Postgrad Urbanists is a new interdisciplinary academic forum organised by students associated with the UCL Urban Laboratory.
The Postgrad Urbanists aim is to generate and engage in lively discussion, community, space, and relatable content for doctoral urban researchers and budding Master’s level urban researchers.
Since launching in Autumn 2021, we have run virtual events such as monthly reading groups, writing groups, socials, and our first PhD Life: The Workshop. We have got to know other urban enthusiasts who are in the same postgrad boat, discussed new perspectives on classics like Ruth Glass’ London Aspects of Change and Georg Simmel’s Metropolis and Mental Life, and gained focused spaces to work in our writing groups, and we are currently running a Southern Urbanist Practice Reading/Doing Group.
We are a growing network and are continuing to plan new events and initiatives. This includes PhD workshops, urban walks, expanding our digital #myurbanlab initiative, and new Urban Lab blog content. If you have an idea or want to join the team, we would love to hear from you!
This is a student-led network that supports and promotes the dissemination and discussion of PhD and Master’s level urban research in a friendly and constructive atmosphere, by providing open and informal outlets in which to air theoretical, practical and methodological questions and issues amongst peers. Under a new name, it continues the invaluable work established over a decade by the now inactive Stadtkolloquium doctoral network, expanding on this work, supported by the Urban Laboratory. Our goal is to encourage stimulating discussion and create community around diverse urban questions across disciplines which reflect the interests of the Urban Laboratory, including, but not limited to, Geography, Architecture, Anthropology, Literature, Cultural Studies, Development Studies, History, Environmental Studies, Film, Health Sciences, Fine Arts, Planning, Public Policy, and Engineering.
Postgrad Urbanists is open to postgraduates across and beyond UCL. We warmly welcome and strongly encourage the involvement of research students from London, the rest of the UK and other international institutions.
Get in touch with your Postgrad Urbanists Committee below:
Sidra Ahmed (Chair - PhD, UCL Geography & Urban Lab Affiliated Student); Zeynep Adkemir (tbc); Jhono Bennett (PhD, UCL BSA); Ragini Khurana (PhD, University of Warwick); Lubaina Mirza (PhD, UCL Geography & Urban Lab Affiliated Student); Joanna Sawkins (PhD, UCL STEaPP); Zehra Sertedemir (MSc, Edinburgh School of Art); Yichang Sun (PhD, UCL BSA)