Geospatial Artificial Intelligence (GeoAI) integrates spatial data with artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques that have rapidly transformed geographic inquiry and practice. This integration of AI with GIS tools enables the analysis of massive, high-dimensional, and multimodal datasets, significantly expanding the capacity to map, monitor, and model complex spatial phenomena. It proves valuable across domains […]
We often talk about mobility in terms of movement — across borders, between regions, through cities, and rural areas. Yet in the context of forced displacement, movement alone tells us very little about whether mobility actually leads to safety, inclusion, or opportunity. What receives far less attention is what makes that movement meaningful in practice. […]
Tropical storms, such as typhoons, hurricanes, and cyclones, are among the Earth’s most powerful weather systems. They are also born over warm oceans now overwhelmed with our plastic waste. As a researcher in coastal China, I watched these immense storms and asked a simple, troubling question: could they be picking up this pollution and moving […]
One moment in 2025 has felt like a rare stroke of cosmic luck. In May, I was honoured to serve as the Early Career Plenary Speaker at the opening session of the Regional Studies Association (RSA) Annual Conference. Delivering the keynote alongside high-profile academics – Professor Elisa Ferreira (former European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms), […]
Tools play a crucial role in research and the visual representation of regions. In this piece by Dr Jakob Eder, we explore mapping (graphicacy) and discuss its application and potential improvements for presenting research. Let’s face it: as geographers, we know that maps are a powerful tool to communicate findings, but many maps out there […]
A just socio-ecological transformation may be understood as a transformation ensuring “a good life for all within planetary boundaries” (O’Neill et al., 2018). This implies meeting basic human needs while remaining within ecological limits as delineated by the planetary boundaries framework. The area in which both objectives are satisfied has been described as “a safe […]
In 2024 and early 2025, a large number of Regional Studies Association (RSA) members participated in a series of focus group sessions convened by the RSA to understand the priorities of the regional studies research community (Kinder, 2024). This post reports the results of that ‘listening exercise’: in particular, the challenges currently faced by regional […]
The Regional Studies Association (RSA) Annual Conference 2025, held in Porto from May 6 to 9, brought together nearly 900 scholars, marking the largest gathering in RSA history. The event showcased diverse, cutting-edge research that is shaping the future of regional development, innovation systems, spatial justice, and policy governance. Among the many contributors, researchers affiliated […]
Incubators, accelerators, co-working spaces, or so-called third places are places dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs, and they have proliferated across regions in recent years. They are designed to give entrepreneurs access to a wide range of resources to help them develop a project or their business. These places can be specialized in an activity (e.g., tech, […]
Cities and regions around the world face enormous challenges—environmental degradation, resource scarcity, economic instability, and social inequality. To tackle these issues, we need bold, transformative approaches to sustainability. Enter the circular economy: a framework that rethinks how we use materials and energy, aiming to reduce waste and consumption. But for the circular economy to truly […]
Environmental politics face undeniable challenges. Despite decades of international agreements, key targets like emission reductions and biodiversity conservation remain unmet. With six of seven Earth-system boundaries transgressed and societal resistance growing over energy security and rising living costs, the dominant approach is failing. A shift toward “eco-social” politics is urgently needed. The Limits of Environmental […]
In the last two decades, there has been a considerable shift in the patterns of global growth in terms of trade and investment from the “Global North” towards the “Global South” economies particularly Brazil, China and India. However, as a flip side, these upsurged developments and growth are imposing the environmental cost across the globe […]
On behalf of the Regional Studies Association (RSA) Blog Editor, we are pleased to open the call for abstracts for the 4th Annual RSA Blog – Student Summer Series. Starting in June, 2024, and all summer long, the RSA Blog will publish content written by graduate students (Master’s or PhD students at any stage in […]
This blog follows a webinar by Professor Deden who discussed the process of publishing academic books, from start to finish. The session was moderated by Dr. Mennatullah Hendawy, the research lead at Impact Circles e.V. The session aimed at discussing publishing academic books, covering various steps from where to begin to the flow of publishing. […]
This blog is published in support of the recently funded EdgeNet research network. To learn more be sure to catch them (online or in person) for their Edgy Matters paper sessions and launch party at the 2023 RSA Conference, Ljubljana, Slovenia: Edgy Matters 1: Experiencing and constructing ‘left behind-ness’ in the periphery and Edgy Matters […]
We are pleased to open the call for abstracts for the 3rd Annual RSA Blog – Student Summer Series. Starting May 8th, 2023, and all summer long, the RSA Blog will publish content written by graduate students (Master’s or PhD students at any stage in their program or recently completed). Students must be working within […]
The Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is currently the largest global investment initiative into infrastructures. In this blogpost we present the actor constellations behind two exemplary Chinese funded road infrastructures in two major BRI projects. To realise the BRI, China makes use of several investment and delivery arms to fund projects, which […]
Regional and urban sustainability transitions was the theme of the 2022 RSA Winter conference, set at the Holiday Inn in Bloomsbury, London, after a two-years break due to the pandemic. Sustainability transitions is a term used to describe the radical and structural shifts in socio-technical and socio-ecological systems that need take place to overcome the […]
November 2022 was a month filled with news and hopes about climate action. The 17th United Nations Climate Change Youth Conference (COY17) was held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, from November 2 to 4, 2022, right before the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP27). COY invites youth from around the globe to discuss […]
The growing dominance of cities in our world appears to be inevitable as nowadays the majority of the world’s population lives in cities. Cities not only quantitatively outnumber but are also qualitatively outperforming all other places. This cosmopolitan urban future is, however, increasingly challenged by villagism. Many big cities profited from neoliberal policies introduced […]
This blog follows the launch of the new book Border Cities and Territorial Development The new book focuses on territorial development processes associated with border cities. In this light, the 12 chapters cut across not only economic, but also governance and cross-border planning processes and innovation, in both European and North American border cities, […]
In this Youtube video, Professor David Bailey discusses the recent report explored below in this RSA Blog Post. Back in mid-2020, UK in a Changing Europe published a report on the effects of Brexit on UK manufacturing, analysing the picture up to the point of publication and offering thoughts on the likely effects after […]
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This blog follows the launch of the new book: Handbook on Human Security, Borders and Migration. Follow this link for additional promotional material for the book – passcode: &J04F*Gd Drawing on the concept of the “politics of compassion”, the Handbook on Human Security, Borders and Migration interrogates the political, geopolitical, social and anthropological processes […]