Date and time
- Abstract submission is now closed.
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.
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 – Editor Finance and Space
- Karen Lai, University of Durham, UK – Editor Finance and Space
- Stefania Fiorentino, University of Cambridge, UK – Editor Regions e-Zine
- Robert Bowen, University of Cardiff, UK – Editor Regions e-Zine
Are you looking to get your research published with the RSA? Join us for an insightful workshop designed to guide researchers through the publication process. This workshop will provide valuable tips and strategies from experienced editors representing two academic outlets: Regions, and Finance and Space.
Workshop Structure:
Part 1: Roundtable Discussion
- Panel of Editors: Engage with editors from Regions, and Finance and Space.
- Journal Introductions: Each editor will introduce their journal, highlighting its scope, submission requirements, and target audience.
- Publication Tips: Editors will share essential tips on how to draft a successful manuscript, common pitfalls to avoid, and insights into the peer-review process.
- Q&A Session: Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and seek advice directly from the editors.
Part 2: Break-out Sessions
- Small Group Discussions: Interested participants will split into smaller groups, each facilitated by one of the editors.
- Focused Guidance: In these sessions, participants can discuss their specific research and receive tailored advice on how to enhance their chances of getting published in the respective journals.
This workshop is a unique opportunity to learn directly from journal editors and to gain a competitive edge in the publication process.
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
Mia Gray will lead an interactive session to explore the “next steps” for early career academics. Together, we will explore the role of interdisciplinarity amongst regional scholars (in collaboration, teaching and publishing); theory, activism, and policy relevance; academic job talks; research careers beyond the academy; precarity and insecurity in academic jobs; and life/work balance.
Closing Panel Session
By delving into collaborative processes and examining the role of universities as anchor institutions, the plenary panel will explore how engaging with non-academic communities in academic research can maximize the real-world impact of regional research endeavours. To this end, experts from various sectors, including universities, government, charities, and businesses, will discuss how researchers can harness their research findings to shape regional policies and practices, driving regional change, and fostering sustainable and inclusive futures at a time of complex global challenges.
Speakers:
Aled Jones, Anglia Ruskin University
Stefania Fiorentino, University of Cambridge
Stephen Kelly, Chief Planner for Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire District Council
Sam Goodall, Cambridge Cleantech
Alison Taylor, Cambridge 2030