The Role of Critical Thinking in Urban and Regional Studies

[i]First Postgraduate Student Conference[/i] [b]Abstract submission deadline: September 1st, 2010[/b] 19 November 2010 Sheffield, UK Researchers in the urban studies field are scattered in different social sciences departments, and have less chance than most to come together and discuss their research. This one-day conference offers an opportunity for postgraduate students to share their ongoing studies, develop discussions, and open up illuminating paths for prospective research and collaboration. As the field of urban studies is a very broad area of research, to offer a framework for the conference, the focus of the conference will be limited to Critical Urban and Regional Theory. The conference aims to explore urban and regional phenomena within contemporary capitalist societies marked by increasing social and spatial exclusions as well as remarkable forms of resistance. Key issues include:- the impact of neoliberalism on urban and regional economies, societies, cultures and levels of the state forms of popular resistance at the urban and regional level, and political strategies for these how both neoliberalism and resistance to it use territory, distance, scale and space the role of academic research in critical responses to urban and regional development. Proposals for Papers: The conference organisers welcome proposals for individual papers from postgraduate students. Proposals (max. 500 words) should be sent to O.Celik@sheffield.ac.uk no later than 1st of September, 2010. Inquiries may also be sent to that address. Decisions on proposals will be made on a rolling basis. Full conference papers of up to 5,000 words will be required by 11th October. Final papers will be posted to conference attendees by e-mail. Distribution of full papers in advance will allow for greater discussion of ideas on the day. Proposals for Posters: This conference will also offer an opportunity for attendees to present posters summarizing their work. Individuals wishing to display a poster should send an abstract summarizing their poster by 1st September 2010. Accepted posters will be informed by 11th October 2010, and individuals will be expected to bring their poster to display on the day of the conference. For more information: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/trp/about/events/pgstudentconference.html