On behalf of the Regional Studies Association (RSA) Blog Editor, we are pleased to open the call for abstracts for the 4th Annual RSA Blog – Student Summer Series. Starting in June, 2024, and all summer long, the RSA Blog will publish content written by graduate students (Master’s or PhD students at any stage in their program or recently completed). Students must be working within or across regional studies disciplines, encompassing various subjects such as: political science, economics, socio-cultural studies, geography, rural/urban studies, environmental science/studies, socio-economic sustainability, health and population studies, justice, planning, and business management (just to name a few!).
Note: Pieces co-authored by supervisors or other colleagues will be accepted but the lead author must be a graduate student.
Students are encouraged to submit their Blog abstract using the link below before 11:59pm (BST) on April 30th, 2024. Successful abstracts will be notified by May 15th, 2024, and full articles (500-800 words) will be due throughout the summer one week before their publication date (schedule to be sent once articles are selected).
Submit your proposal here.
Blog posts will be selected from regional studies students from around the globe, with the most exceptional pieces recognized and awarded prizes at the end of the summer. See here for the 2021 winning blog piece.
Note: If you have written for the RSA Blog – Student Summer Series before, you can re-submit new work for this year, however priority will be given to new submissions.
Why write for the RSA Blog?
The RSA Blog provides a platform for researchers, students, practitioners, community members and industry leaders to share their expertise on regional issues from across the globe. With a network of over 20,000 members from 70 countries, the RSA Blog enables students to write for a global audience of researchers, practitioners, and policy makers in regional studies.
From the RSA Blog editor on writing a non-academic, evidence-based blog:
Writing for an established blog provides an opportunity to re-conceptualize complicated research results. Also, blogging can reach a broader audience and build networks of like-minded individuals. There are purposely no limits to the form that a blog post can take. For example:
- Summarize a recent journal article that you published.
- Present preliminary research results of an ongoing project.
- Write about an experience within a field of study that shaped the design of a research project.
Non-academic, evidence-based blogging has the potential to re-shape disciplinary boundaries in the 21st century and build on an existing genre of critical and accessible academic knowledge production.
Questions? Send an email to rsablog@regionalstudies.org with the subject line “Student Summer Series Question.”
Looking forward to reading your proposed blog posts!
Brady Reid (Twitter: @bradytreid) is a PhD Candidate at the University of Waterloo in Sustainability Management. Brady is also the Coordinator of and a Per-Course Instructor in the Certificate of Sustainable Rural Communities at Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland. Brady has served as the RSA Blog Editor since 2020.
Are you currently involved with regional research, policy, and development? The Regional Studies Association is accepting articles for their online blog. For more information, contact the Blog Editor at rsablog@regionalstudies.org.