The aim of this seminar is to shape a space for debate and discussion regarding the action and reflection fields of urban culture and public space in urban studies among young researchers in different stages of their research process (advanced master students as well as PhD students). Profound knowledge on the professional and reflexive use of urban culture and public space in planning and design disciplines will be provided. The overall aim is to provide an opportunity for students to learn about research design, research questions, hypothesis and methods related to research on public spaces and urban cultures. Teachers motivate and support the students to critically review and clarify their line of argumentation, their research objectives and methods.

This intensive teaching format leaves ¿open spaces¿ for a discussion- and dialog-oriented way of mutual interaction in research processe. Goals: Developing the capacity for and engaging in critical assessment of similar research projects; developing a friendly and supportive group of researchers who can benefit from knowing about each other¿s work during the seminars and even afterwards. As urban culture and public spaces both serve as realm of procedural and methodological learning, and as they embody radically democratic thoughts, these topics do serve for a transfer of everyday interaction into learning rooms, particularly of future planners and designers. The field of urban studies shows as well that many planners and designers involved in a critical understanding of their own practice as part of the social production of space seek and find a future labour market in the field of urban studies worldwide.

The seminar centres around investigations related to a complex understanding of the city as a socio-historic process with a particular emphasis on urban culture and public space. It provides space to host young researchers¿ initial and advanced thoughts and findings based on their individual or group research project in the broad field of urban studies. We explicitly welcome those students that have already chosen a focus on urban culture or public spaces, however, for those participants still seeking for more inspiration on how to choose a topic and where, the seminar offers a broad introduction to different trends and tendencies in urban studies. Teachers will offer introductory readings that shall provide a basic orientation in urban studies to create a common base of knowledge among the participants of the seminar. Additional orientation on different schools and strands of thought in urban studies shall be offered, some relating to planning theory, others more focused on theories of space. Students will learn to confidently develop and expose their scientific endeavours to other colleagues, to systematically receive and to offer confidential and constructive criticism on their work in order to review, advance and put forward their planning and design-related research in the field of urban studies.

Contemporary urban theory has developed apace over the last decade to consider the complex urban processes and issues that have risen as a result of globalisation, diversification of the economy, socio-demographic shifts,  neo liberal political agendas, migration  and growing concerns around the environment amongst many other salient issues. Urban studies now concerns itself also with new theoretical agendas which focus on questions of city materialities, mobilites, economies, differences, cultures, affect and politics making it an increasingly fascinating and stimulating field of study. Further, there is a growing interest in cities of the Global South, which has led to new ways of analysing the cities of the Global North which have been more significant in urban analysis to date. The seminar will have a particular emphasis on urban culture and public space, but contributions on other subjects are eligible.

The interactive seminar shall provide a general introduction into scientific work, as well as trends and tendencies related to urban studies. Students will be expected to produce a written exposé as well as present their work, describing the subject of their research, their aims and objectives, their theoretical framework, their research methodology, and the results of their work so far, which is then discussed in group by students and teachers. Students will be expected also to relate their research to contemporary urban theory through selected readings. The teachers and fellow students will then engage in a discussion about these points with the students, helping to clarify and develop the concepts and methods of the research project. The nature of the seminars is developmental, designed to help the students with constructive feedback. Furthermore, the students will benefit from the range of issues that are covered and discussed. Advanced master as well as PhD students at any stage of their work from architecture, spatial planning, and more widely from social sciences and humanities, who are researching into urban issues are most welcome to attend. The course is held in English language.

Assessment: Written text, oral presentation, debates in class