About PAW 2026

PAW 2026 is a high-level event showcasing the responsible development of energy and mining projects, solutions and technologies to support thriving healthy communities for a sustainable future, which is in line with the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The PAW 2026 Congress on “Critical connections: The path to responsible minerals, sustainable energy and thriving communities” will bring together thought leaders of government, academia, industry, civil society, Indigenous groups, investors, innovators and community organizations. Participants will discuss the latest developments of critical minerals, examine emerging technologies to build secure value-added supply chains with Indigenous rights, environmental justice and community prosperity. The Congress will also explore policies and partnership models to advance and streamline clean technologies, energy transition, emissions and reductions in Canada and the world. The Congress will also reflect on Canada’s place in the world in sustainable and responsible discovery for development in the critical minerals and energy sector.

The Congress will inform, educate and support an environment of interactive dialogue and discussion to stimulate further partnership and collaboration and will include fireside chats, student poster presentations, and a mix of keynote and panel presentations focused on themes related to critical minerals, sustainable energy and health.

Focus areas for PAW 2026 include:

  • Economic growth
  • Energy transition
  • National security
  • Sustainable and responsible development
  • Innovation and processing
  • Supply chains
  • Partnership
  • Health
  • Thriving communities

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Subscribe for the latest details about PAW 2026, including early-bird registration dates, speaker information and more! 

Congress Program

Plan to join us on in the afternoon on Monday October 19, 2026 for a Pre-PAW Congress workshop by the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) designed to educate, connect and engage our community prior to the PAW Congress. More details, including how to register, coming over the summer!

Registration will be open the USask Campus community as well as PAW Attendees. If you have any questions on this Pre-PAW Congress events, please email international.office@usask.ca.   

All times are CST. Program subject to change.

Start Time End Time Activity Location
9:00am 5:00pm

Various Optional Tours (sign up when registering for PAW  2026)

 Varies
6:00pm 8:00pm

Speaker Reception

 Invitation only

All times are CST. Program subject to change.

Start Time End Time Activity Location
8:00am 9:00am Registration; Light Breakfast and Networking Garry Room, Marquis Hall
9:00am 10:00am Welcome Garry Room, Marquis Hall
10:00am 10:45am

Opening Keynote

Garry Room, Marquis Hall
10:45am 11:00am Break 
11:00am 12:30pm Concurrent Sessions

TBD
12:30pm 1:30pm Lunch Garry Room, Marquis Hall
1:00pm 2:45pm

Student/PDF Poster Presentations 

 Upper Place Riel
2:30pm 3:00pm Break
3:00pm 4:30pm Panel Garry Room, Marquis Hall
4:30pm 6:00pm Break
6:00pm 8:00pm

Congress Reception

 TBD

All times are CST. Program subject to change.

Start Time End Time Activity Location
7:45am 8:45am Registration; Light Breakfast and Networking Garry Room, Marquis Hall
8:45am 9:00am Welcome; Top 3 Student/PDF Poster Presentation Garry Room, Marquis Hall
9:00am 10:30am

Panel

Garry Room, Marquis Hall
10:30am 11:00am Break 
11:00am 12:30pm Concurrent Sessions

TBD
12:30pm 1:30pm Lunch Garry Room, Marquis Hall
1:30pm 3:00pm

Closing Panel

 TBD
3:00pm 3:45pm Closing Keynote Garry Room, Marquis Hall
3:45pm 4:00pm Congress Closing Remarks Garry Room, Marquis Hall
4:00pm 4:30pm Break
4:30pm 6:00pm

NEW Public Lecture

 TBD

All times are CST. Program subject to change.

Plan to join us on in the morning on Friday October 23, 2026 for a Post-PAW Congress workshop designed to educate, connect and engage our community following the excitment and discovery of the PAW Congress. More details, including how to register, coming over the summer!

Registration will be open the USask Campus community as well as PAW Attendees. If you have any questions on this Pre-PAW Congress events, please email international.office@usask.ca.   

All times are CST. Program subject to change.

Keynote Speakers and Panels

Details coming soon!

Details coming over the summer!

SESSION DESCRIPTIONS

PAW 2026 will feature three engaging panels with local, national and international experts.

Critical Resources, Critical Choices: Energy Security in Transition 

As the world transitions to cleaner sources of energy, including renewables and nuclear, countries around the globe are seeking stable partners to strengthen their energy security. Canada and Saskatchewan are emerging as leaders in energy and mineral resources that are essential to this transition. This panel addresses both the challenges and enormous opportunities that Saskatchewan can play in the global energy system of the future.

Health and Sustainable Development: Lessons from the Well-being Economy

In resource rich countries, developing sustainable methods for optimal natural resource use is a challenge. To do so, a balance between short, medium and long-term community and regional impacts must be considered.  This panel will explore how to incorporate a well-being economy approach to help guide sustainable development in Canada and beyond. Using findings from global case studies, the panel will explore ways to advance this challenge at local, regional, national and international levels.

Indigenous Workforce Development: Governance and Economic Participation

This panel will examine Indigenous workforce development through the interconnected lenses of governance, jurisdiction and economic participation. It will explore how these three distinct groups support meaningful participation in resource development and related economic opportunities. The discussion will explore how workforce issues are shaped by broader questions of rights, self-determination and community benefit.

 

SESSION DESCRIPTIONS

PAW 2026 will feature two sets of enriching concurrent sessions for attendees to choose from.

Biomining and Bioremediation: Biological Solutions for Sustainable Resource Development

Biomining and bioremediation are enduring practical approaches that are part of the solution to reduce the environmental footprint of resource extraction while improving recovery of critical minerals. This session will examine how biological processes are being applied in mining operations and site remediation, with examples from industry and research. Panelists will discuss scalability, regulatory considerations, contributions to responsible resource development and the role of innovation in advancing more sustainable mining practices.

Energy and Technology: New Pressures and Innovations

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a powerful tool that can advance many areas of our daily lives. However, AI’s immense energy needs and environmental impacts, such as heat emissions, are affecting communities around the world that are hosts to AI data centres.  How will we meet the energy needs and solve the environmental impacts required to develop this powerful tool and make it available to everyone? What should change: our computers or the grid itself? 

Global Minerals and Energy: Strategic Partnerships, Security and the Future of Supply

International partnerships are becoming central to supply chain security and sustainable development as the global demand for critical minerals and energy accelerates. This session will examine how countries and established energy markets are navigating resource development, geopolitical pressures and investment dynamics. Panelists will share perspectives on collaborations, policies and innovations that are shaping the future of minerals and energy systems.

Supporting Thriving Communities: Working Together to Steward Resources for a Sustainable Future  

As the global demand for critical minerals accelerates the clean energy transition, communities sit at the center of opportunity. But with any opportunity comes risk. This session examines how sustainable energy pathways can—and must—support human health, social equity and long-term community wellbeing and environmental protection, ensuring that the transition creates truly thriving communities.

Details coming soon!

Registration

PAW 2026 Registration Refund Policy:

  • 100% Refund: A full refund, minus administrative fees, will be provided for cancellations made up to 4 weeks prior to registration closing on October 9, 2026.
  • 50% Refund: A 50% refund, minus administrative fees, will be provided for cancellations made between 4 weeks and 2 weeks prior to registration closing on October 9, 2026.
  • No Refunds: No refunds will be issued for cancellations made within 2 weeks of registration closing on October 9, 2026.
  • Administrative Fees: Administrative fees are non-refundable and cover costs associated with processing and handling the registration and cancellation.
  • Cancellation Deadline: Cancellations must be made in writing and received within the applicable time frames to qualify for a refund. Please contact international.office@usask.ca to arrange a ticket refund.
  • Refund Process: Refunds will be processed within 7 business days from the date of cancellation approval.
  • Ticket Transfer: Tickets are always transferable to a different name. Please contact international.office@usask.ca to arrange a ticket transfer.

Hotel Accomodations:

PAW 2026 Congress Hotel rates have been arranged at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites East - University and Staybridge Suites East - University for attendees.

Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Poster Competition

The Student and Postdoctoral Fellow Poster Competition will once again take place during the PAW 2026 Congress.

The Student Poster Competition allows PAW 2026 to highlight and uplift student researchers conducting research related to the PAW 2026 Congress theme, Critical connections: The path to responsible minerals, sustainable energy and thriving communities. It is open to all students conducting research in areas related to critical minerals, sustainable energy, health, communities, environmental sciences, sustainability, digital technologies and the social sciences to explore creative and accessible solutions to support planetary health.

Students are eligible if they are:

  • USask student – Graduate or Undergraduate (degree-seeking, exchange, VRS, visiting, etc.) or PDFs
  • Conducting research with a USask faculty member
  • International Student registered for PAW 2026
  • Can highlight their research is connected to one of the SDGs

More details will be announced in the coming months regarding the application process. For questions, please contact international.office@usask.ca. 

FAQs

PAW 2026 will take place October 20-22, 2026 on the University of Saskatchewan (USask) main campus located in Saskatoon, SK. An evening reception will take place at a location within the city. Please see Congress Program for more details once avaliable.

All conference registration details will be outlined under the 'Registration' tab.

Registration will open Spring 2026.

Once open, reigstration may be completed by following the link under the 'Registration' tab.

Congress attendees travelling to Saskatoon are encouraged to take advantage of discounted block rates at select local hotels. More information to come. 

Additional tickets for the evening reception may be available depending on final numbers. If you are interested in additional tickets please email international.office@usask.ca.

A virtual option will not be available for PAW 2026.

If you have additional questions not addressed above, please contact international.office@usask.ca

Sponsorship

Thank you to our PAW 2025 Sponsors!

Sponsor the PAW 2026 International Congress in Saskatoon, October 20-22, 2026! Align your brand with this year's theme, connect with global experts, and drive meaningful change. Join us in making a world of difference.

Please contact international.office@usask.ca if you are interested in becoming an official sponsor of PAW 2026. 

Congress Resources

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a call for action by all countries — poor, rich and middle-income — to promote prosperity while protecting the planet. They recognize that ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with strategies that build economic growth and address a range of social needs including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, while tackling climate change and environmental protection.

The United Nation's 17 Sustainable Development Goals

Our University Plan 2025 commits us to be “The University the World Needs”. This means harnessing our talents and resources to respond to contemporary challenges and opportunities. The Critical Path to Sustainability strategy lays out an ambitious set of five goals and 17 actions that responds to these challenges and opportunities. We commit to achieving them by 2030, aligning with the Agenda Sustainable Development Goals.

This framework contains the voices, experiences and expectations of many equity-deserving groups. It is an expression of hope and courage – one that must be met by the courage and determination of a university community committed to becoming what the world needs.
The Office of the Vice-Provost Indigenous Engagement works within and outside the university to meet the unique needs of Indigenous students, staff, faculty and communities and uplift Indigenization by advancing initiatives and strategies that promotes Indigenous Knowledges and supports reconciliation and decolonization.