Call for Papers - Mobilising regions: territorial strategies for growth - due July 12, 2013

Mobilising regions: territorial strategies for growth

Regional Studies Association Winter Conference Friday 22nd   November 2013, London, UK

CALL FOR PAPERS

Abstract submission deadline Friday 12th July 2013 – Registration opens 24th May 2013

One of the major impacts of the current economic crisis is the increased pressure to find new solutions to often deep- seated societal and political-economic problems, particularly at the scale of cities and regions. What is being demanded are new territorial development strategies capable of arresting economic decline and providing new measures in support of economic growth, whilst at the same time managing territorial inequality and responding to concerns over the democratic legitimacy of existing decision-making structures and public policy interventions. Making this an even more demanding set of challenges is the requirement that all this be delivered within a package that affords a more balanced and environmentally sustainable model for the future, and at a time when the scope for public intervention is being diminished as a result of widespread austerity measures.

Unable to rely solely on state intervention, regions and localities are today faced with the challenge of finding new ways of managing their own territorial development. Success increasingly depends on an ability to mobilise a broad range of public and private actors in support of particular territorial development strategies, models, and interventions. This is leading to the emergence of new territorial alliances and new loci and/or expressions of territorial cooperation aimed at mobilising regions in pursuit of particular political and economic goals. Yet this is only part of the story. For regions and localities are also where competing political and economic agendas increasingly collide, meaning new sites and forms of territorial conflict are emerging as other actors mobilise to resist particular territorial development strategies, models, and interventions.

What this is giving rise to are new forms and expressions of territorial cooperation and conflict around questions to do with economic restructuring, new economic developments, infrastructure, the collective provision of services, and governmentalised remapping’s of state space. This is particularly evident, for instance, in debates for and against Scottish and Catalan independence, the need for austerity driven welfare reforms, and investment in major infrastructure development (e.g. High Speed 2 in the UK, metropolitan transit oriented development in North America).

In this context it is timely to ask some searching questions as to how regions are being mobilised in support of, or opposition to, particular territorial development models and strategies. The Regional Studies Association Winter Conference 2013 on Mobilising Regions presents a timely opportunity to discuss these important issues, to establish the need and nature of future research imperatives, and to address the concerns and challenges confronting policymakers and practitioners. Contributions are therefore invited which focus primarily, although not necessarily exclusively, on one or more of the following themes:

·   New sites and forms of territorial cooperation and/or conflict at the scale of regions and localities

·   Cooperation, disputes and resistance around particular territorial development strategies, models, and interventions

·   Empirical and conceptual understandings of how regions are mobilised

·   The (im)mobility of territorial development models

·   The role of leadership in mobilising regions

The conference organisers are keen to attract papers and sessions which address a broad research and policy agenda, including contributions from any discipline which can offer relevant insights at local and regional levels. Papers which are collaborative, international or multi-disciplinary are especially welcome.

Academic Organisers: John Harrison: J.Harrison4@lboro.ac.uk,
Pedro Marques: marques@geographie.uni-kiel.de

RSA Organiser: Lesa Reynolds: lesa.reynolds@regionalstudies.org
Regional Studies Association, 25 Clinton Place, Seaford, BN25 1NP, UK Tel: + 44 (0)1323 899 698 – Fax: + 44 (0)1323 899 798
Email: events@regionalstudies.org – www.regionalstudies.org

Reg. Charity No. 1084165 – Reg. in England and Wales No. 4116288

Draft "Climate Assessment Report" Public Review process ends April 12 - Please take a look

      At the Southern Regional Science Association meeting in Arlington, Virginia, we have just received a presentation from Kathy Jacobs, U.S. Whitehouse Assistant Director for Climate Assessment and Adaptation.  

      This is to alert you to the program, if you are unaware of it, and to let people know that the Public Comment period ends April 12. 

On the home page: http://www.globalchange.gov/ click the image below to get to the report page.

 

If you want to skip that, report links are here:

Download Chapters of the NCADAC Draft Climate Assessment Report!

Download the Full Report* (warning, 147Mb. Very large file) Between chapters, there are some page numbers that are not used. This is intentional and does not reflect missing pages. or download each chapter separately: Cover page* Introduction: Letter to the American People 1. Executive Summary 2. Our Changing Climate Introduction to Sectors 3. Water Resources 4. Energy Supply and Use 5. Transportation 6. Agriculture 7. Forestry 8. Ecosystems, Biodiversity, and Ecosystem Services 9. Human Health 10. Water, Energy, and Land Use 11. Urban Systems, Infrastructure, and Vulnerability 12. Impacts of Climate Change on Tribal, Indigenous, and Native Lands and Resources 13. Land Use and Land Cover Change 14. Rural Communities 15. Interactions of Climate Change and Biogeochemical Cycles Introduction to Regions 16. Northeast 17. Southeast and Caribbean 18. Midwest 19. Great Plains 20. Southwest* 21. Northwest 22. Alaska and the Arctic 23. Hawaii and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands 24. Oceans and Marine Resources 25. Coastal Zone Development and Ecosystems Introduction to Response Strategies 26. Decision Support: Supporting Policy, Planning, and Resource Management Decisions in a Climate Change Context 27. Mitigation 28. Adaptation 29. Research Agenda for Climate Change Science 30. The NCA Long-Term Process: Vision and Future Development Appendix I: NCA Climate Science - Addressing Commonly Asked Questions from A to Z Appendix II: The Science of Climate Change * These files were changed on Monday, Jan 14 to correct the color coding on Figure 20.3 in the Southwest chapter and to correct the affiliation for one of the NCADAC committee members. The correct versions of the files were available on the Review and Comment system when it went live at 9am EST, January 14.

Between chapters, there are some page numbers that are not used. This is intentional and does not reflect missing pages.

Provide Comments on the Report!

Between January 14th and April 12th only: Please go to the Review and Comment System to provide comments on the draft.

You must register and accept the terms in the Review and Comment System in order to review this document. Comments will only be accepted through this system.

NOTE: You will not be allowed to create an account in the system prior to 9am ET January 14th, 2013, and the comment period ends at 5pm ET on April 12th, 2013

Regional Studies Association and Open Days 2013 University Master Class

OPEN DAYS 2013 University Sessions and Master Class:

RSA is the exclusive partner.

Please see the our  website  

The Regional Studies Association has been selected as the exclusive partner to DG Regio and the Committee of the Regions for the OPEN DAYS 2013. The RSA will be continuing to work with DG Regio and the Committee of the Regions in the design and content of the OPEN DAYS University Programme. Learn about the OPEN DAYS University Sessions in the Information Pack .

OPEN DAYS 2013 UNIVERSITY MASTER CLASS

The Directorate-General for Regional & Urban Policy, European Commission, and the Regional Studies Association would like to invite postgraduates and early career researchers interested in European Cohesion Policy to apply for the Open Days Master Class.

The 11^th OPEN DAYS – European Week of Regions and Cities will be held in Brussels, 7^th-10^th October 2013. Together with the EU institutions, more than 200 regions and cites will contribute to a programme of 100 seminars, workshops, debates, exhibitions and networking opportunities for around 6,000 participants.  For the first time, the Open Days University will include a Master Class for postgraduate students and early career researchers to learn more about Cohesion Policy and meet senior policymakers and academics. The application process is competitive; at least two places will be reserved for applicants from each of the 27 Member States and Croatia. A small number of non-EU participants (up to 15) could also participate. The successful applicants will have their return travel to Brussels and accommodation for up to two nights provided.

Deadline for submissions: 15th April 2013.

Applications received after this date will not be accepted.

Aim of the OPEN DAYS University Master Class 2013

The aim of the ODU-MC is to improve understanding of EU Cohesion Policy and its research potential among European postgraduate students and early career researchers. Specifically, the objectives are:

·       To  present  the  latest  developments in  research  on  European  regional  and urban development and EU Cohesion Policy;

·       To enable postgraduates and early career researchers (ECR) to exchange views with EU politicians, officials and senior academics in the field of European regional and urban development and policy;

·       To help create networking links among postgraduates/ECR from different countries and with the wider EU policy and academic communities; and

·       To raise awareness and understanding of the research potential in the field of EU Cohesion Policy.

POSTER COMPETITION 2013

Deadline for submissions: 31^st May 2013.

Applications received after this date will not be accepted.

The Directorate-General for Regional & Urban Policy, European Commission, and the Regional Studies Association would like to invite postgraduates and early career researchers interested in European Cohesion Policy to apply to present their research in the form of a poster at the 11^th OPEN DAYS 2013 European Week of Cities and Region, 7^th-10^th October 2013.

The 11^th OPEN DAYS – European Week of Regions and Cities will be held in Brussels. Together with the EU institutions, more than 200 regions and cites will contribute to a programme of 100 seminars, workshops, debates, exhibitions and networking opportunities for around 6,000 participants.

The Poster Competition is in its fourth year and will take place on the 8^th October 2013 where 6 shortlisted finalists will be invited to attend OPEN DAYS to showcase research via a poster. Accommodation for up to 2 nights and a return flight/train to Brussels will be provided.

Prize: €750 for the overall winner and €250 for the first runner-up.

• OPEN DAYS 2013 Master Class: Call for Applications (pdf)
• OPEN DAYS 2013 Master Class: Application Conditions (pdf)
• OPEN DAYS 2013 Master Class: Application Form (pdf)
• OPEN DAYS 2013 Poster Competition: Call for Papers (pdf)
• OPEN DAYS 2013 Poster Competition: Structure and Guidelines of the Competition (pdf)

Regional Studies Association North America Project Office The Lewis Center, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, 3350 Public Affairs Building Room 6263, Los Angeles, CA 90095 Tel + 1 310 291 3708 usa@regionalstudies.org	Regional Studies Association 25 Clinton Place, Seaford, BN25 1NP United Kingdom Tel: + 44 (0)1323 899 698 Fax: + 44 (0)1323 899 798 office@regionalstudies.org Reg. Charity No. 1084165, Reg. in England and Wales No. 4116288
www.regionalstudies.org