Animated discussions at workshop on social living environment

The workshop drew a large and, at least in some respect, diverse crowd, and resulted in an afternoon of animated discussions. A key theme was the urgency with which a wide range of actors must face issues like inequality, poverty and segregation.

While many profiled researchers gave moving accounts of the issues at stakes and called for radical steps to be taken, planning professionals emphasized the need for faster ways to transmit the results of research to practice. This speaks to the need for scholars to move out of the comfort zone and engage in forms of communication that are more rapid and accessible.

It also suggest to an opportunity to disseminate critical and transformative research by bringing it into the classroom. This could mean experimenting with ways to translate academic knowledge into policy, as well as make sure that the planning practitioners of tomorrow are well versed in scholarship and retain the necessary tools to unpack emerging research issues throughout their professional life.

Reported by Johan Pries on behalf of  SLU Urban Futures