planum - showspace - Future 2006 call for applications

Objective:
Cities are the most relevant places to observe, understand and influence changes in all fields of economy and society. Most inhabitants in the European Union are living in urban areas.
FUTURE (Future Urban Research in Europe) therefore supports the research competencies, networks and human potentials to meet the future challenges in the cities of Europe.The main objective of FUTURE (Future Urban Research in Europe) is to continue and bring forward the existing research on different features of urban life in Europe.
To achieve this aim FUTURE supports young scientists in undertaking research on the European City and enables them to participate in a training programme for their chosen annual issue.
As a result there shall be established a substantial and sustainable network between the young researchers from different nations as well as a network between the young and the senior scientists.
Due to the complexity of the European City, the project aims at the integration of different disciplines such as urban planning, political science, urban design, sociology, management research, architecture, economics, regional planning and other relevant scientific fields.
Join the programme and be part of the network!

Concept:
The idea of FUTURE is realised in four different (self - contained) training programmes (2005/06 E-City; 2006 Urban Governance; 2007 Culture and City; 2008 Ethnically Diverse City) - with an innovative dual structure of events: combining and interconnecting workshops and scientific conferences in a coherent way.

The training programmes consist of the following elements:
1. Application
2. Selection by an international scientific committee
3. Preparatory Workshop (Issues: Ethics of Research, European Integration and Urban Change; Methodological Training in Urban Research; Writing skills; Career Planning)
4. Online training: Feedback from senior researchers on the draft paper
5. International conference: Paper presentation
6. Review of the paper
7. Publication
8. Certificate

The scholars are supervised by internationally well renowned scientist with aiming knowledge exchange and the creation of a sustainable network between the young researchers and the senior scientists.

Training Programme 2006 - Urban Governance

As subsidiary has been strengthened as a guiding principle for the realisation of the European integration, urban politics have been at the forefront to cope with major challenges.
Other macro level developments such as globalisation have produced new requirements for the management of the cities, as well.
Therefore the focus will lie on:

" New forms of urban governance in times of Globalization and Europeanization
" Broader fields of urban governance with different social and economic partners
" Innovative strategies for a better participation of the urban citizenship

The basic objective of the theme is the preparation of urban researchers to develop a deeper understanding of the challenges of a European Society that is open to innovations of social, cultural, economic and political potentials. Moreover, it seeks to explore in which way institutions can be further developed to make Europe attractive and competitive.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION

1st of April 2006

Dates
International Workshop in Örebro/Sweden: 21.08. - 28.08.2006
International Conference in Madrid/Spain: 24.11. - 26.11.2006

Fellowship

All accepted applicants will be granted a fellowship of the European Commission which will enable the participation at the workshop and conference (travel expenses, accommodation). FUTURE is proposed to ensure the sound training of young researchers with regard to

o provide the profound feedback from senior researchers
o link theoretical approaches to challenges of urban life
o enable contacts to international colleagues
o improve the competencies of the young researchers
o discuss research within the framework of European policies

Applications

Scholars (graduates, post-graduates, PhD, post-PhD) from all disciplines and all European nations can apply. The selection will be lead by an international scientific committee. Researchers with more than 10 years of research experiences cannot be granted. In accordance with EU policies, FUTURE especially encourages women, disabled persons, members of ethnic minorities and researchers from accessing countries to apply.

Please send an abstract (max. 250 words) and curriculum vitae (max. 250 words) as an e-mail attachment (word document) to: future@uni-weimar.de

For further and more detailed information on FUTURE and the application procedures, please visit the homepage: www.urban-future.net