Here we provide final details including how to apply to the forthcoming…

Urban Political Ecology in African Cities Workshop – Funded places available

SUPE-TV

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

University of Pretoria

22-26 September 2014 

WHAT?  A 5 day workshop for early career researchers to discuss critical approaches to urban environmental research, drawing on recent conversations in the literature about theory and methodology.  This workshop is aimed to support new ideas, research collaborations and grant applications and provide an opportunity for discussion and in-depth engagement around these issues. The workshop will include presentations by participants and established scholars including Dr Shuaib Lwasa and Professor Garth Myers, discussions, and exercises for developing critical political lenses into existing research topics. We will also have targeted discussions on establishing research partnerships, funding applications, and academic publication.

WHY?  As cities become increasingly significant to development and environmental crises at multiple scales, there is a growing need for research that can both contribute to theory and practice. We use the term “urban political ecology” to emphasise a particular approach to considering the city across a number of themes, ranging from more traditional environmental issues (such as climate change and air pollution) to urban flows (such as sanitation and electricity provision). Like many other scholars, we believe there is a need for a more explicitly political approach to these topics that draws attention to the winners and losers as cities continue to change. We have put together a list of resources exploring these issues to give you an idea of the workshop orientation.

TO APPLY please send a short CV and answer the following questions in 1-2 paragraphs each  to Mary Lawhon (marylawhon@gmail.com). Please use the subject line “UPE in African Cities ” and send by 15 June.

1) Briefly discuss three works (books, articles etc)  you have read which are relevant to African urban environments and which shape your current thinking about research and/or engagement with practice.
2) Explain two different ways in which you hope this workshop in an African urban context will affect your future work and/or career development.  This may include scholarship, research practice, community engagement, policy outcomes, etc.
3) What motivates your research? Your answer might include professional, political, practical, theoretical, or other reasons; it might also be a specific admixture.
4) We are interested in providing funding to participants whose insights into African urban environmental issues have been underrepresented. Please feel free to provide any details regarding nationality, race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. that you would like to share and which would help us to invite a diverse group to this workshop.
Got any questions? Please email marylawhon@gmail.com
This work is supported by an International Workshop Award from the Antipode Foundation http://antipodefoundation.org/