First reflections on the ARL Summer School 2024 in Vienna

From September 26^th to 28^th 2024, the ARL hosted the ARL Summer School 2024 in Vienna, in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Meike Levin-Keitel from Department of Geography and Regional Research at the University of Vienna. The event focused on the theme of Spatial Transformation through the lens of planning. 

Ten doctoral students from different countries joined us for three days of thought-provoking discussions, research presentations, and collaborative learning. The diverse disciplinary and regional perspectives were enriched by feedback from international experts, who also provided valuable insights into the rapidly evolving field of spatial transformation(s). The keynote speech by Dr. Dick Magnusson (Linköping University), along with the contributions from the invited experts Dr. Johannes Suitner (TU Vienna), Dr. Gesa Pflitsch (BOKU Vienna), and Dr. Richard Beecroft (KIT-Center Humans and Technology), offered numerous impulses for innovative ideas and opened new avenues for their own research approaches.

A key takeaway from our discussions was the significant potential of spatial planning to foster sustainability, though much of this potential remains untapped in current frameworks. The field trip and social activities offered an opportunity to apply these concepts practically, enhancing our learning experience.

Doctoral students now have the opportunity to publish their scientific papers presented during the Summer School in a special issue of the European Journal for Spatial Development (EJSD), and they will receive support throughout this process. 

We extend our sincere thanks to all participants for their insightful contributions during the Summer School and look forward to the insights that will be highlighted in the special issue!