Interdisciplinary and Francophone Network for Urban and Spatial Research

On September 29, a full-day, French-language network meeting will take place, focusing on urban and spatial research from various disciplinary perspectives. The event aims to foster exchange between Francophone—especially Senegalese—and German-speaking researchers. The goal of the meeting is to expand existing contacts and establish a platform for ongoing exchange.

The Denkraum format is aimed at early-career researchers (PhD candidates and postdocs) who wish to collaboratively explore an interdisciplinary topic in the field of urban studies. As part of a Brown Bag Lecture, up to three speakers present key aspects of their ongoing or completed research projects in short presentations (max. 15 minutes). A joint discussion follows, focusing on the connections, intersections, and differences between disciplinary perspectives and approaches.

By reading selected texts from the interdisciplinary field of urban research together, we ask ourselves the following questions: What does a text contribute to our understanding of urbanity, urbanization and the city? How convincing is an argument or a perspective outside of its disciplinary localization? What are its weaknesses?

The Urban Scholar Lab (USL) is held once per semester by Dr. Felipe De Souza and Dr. Claudia Ba. The aim of the lab is to present, discuss, and receive feedback on your research or thesis (B.A., M.A., doctoral, or post-doctoral theses) in an inspiring and interdisciplinary setting that is low-threshold and ungraded. Presenters benefit from the experience of speaking in front of an engaged academic urban studies community, sharpening their arguments, and gaining insights from other research areas and disciplines.