{"id":3721,"date":"2025-10-22T13:31:27","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T13:31:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mdw.ac.at\/internationalblog\/?p=3721"},"modified":"2025-10-29T15:16:16","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T15:16:16","slug":"between-mountains-and-ideas-reflections-from-the-pea-conference-in-merano","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mdw.ac.at\/internationalblog\/2025\/10\/22\/between-mountains-and-ideas-reflections-from-the-pea-conference-in-merano\/","title":{"rendered":"Between Mountains and Ideas: Reflections from the PEA Conference in Merano"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The journey to Merano already felt like a prelude to the conference itself: first by train to Munich, then by Flixbus winding its way up and down narrow mountain roads, past steep gorges and picturesque villages. The rhythm of the curves and the sudden views of alpine valleys set the stage for what awaited me\u2014a conference that promised movement, perspective shifts, and moments of resonance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From 4 to 6 September 2025, the spa town of Merano hosted the PEA Conference (Pedagogy, Ecology and the Arts)<\/a>. With about forty participants from various countries, the gathering was small in scale yet rich in depth. Its intimate format fostered a sense of genuine exchange, with conversations flowing not only in panel rooms but also during coffee breaks on sunlit terraces, where warm weather and clear skies added to the spirit of conviviality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thematically, the conference circled around the notion of power<\/strong> in education\u2014in its relational, structural, and creative dimensions. Keynotes set the tone: Peter Mayo explored lifelong learning and power for sustainable development, while Rachele Borghi and Rahel Sereke spoke on margins, resistance, and communities. Panels and workshops expanded these perspectives in multiple directions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n