PLANNING FOR EQUITABLE AND JUST FUTURES: EXPLORING TRANSFORMATIVE APPROACHES

2-5 July 2025, Istanbul, Türkiye

The 2025 AESOP PhD Workshop in Istanbul will be closely aligned with the theme of the AESOP Annual Congress, “Planning as Transformative Action in an Age of Planetary Crises.” This workshop aims to serve as a platform for critical dialogue centered on the multifaceted planetary crises we face, while exploring innovative frameworks for restructuring socio-economic relations that effectively align environmental priorities with social justice objectives in spatial planning.

The workshop will engage with a range of pressing challenges exacerbated by extreme climatic events, disasters, pandemics, geopolitical conflicts, as well as systemic issues such as poverty, unemployment, homelessness, urban displacement, and food insecurity. These are critical global issues that require interdisciplinary approaches and collaborative strategies, particularly as they increasingly affect diverse communities across varying geopolitical landscapes.

Hence, the AESOP PhD Workshop will specifically address the theme “Planning for Equitable and Just Futures: Exploring Transformative Approaches.” This theme seeks to scrutinize planning approaches that prioritize equity and justice in response to the ongoing planetary crises. Topics of inquiry will encompass spatial justice, just transitions, de-growth paradigms, planning and design beyond traditional economic growth metrics, co-creation initiatives, urban commons strategies, collaborative planning principles, and integrative policy development.

This workshop presents PhD candidates with a distinctive opportunity to present their research, engage in critical discussions with experts in the field, and reflect on transformative planning methodologies that can foster a more equitable and just urban future. Participants are encouraged to contextualize their ongoing research within this thematic framework, considering the environmental, social, spatial, and institutional dimensions of critical concepts. Through this integration, doctoral candidates will enhance their comprehension of the complexities and possibilities inherent in planning for equitable and just futures.

The aim of the workshop is to allow PhD students to share their research ideas, findings, and concerns in a relaxed atmosphere with mentors, senior academic tutors, and fellow researchers. It is designed to create a mutually beneficial learning environment where participants can exchange feedback on their research questions, goals, and methodological approaches.

The program will feature a combination of small-group study modules, plenary sessions, and discussions on methodological issues and maintaining a work-life balance during the PhD journey. Additionally, it will include one-on-one meetings with research mentors and social events. The workshop is designed for PhD students at both early and more advanced stages of their doctoral research.