Our goal

The ARL stands for sustainable spatial development: socially and economically just, ecologically responsible and forward-thinking. We stimulate research on current topics and socially relevant challenges, pool expertise and create new knowledge in order to identify concrete approaches, options and solutions to make cities, rural areas and regions liveable and crisis-proof for all people, while at the same time protecting nature and landscapes in all their diversity and preserving them for future generations.  

Who we are

The ARL is a social research infrastructure facility in the Leibniz Association that enables cooperation and networking between spatial science research and planning practice. As an Academy with renowned, selected members and a large network of committed experts at all career levels, we consistently bundle interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary knowledge on current issues of sustainable spatial development as the professional voice of spatial science and practice. 

The Academy

This platform

ARL-international.com is your gateway to spatial development and planning from a global perspective. It serves as the ARL's platform for international collaboration, transdisciplinary research, and knowledge exchange on pressing spatial challenges.

Here, you’ll find opportunities to connect with experts from academia and practice. This website is dedicated to fostering an international dialogue and strengthening cross-border cooperation in spatial development.

Latest News

21/05/2025

Call for Membership for the Review Committee of the ARL

Application deadline extended to May 31

The Executive Committee invites active Academy members to express their interest in participating in the Review Committee in 2025 and 2026 and to help shape the content-related work of the ARL in this important function.

19/05/2025

Difference and Belonging: Indigenous and Autochthonous National Minorities in Europe's Transforming Region

November 12-14, 2025, Leipzig/Germany
The Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography (IfL), in partnership with the Institute of Geography at the University of Leipzig, the Sorbian Institute in Bautzen, and the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, invites Papers for the international conference "Difference and Belonging: Indigenous and Autochthonous National Minorities in Europe's Transforming Regions”

24/04/2025

The Future is Now! Shaping the Socio-Ecological Transformation – Contribution to the Poster Exhibition of the ARL Congress 2025

On 27 and 28 March, the international ARL Forum Gender and Spatial Transformation had the opportunity to contribute to the poster exhibition at the ARL Congress 2025 'The Future is Now! Shaping the Socio-Ecological Transformation' at the Leopoldina in Halle (Saale).

24/04/2025

The Urban Crisis of Care and Social Reproduction – Recap of our workshop in Hannover

On 17 and 18 February 2025, members of the ARL International Forum Gender and Spatial Transformation convened at the ARL headquarters in Hanover for an insightful two-day workshop.

08/04/2025

The Winners of the Photo Contest 2025 "Future Now!"

For the ARL Photo Contest 2025, we invited participants to capture the socio-ecological transformation through images.

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Expert Circle

One of the ARL’s unique features is its large network of highly qualified experts. We are now making this network even more international and even more visible by launching our Expert Circle. Want to know who the experts are on certain topics? Who is doing research where and on what issues? Which planning professionals have valuable experience in which areas?

The platform enables professionals in our network to be filtered by topic, profession, country and regional expertise. Find interesting people you would like to work and exchange ideas with.

It’s very easy, try it out!