Date and time
As the world faces unprecedented challenges such as climate change, the raise of AI, social inequality, and economic instability, researchers have a critical role to play in supporting regions in their transformation towards more sustainable and inclusive futures by leverage their expertise, research findings, resources, and networks. Co-organised by the Anglia Ruskin University’s Centre for Inclusive Societies and Economies and the Global Sustainability Institute and in partnership with The University of Cambridge’s Department of Land Economy the RSA Student and ECR Conference invites papers discussing topics including, but not limited to:
- The role of research(ers) in informing regional policy and practice
- Strategies for fostering real-world impact from regional research
- Innovative research methods and technologies for envisioning more sustainable and inclusive urban-regional futures
- Collaborative processes for engaging with stakeholders and communities locally, regionally, nationally and internationally
- Challenges and opportunities for scaling up regional initiatives
- The role of universities as anchor institutions in promoting regional development
The conference will be of particular interest to current PhD student and early career researchers (within the first five years of completing your PhD) specialising in areas such as regional and urban studies, planning, geography, politics, development studies, economics, or related fields.
The RSA Student and ECR conference series is well-established and has been running for many years. It serves as a vibrant platform for emerging scholars from across the world to present their research, engage in thought-provoking debates, and cultivate valuable connections. We offer a welcoming, supportive, and intellectually stimulating environment where participants from diverse backgrounds and disciplines converge to share knowledge and insights.
What you can expect:
- Networking and Collaboration: Connect with like-minded peers and establish valuable collaborations in your field. Forge connections that can shape the future of your research and career.
- Constructive Feedback: Receive expert feedback on your research. Gain fresh perspectives and insights that can elevate your work to new heights.
- Career Advancement: Attend workshops designed to equip you with essential skills and knowledge that will empower your academic and professional journey, including “How to Get Published?”; “How to Win External Research Funding?” and “How to Take the Next Steps in Your Career?”
- Practical Takeaways: Join a panel discussion with local leaders from both politics and business, and the Directors of CISE’s three strategic research themes (Health, Performance, and Wellbeing; Sustainable Futures; Safe and Inclusive Communities) to explore fresh perspectives on how to drive positive regional change, promote sustainability, and nurture inclusivity within your community and beyond.
Submission Details: Please click here to submit your abstract (up to 250 words and text only) through the RSA conference portal by 4th June 2024.
Abstracts will be considered and reviewed by the Conference Programme Committee against the criteria of originality, interest, subject balance and geographical spread.
Conference Fees
Please note the non-member rates include a 1 year RSA membership, this will be applied as soon as you register.
RSA Member Rates | |
Student member | £75 |
Early Career member | £85 |
Individual/Corporate member | £150 |
Non-Member Rates (includes 1 year RSA membership) | |
Student member | £130 |
Early Career member | £167 |
Individual/Corporate member | £259 |
Academic organiser: Franziska Sohns, Centre for Inclusive Societies and Economies
Conference Committee:
- Stefania Fiorentino, Department of Land Economy, University of Cambridge, UK
- Grete Gansauer, Montana State University, USA
- John Harrison, Loughborough University, UK
- Ivan Rajic, Centre for Inclusive Societies and Economies, ARU, UK
- Kerstin J. Schaefer, Utrecht University, The Netherlands & Leibniz University Hanover, Germany
- Franziska Sohns, Centre for Inclusive Societies and Economies, ARU, UK
- Mia Gray, University of Cambridge, UK
- Alexandre Gomes, ARU, UK
Career Development Sessions, 2nd September, 16.00-17.30
Facilitators/presenters:
- Fransizka Sohns, Anglia Rusking University, UK
- Karen Lai, University of Durham, UK
- David Bassens, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
This workshop is designed to aid prospective authors in contributing to the interdisciplinary journal, Finance and Space. This journal investigates the complex relationship between finance and space, addressing contemporary issues such as digitization, globalization, inequality, and sustainability. Finance and Space is open to various types of submissions, including traditional full-length research articles, short commentaries focusing on recent practical applications in both private and public sectors, and visualizations (FinVis) that illustrate research-based maps and other visual representations of the finance-space relationship, accompanied by a 500-word text. Led by members of the Global Network on Financial Geography and editors of Finance and Space, the workshop encourages participants to present commentary and visualization ideas that align with the journal’s objectives. With a specific focus on these two channels, the workshop offers a platform for participants to share their concepts and receive feedback from both the audience and journal editors. Journal editors present at the conference will continue conversations with the presenters after the session to offer more feedback.
Interested participants are encouraged to submit their proposals, comprimising a title and 250 word abstract, please choose the ‘Gateway Theme’ How to Get Published in Finance and Space when submitting.
Facilitators/presenters:
- Stefania Fiorentino, University of Cambridge, UK
- Robert Bowen, Cardiff University, UK
This workshop, is designed to aid prospective authors in getting an additional publication – either a short article or a thought-piece – by publishing on Regions, the RSA online magazine. This magazine is the online voice of RSA, collecting short and cutting-edge discussions in Regional Studies. For the 2024 thematic issues we concentrate on “New Frontiers in Regional Studies”. Research or policy review articles for the Spotlight section are normally between 1,500 to 2,500 words.
Led by two members of the editorial board, the workshop encourages participants to present commentary and visualization ideas that align with the three themes of this year’s Regions issues:
- Navigating AI and New Technologies in Regional Policy and Practices: Opportunity or Challenge?
- Exploring Green Growth, De-Growth, and Post-Growth: Heterodox Frameworks in Regional Development.
- Global Challenges, Regional Solutions: Rethinking Regional Development Policies.
The workshop offers a platform for participants to share their concepts and receive feedback from both the audience and journal editors. Journal editors present at the conference will continue conversations with the presenters after the session to offer more feedback and the best articles will be selected for publication on Regions.
The workshop, titled “How to publish short articles that make an impact” is designed to aid prospective authors in getting an additional publication – either a short article or a thought-piece – by publishing on Regions, the RSA online magazine. This magazine is the online voice of RSA, collecting short and cutting-edge discussions in Regional Studies. For the 2024 thematic issues we concentrate on “New Frontiers in Regional Studies”. Research or policy review articles for the Spotlight section are normally between 1,500 to 2,500 words.
Led by two members of the editorial board, the workshop encourages participants to present commentary and visualization ideas that align with the three themes of this year’s Regions issues:
- Navigating AI and New Technologies in Regional Policy and Practices: Opportunity or Challenge?
- Exploring Green Growth, De-Growth, and Post-Growth: Heterodox Frameworks in Regional Development.
- Global Challenges, Regional Solutions: Rethinking Regional Development Policies.
Interested participants are encouraged to submit their proposals, comprimising a title and 250 word abstract, please choose the ‘Gateway Theme’ How to Get Published in Regions when submitting.
Facilitators/presenters:
- Elena Maters, Anglia Ruskin University, UK
- Alan Kinder, Regional Studies Association, UK
“How to Win External Research Funding” – the title sounds enticing but does a “how to” really exist for this? Come along to the workshop to find out more. We will help demystify some key aspects around applying for external research funding including what you can do to give yourself the best chance for success, with a particular focus on approaching this as an Early Career Researcher (ECR). We will present an overview of funding types available to ECRs, searching for funding opportunities and potential hosts, getting support in preparing funding applications, and top tips for producing a high-quality proposal. The lead speaker, Elena Maters, will draw on her own experiences (the ups and the downs!) as an ECR who has won a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship at the University of Leeds and a Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship at the University of Cambridge, and as a Research Funding Officer at Anglia Ruskin University who supports others in developing external research funding applications. A Regional Studies Association (RSA) representative will also present on RSA funding schemes, support, and resources available. The workshop will include time for Q&As and open discussion with participants. All welcome, whether you’re actively seeking to fund your research or just interested in learning more about the topic.
Facilitators/presenters:
- Mia Gray, University of Cambridge, UK
More information to follow.