2025 YEGN Workshop – Agency and Regional Transformation
We hereby invite PhD students and recent graduates to participate in the upcoming YEGN Workshop on agency and regional transformation in the Hanseatic City of Greifswald. It will take place at the University of Greifswald, one of the oldest universities in Europe, founded in 1456. The Young Economic Geographers Network (YEGN) is looking forward to welcoming around 20 international PhD students and early career researchers to the 2025 edition of the workshop.
Application Deadline and Abstract Submission
The workshop aims to bring together young scholars in the fields of economic geography and welcomes contributions exploring the dynamic interplay between agency and regional transformation. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- the significance of agency in regional development
- place leadership in sustainability transformation
- change agency in (peripheral) regions
- green and inclusive path development
- regional opportunity spaces
- just transition
Those interested are strongly encouraged to apply with an abstract of 350-500 words (including key references) by 15th April 2025 to Amrei (amrei.aubrunner@umu.se). Submissions should be in PDF or Word format, using standard academic formatting (e.g., 12-point font, 1,5 spaced). Participants will be selected based on the quality of their abstract, its relevance to this year’s theme and their early career stage, and will be notified by the end of April 2025. The workshop provides an excellent platform for early career researchers to share ideas, receive constructive feedback and engage with peers in a collaborative environment. We look forward to your submissions!
If you can’t wait to find out more about the network or our next workshop location, visit our YEGN Website with insides on the last workshops and check out the University of Greifswald or Greifswald Tourist Information.
Motivation for the Workshop
The YEGN workshop emerged in 2016 through the collaborative effort of PhD students from the University of Bern and Umeå University. Its primary objective is to establish a platform where emerging scholars in economic geography and related fields from various countries could share and discuss their research and ideas among peers. Our focus specifically revolves around bringing together students in different stages of their academic journey and from diverse national backgrounds to facilitate meaningful exchanges and maximise varied experiences. Additionally, our aim is to construct a lasting network among workshop participants that extends beyond the event’s duration. Recognising the significance of connections and interactions for young researchers, especially the challenges in establishing them, we extend invitations not only to academics but also to new PhDs collaborating with researchers at different institutions. The three main aims of the YEGN and its related workshops are:
1) Giving the participants the opportunity to present, discuss and get extensive feedback on their on-going work, in a forgiving environment with only PhD-students.
2) Facilitating networking among young economic geographers from different countries.
3) Discussing concepts and cutting-edge research trends regarding economic geography with peers.
2025 Workshop Programme
Due to the time needed to travel to Greifswald, we will kick off in the afternoon of 25th August with a guided tour through the university and the historic old town, followed by a welcome reception in the evening to get to know each other and the place where we will spend the next few days. The 26th and 27th August will be dedicated to presentations and discussions, accompanied by a creative workshop on our own position and well-being in academia. After a day of presentations, joint bike and/or boat trips to the beaches and villages around Greifswald will provide plenty networking opportunities. On the 28th of August we will end the official programme with an early farewell lunch to allow enough time to travel home or stay and explore the region and its famous tourist islands. All participants are expected to attend all days of the workshop in order to provide feedback to their peers.
Attendance Costs
The YEGN workshop is funded by the Chair of Economic and Social Geography at the University of Greifswald. Accommodation, city bikes, breakfast and lunch as well as coffee breaks during the workshop from 25.-28. August 2025 will be provided by the organisers. Participants are expected to cover their own travel costs. We thereby aim to make the workshop as inclusive as possible for PhD students and encourage early application to the wide range of external opportunities for small travel grants (e.g. RSA, YSI, RGS).
Organizing Committee
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us.
Amrei Aubrunner (amrei.aubrunner@umu.se) and Max Roessler (max.roessler@uni-greifswald.de)