CFP: Opening Space: commons landscapes places affect performativity..

Call for Papers:

for a special session which will be part of:

The 12th Biennial Conference of the International Association for the Study
of Commons

"Governing shared resources: connecting local experience to global
challenges"

University of Gloucestershire (Cheltenham), 14th -18th July 2008

Session Title: "Opening Space: Approaching commons through new
conceptualisations of places and landscapes"

Session outline:

"In my view, an adequate theory of the commons must be rooted in critical
understanding of the symbolic dimensions of the commons as well as its
history as a concrete referent for that symbolism" (Kenneth R. Olwig,
"Commons & Landscape", 2003)

Much of the commons research agenda is understandably focused upon a range
of aspects clustered around, and linking between, notions of sustainability,
equity, governance, ecology, economy and justice (Laerhoven and Ostrom
2007). This focus is in part driven by the distinctive character of common
space in terms of nature, use, risk, loss and potential. The fate of the
commons (of whatever form) throws into sharp relief wider, often troubling
dynamics of nature-society-economy.

However, As Olwig, suggests, commons also need to be read as places and
landscapes (of one kind or another) outside, or alongside, these key
'material concerns'. The very fact that they are commons brings particular
factors into their unfolding as living (cultural and ecological) spatial
entities. In this session we seek to consider commons through the more
unusual lenses of thinking them as places and landscapes. To venture out
onto one of the many commons remaining in the UK (for example) is to
venture into places which have a very different FEEL to them - different
atmosphere, different sense of space, history and politics, in part, from
the literal openness to be found. Enclosure, so often taken for granted, and
the inevitable norm, is exposed by it absence.

There has been significant developments in geographical (and wider social
science/humanities) approaches to places and landscapes in the last decade
or so. These have in part been driven by some notably geographers,
sociologists and anthropologists (e.g. David Harvey, Nigel Thrift, Doreen
Massey, John Law, Bruno Latour, Tim Ingold, Barbra Bender). These
developments seek to deepen understandings of place and landscape (and life
within them) in the light of a whole raft of important
intellectual/theoretical trajectories often infused by broadly
poststructuralist and (related) science and technology studies,
phenomenologies, ideas of affect/embodiment, and so on. The preoccupations
of these approaches include embodiment, practice, process, hybridity,
performativity, topology (networks), complexity and the blurring of a whole
set of dualisms such as social-natural, agency-structure, and
symbolic-concrete. (Thus there is a need to heed, but also develop Olwig's
call for symbolic-concrete analysis of commons).

These developments intermesh with new understandings of nature and
nature-society relations (e.g. Whatmore 2002, Hinchcliffe, 2007) which focus
on hybridity, difference and becoming. Some of the richness of these ideas
can also be found in innovative literatures of place and landscape as in
the work of W. G. Sebald, Iain Sinclair, and others, which also deal in
history, memory, loss, longing of being-in-place. In these 'ecologies of
place' Thrift (1999) there is a deep interest in alternative spatial
becomings (e.g. Deleuzian notions of nomadism). Commons also offer great
potential in terms of thinking and doing space differently.


In these new approaches places/landscapes are;

temporal processes with spatial implications (rather that easily
fixed, bounded spaces).

(thus) outcomes of topological connection rather that topographical
process (although there are move to combine these approaches (Wylie and Rose
2007).

always contingent, on the move, and uncertain.

sites of human practice which are complex interplays of culture,
economy, politics and also emotive, affective, collective and individual
processes.

sites of nature-culture hybridity in which multiple agencies,
temporalities (velocity and rhythm) and relational couplings constantly
rework in restless dynamism, yet which also produce stabilities around which
identities, cultures affective (dwelt) habits can 'gather'.

the sites of reinterpreted understandings of Heideggerian dwelling
(as in the key work of Tim Ingold).

The session seeks to explore commons in these kinds of ways. Themes could
include;

Common as other space
Psychogeography of commons
The emotional/affective geographies of commons
Topologies of commons
Commons as networks
Commons life in practice
Commons as hybrid processes of culture-nature
Commons as places
Commons as landscapes
Ethnographies and ethologies of common life
Alternative practices of research and narrative

This session will be part of -

The 12th Biennial Conference of the International Association for the Study
of Commons

Governing shared resources: connecting local experience to global challenges

University of Gloucestershire (Cheltenham), 14th -18th July 2008

See

http://www.iascp.org/iasc08/iasc08.html


for more details

Deadline for abstracts THIS SESSION is 25 January 2008

Please circulate this CFP if you think you know of other who will be
interested

Please send abstracts or questions to

ojones@glos.ac.uk


Cheers


Owain Jones

Planum Newsletter - December 2007

Planum Newsletter - December 2007

PLANUM
The online magazine and international network dedicated to urban planning,
territorial development and architecture
http://www.planum.net/menu.php

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Planum announces the creation of a new Topics section, TRANSFORMATIONS
AROUND THE WORLD. It is devoted to collect materials that describe how the
territory is changing, the multiplication of the physical forms and
lifestyles, the presence of contrasting landscape. Changes that cross
urban agglomerations, but can also concern urban countryside, or natural
landscape, manufacturing and work landscapes...
Documents here collected can be proposed by Planum readers and can be of
different kind: photos, papers, case study defined for a research,
institutional report or travel notes.

By now 6 urban situations are introduced: Alger, Bologna, Cape Town,
Lipetsk, Dubai, Tirana. Distant in terms of distances, of economic and
social profile, of problem list to be faced.
http://www.planum.net/topics/transformations.html

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Planum takes the opportunity to present the following new online
documents.

o a new essay in 'Topics' section about:
- the Gulf Coast of the United States, which has been battered by major
hurricanes (KATRINA, WILMA, RITA) in recent year. This paper presents the
beta version of a developmental sustainability analysis tool which should
assist decision-makers in preparing for and minimizing natural disasters
impacts (by Frederick Steiner, James Sipes, Barbara Faga, and Robert Yaro).
http://www.planum.net/topics/themesonline.html

o a BEST SITES review about SCOT document, that is "Le schéma de cohérence
territorial" which should define main guidelines of French town planning on
the scale of agglomerations ( (by Soiciz Cezilly, in 'Webcompass' section)
http://www.planum.net/webcompass/best-review.htm

o 'Bookreviews' section updating with REVIEWS of:
'Antiarchitettura e demolizione. La fine dell'architettura modernista' (by
Nikos A. Salingaros) written by Ashraf Salama and Antonio Caperna
'Dialogues in Urban and Regional Planning. Volume 2' (edited by Bruce
Stiftel, Vanessa Watson, Henri Acselrad) written by Lucio Giecillo
and PRESENTATION of the books:
'Città portuali e waterfront urbani. Ricerca bibliografica' (edited by
Oriana Giovinazzi)
'Spatial development glossary' (by CEMAT)
'Cities between integration and disintegration: opportunities and
challenges'
(Isocarp Review 02).
FREELY DOWNLOADABLE the book edited by Pietro Elisei and Giovanni Pineschi
about the final
results of the Medisdec-Stratmed (Interreg IIIB-Medocc Area Project).
The book deals with development strategies for regions in the
Mediterranean areas.
http://www.planum.net/showspace/bookreviews-07.htm

o 'Journals' section updating with:
> RAUMPLANUNG n.132/3 and RAUMPLANUNG Spezial n.11
http://www.planum.net/journals/ns-rpl.html
> URBANISTICA n.131/2006, 132/2007, 133/2007
http://www.planum.net/journals/ns-uri.html

o 'Showspace' section updating with:
> the last issue of the DiAP NEWSLETTER
http://www.planum.net/diap/news.htm

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Planum News section is catching up the goal of 1000 news about events,
conferences, meetings, competitions, exhibitions, etc., across Europe and
the rest of the world.
http://www.planum.net/news/

If you want to contribute to our timely news data base send your
announcements to staff@planum.net

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Planum - The online magazine and international network dedicated to urban
planning, territorial development and architecture
http://www.planum.net/menu.php - ISSN 1723-0993
European Community project funded by Ten Telecom in the year 2000

Contact staff@planum.net if you wish:
- to publish articles, essays, reports about urban policies, master plans,
urban planning project management
- to send your announcement about upcoming events, projects, workshops
- to become a Planum partner for dissemination in E.U. funded project

If you are looking for a window in this newsletter, through which to promote
your special event or your firm, become a Planum guest and reach more than
22.000 planners around the world!
http://www.planum.net/services/services.html

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Theory and Practice of Computer Graphics 2008

CFP: The UK Chapter of the Eurographics Association (EGUK) presents:-

Theory and Practice of Computer Graphics 2008



University of Manchester, UK, 9-11th June 2008

http://www.eguk.org.uk/TPCG08/



** Paper deadline March 10th 2008 **



The 26th Conference organised by the UK chapter of the Eurographics Association will be the sixth Theory and Practice of Computer Graphics 2008 Conference (TP.CG.08). All accepted papers will be published by Eurographics and held on the Digital Library, and will be available at the conference.



Call for Papers

===============

This conference focuses on theoretical and practical aspects of Computer Graphics and brings together top practitioners, users and researchers, thereby inspiring further collaboration between participants, particularly between academia and industry.



The Programme Committee is seeking refereed papers and work-in-progress reports in all aspects of computer graphics and its applications. The topics of interest include (but are not limited to):



computer animation, computer-based art and entertainment,

computation geometry, display technologies, fundamental

algorithms, graphics application systems, graphics

architectures and acceleration hardware, fractal and

natural phenomena, human computer interaction, image

processing, Internet graphics and collaborative

environments, medical imaging, modelling methods,

rendering techniques, texture synthesis, scientific

visualization, information visualization, virtual

reality and virtual environments, volume graphics,

web graphics.



Further details and submission categories may be found on

http://www.eguk.org.uk/TPCG08/

Just published on the JRF website

JRF

Just published on the JRF website:

How local planning authorities are delivering policies for affordable housing
Study on how local planning authorities have been implementing affordable housing policies (Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990) in the context of changing and uncertain policy.

ESRC Seminar Series, Combating the 'obesogenic' environment - policy solutions and priorities

We would like to invite you to attend the last in a series of four ESRC
funded seminars on the social and physical environment and obesity
jointly convened by researchers at Queen Mary and University College,
University of London.

We have four exciting speakers (details below) and there will be ample
time for debate and discussion on the day.

The seminars are free to attend and there are a limited number of travel
bursaries available for postgraduate researchers to attend.

However we do have a limited number of places so registration is
essential. Places are on a first-come first-served basis and a waiting
list will be in operation.

For further details of the seminar and a booking form please contact
Sarah Deedat on s.a.deedat@qmul.ac.uk

Please circulate to colleagues, students and others with interests in
this area

Best wishes

Steve Cummins, Tessa Parsons, Sharon Friel

Further Details
Time: 12.45 - 17.15
Date: 6 Feb 2008
Venue: CABE, 1 Kemble Street, London WC2B 4AN

Abstract:
Combating the 'obesogenic' environment - policy solutions and priorities
Encouraging innovative debate over what potential policy solutions may
be available to reduce levels of obesity is desperately needed. This
seminar will invite key thinkers within economics, planning and public
health to propose what policy measures at the local, regional and
national level that can help stem the growing incidence of obesity.
This seminar will not only be aimed at academics but also undertaken
in such a way that policymakers, charities, think-tanks and
professionals in the health, nutrition, activity and planning fields
will be fully included in debate and discussion

Speakers
Mr Nick Cavill - Cavill Associates
Professor Eric Millstone - University of Sussex
Dr Hugh Barton - University of the West of England
Professor David Hunter, - Durham University



--
Department of Geography
Health Research Group
Queen Mary University of London
Mile End Road
London E1 4NS
02078823363

"New Geographies of the UK Economy"

RGS IBG Annual Conference 2008

Royal Geographical Society, London, 27-29 August 2008

UPDATED CALL FOR PAPERS

"New Geographies of the UK Economy"

Organisers:
Andrew Jones, Birkbeck, University of London; Neil Coe, University of
Manchester; Mia Gray, University of Cambridge

Confirmed Keynote Speakers:
John Allen; Andrew Leyshon; Ron Martin; Doreen Massey; Alison Stenning

The UK economy currently faces a series of major challenges in the early
21st century. Globalization, uneven development, migration, technological
change, sectoral transformations and issues of sustainability are just a
few of the key issues which present the UK with uncertainties as to the
nature of future growth and prosperity opportunities. Furthermore, at the
theoretical level, geographers and other social scientists have called the
very idea of ‘the UK economy’ into question in the context of contemporary
globalization. The ongoing integration of the European Union, the
development of global production networks and the deepening complexity of
global financial integration cast doubt on the relevance of the UK economy
(defined in territorial terms) as an effective unit of analysis. All of
these challenges and theoretical issues present an increasingly difficult
task for those who seek to theorise and formulate policy in the UK at the
national and various sub-national levels.

These sessions seek to bring together the broad range of geographical
research on the UK economy currently being undertaken by scholars based
both within and outside the UK. Whilst centred around economic
geographical work, they aim to attract a diverse set of papers that
address current key challenges for theorists and policy makers in relation
to the UK economy. These might include, but are not restricted to, issues
concerned with regional economic development, transnational firms, SMEs,
migrant flows, regeneration, the North-South divide, regulation, the
knowledge economy, innovation, global production networks, globalization,
sectoral change and environmental sustainability. However, the organisers
would welcome enquiries from any authors who feel their work addresses the
broad themes of the sessions. The sessions aim to group paper
presentations around a number of invited keynote papers from leading
thinkers on different aspects of UK economic development. However, please
also get in touch if you are interested in participating as a session
chair, paper discussant or panellist.

Those interested in presenting a paper are asked to send an abstract to
Andrew Jones on (a.jones@bbk.ac.uk) by the deadline of Monday 18th
February 2008. Please use the pro-forma from the RGS website. Expressions
of interest are welcome ahead of an abstract.

Details of the RGS –IBG Annual Conference can be found at:
http://www.rgs.org/WhatsOn/ConferencesAndSeminars/Annual+International+Conf
erence/Timeline+for+AC2008.htm

Abstract submission details and the pro-forma can be found at:
http://www.rgs.org/WhatsOn/ConferencesAndSeminars/Annual+International+Conf
erence/Submit+an+abstract.htm

ESRC Research Seminar Series: Rethinking the Urban Experience: the Sensory Production of Place

ESRC Research Seminar Series: Rethinking the Urban Experience: the Sensory Production of
Place

30 - 31 January 2008
University of Salford

30th January: Seminar Four: Senses and the rhythms and temporalities of the city seeks to
explore how the sensual experience of the city is shaped by rhythm and temporality.
Presentations explore the rhythms and sensations of bicycle and bus travel, the sensual
rhythms of specific locales, the rhythms of urban advertising and attempts to install
slower rhythms in place.

31st January: Seminar Five: Senses in transition: mobility in the city looks at the
various ways in which technologies and modes of moving through the city produce particular
sensual experiences. The seminar includes presentations which focus on mobile
soundscapes, rail travel, and the distinct mobilities of the amusement park.

We welcome postgraduate students, academics and interested practitioners

To attend one or both seminars, contact Tim Edensor (Manchester Metropolitan University)
Tel: +44 (0)161 247 6284. Email: t.edensor@mmu.ac.uk

For more details of the seminar series, visit http://www.sensescapes.co.uk/events.htm

Dr Tim Edensor
Reader in Cultural Geography
Department of Geography
Manchester Metropolitan University
John Dalton Extension
Chester Street
Manchester
M1 5GD

Geography and migration workshop: Cardiff - 16 January 2008

Geography and migration workshop: Cardiff - 16 January 2008

To be held at Cardiff University in the School of Social Sciences.

At this workshop new users will be introduced to the activities of the
Centre for Interaction Data Estimation and Research (CIDER) and the Web-
based Interface to Census Interaction Data (WICID) data extraction
system.
Participants will also get an introduction to digitised boundary
datasets
provided by UKBORDERS at Edina. This workshop will include an
introduction
to the data services offered by Census.ac.uk and is aimed at users
studying or working in the UK higher and further education sector, but
is
not limited to those already registered to use the census.

For more information, and the booking form, see:
http://census.ac.uk/MB/Cardiff_Jan08.aspx

Jo Weatherall
Metadata and Outreach Officer
Census.ac.uk

UK Data Archive
University of Essex
Wivenhoe Park
Colchester
CO4 3SQ
Tel: +44 (0)1206 872571
Email: jlw@essex.ac.uk
Web: http://census.ac.uk