent graduates from all disciplines who have an interest in international negotiations generally or the specific topic of the conference are encouraged to apply. We accept applications from teams of 2–3 people, and individuals.
The conference is primarily intended for students pursuing a graduate programme, including PhD students although undergraduates demonstrating exceptional motivation will be considered.
Anyone interested in applying should contact Norbert Berger (norbert.berger(at)global-negotiation.org, norbert.berger(at)uni-graz.at) for further details. For those without previous negotiation training, an introductory course might be offered online.