Assembly for Comparative Urbanisation and the Material Environment Digital methodologies for social research on processes of urban landscape development

Centre for Spatial Analysis and Policy (CSAP), School of Geography, Universityof Leeds

ACUMEN will be hosted by the Centre for Spatial Analysis and Policy (CSAP), School of Geography, University of Leeds. It is funded by Digital Social Research Community Activities Funding Scheme of the NSDeSS, with the support of TALISMAN: Geospatial Data Analysis and Simulation.

ACUMEN will be an intensive meeting of minds focused on identifying the opportunities and challenges involved in enabling an emergent interdisciplinary research field. Its aim is to advance comparative methodologies for the social study of urbanisation processes through time and across cultures (i.e. prehistoric to contemporary) with particular connection to the material and/or built environment, aided by the use of digital technologies. It offers a rare opportunity to have extended learned discussions amongst peers in an intimate setting with appropriate focus.

ACUMEN is dedicated to making real and informed progress. The main emphasis of the programme will rest on the active participation of all attendants in a series of discussion 'Salons' addressing opportunities and challenges in the field from the vantage point of one of three focus themes:

1) Data acquisition, management and digital compilation

2) Methodologies for social and temporal analyses of urban landscape data

3) Social scientific purposes for the study of urban landscape development

In addition to a small number of prominent speakers, participants are sought from related disciplines including geography, archaeology, history, sociology, anthropology, urban studies, etc. Interested researchers, including postgraduates, are actively encouraged to apply by filling out an application form.

The deadline to apply to participate in this workshop is the 2nd of November 2012.

Registration for ACUMEN costs 25GBP

Confirmed speakers in the workshop's programme include:

Michael E. Smith (Arizona State University)

Sir Alan Wilson (University College London)

Ian Gregory (Lancaster University)

Keith Lilley (Queen's University Belfast)

Sam Griffiths (University College London)

Programme:

The programme will focus on Salon discussions on the one hand and keynote addresses on the other. In addition there will be an opportunity for some participants to partake in a Pecha Kucha (a series of brief6 min. introductions to their research relevant to ACUMEN's theme). Those interested can supply a short abstract on the application form.

For further information and to fill out an application form, please see: www.geog.leeds.ac.uk

Or contact Benjamin N. Vis with any specific queries: B.N.Vis10@leeds.ac.uk