introduction to this blog
In this space, I shall introduce the central themes of my recent and ongoing research. As my website contains the basic info on my current projects, publications and my overall approach, these blog posts will shed some light into what's going on deeper down the research alley.
However, to start off, let me introduce some of my project activities. Our Academy of Finland Strategic Research Council project BEMINE is very much about collaboration, both within the project team and with stakeholders. Here is a typical scene from a workshop where researchers try to figure out new ways to study and express the urbanization dynamics that we are dealing with.
Our ambitious aim is to develop both, excellent research outcomes that deal with and use, housing, transport, services and economic (together "MALPE") aspects of urbanization in Finland, and a toolkit for planner to utilize in dealing with urbanization issues. My work deals with collaboration principles in relation to agonistic planning theory, and I participate in scenario development as well.
The stakeholder collaboration takes place in regional as well as national forums, pictured on the left is this spring's forum at the Music House in Helsinki. The forums are equally events for gathering information and for discussing issues pertinent to the project rationale. We've started the project by re-defining our goals together with the stakeholders, and their input remains vital to project progression.
In the SCENSLECO project our project team is busy with trying to uncover novel aspects of how legitimacy is produced in informal planning practices. We have been fortunate to have distinguished scholars in our Task Group. Pictured here is prof. L. Albrechts of KU Leuven (BE) who convened with the project team last year, and again this summer. Prof P. Healey of Newcastle University and prof W. Salet of University of Amsterdam joined in in our August seminar of Nordic Planning, PLANNORD, co-arranged by the BEMINE project. Below is a scene from our dinner cruise.
I also teach on one course this year, the "planning studio" workshop course, as one of four instructors. Last year's students presented their work to the city of Lahti representatives (below). Their scenarios are being utilized in actual strategic planning in Lahti. This year, the reception was just as excited, and the students received due accolade.
Finally, I defended my doctorate in mid-December. The distinguished opponent. prof. Sami Moisio from the University of Helsinki, presented some sharp observations, asked some difficult questions, and we discussed many points of view on which we shared opinions.
Hence also this blog, website and the accompanying Facebook site "The Strategic City-region" _ I just might have something to share concerning this topic!
