About Us

1. Background

For several years there has been a Geddes Institute in the School of Town and Regional Planning. In 2005, as part of the University's programme of promoting inter-disciplinary research, members of the Architecture, Geography and TRP departments were asked to develop a proposal for a redesigned, inter-disciplinary research institute which would lift the Geddes out of TRP and bring together urbanists from across the University. The first initiative of this proposed Institute, based on a collaboration between architecture and geography, was to sponsor an AHRC-funded workshop called 'Exploring the digital city: space, culture, politics'. Speakers and attendees at this workshop have been drawn from across the arts and social sciences.

Against this background, this document outlines a proposed structure for the Geddes Institute for Urban Research. The Institute's membership will be drawn from all academic staff, researchers and research students with interests in urban issues from across the University, and would be coordinated by an Executive Committee.

The proposal is underpinned by the following principles:

• To bring together disciplines with research interests in urbanism in order to foster collaborative inter-disciplinary research on urban issues of international quality;
• To bring together the different research cultures and research methodologies represented by these disciplines, in particular the social science research methodologies of subjects including human geography, history, economics and planning with the creative practice led research methodologies of the art and design disciplines.
• To provide a focal point for urban research within the University.

2. Aims

The proposed Institute has four main aims:

• To promote events and forums which bring together researchers and creative practitioners in relevant disciplines from across the University to share research interests and findings;
• Through such events/forums, to encourage and submit collaborative, grant-funded, research projects involving both social science research and practice led research, singly or in combination;
• To promote publication and other dissemination projects;
• To develop research capacity in the urban field within the University by encouraging initiatives for jointly funded research studentships.

3. Activities

The proposed Institute would engage in a range of activities that might include:

• The support and encouragement of grant funded and other research projects by members of the Institute by providing information about funding opportunities, feedback on draft research proposals, and help in the dissemination of research findings via a seminar programme, website and other forms;
• The establishment of a Geddes Lecture series, that would bring a high profile urbanist to Dundee to deliver an annual Geddes lecture;
• A Geddes Fellows Program, that would bring a high profile urbanist to Dundee to participate in Institute research and programs;
• A seminar programme for show-casing urban research to an inter-disciplinary audience, with speakers drawn from both within and outwith the University.
• The creation of collaborative PhD studentships, co-supervised by different departments, and where funding would be sought from a range of potential sources including AHRC, ESRC (including the CASE studentships) and from within the University.
• The development and maintenance of an institute website as a primary research tool, and as forum for debate and research dissemination.

4. Management

The proposed management for the Institute would comprise:

• an Executive Committee, comprising a Director and two Co-directors drawn from different disciplines in the University. Their responsibility would be to coordinate and facilitate the activities of the Institute, including identifying funding opportunities, a seminar programme, an annual lecture series, oversight of the Institute website. The Executive Committee would report to the Vice Principal.
• An Advisory Group, comprising approximately a dozen urbanists from other HEI's in the UK and overseas, which would provide advice and networking opportunities, and potential collaborations. This Group would be developed as the Institute grows. Such a group would also help raise the profile of the Institute nationally and internationally.

The combination of these two levels of structure would ensure that the Institute has a strong presence both within and outwith the University.

5. Funding

A key role for the Institute would be to seek out national and international funding opportunities to support research projects and creative practice in the urban field. The principle sources for this funding include the Research Councils and Art Councils, although other public, private, and industry funding will be sought. We currently have the AHRC funded workshop series. Similarly, the Institute will identify sources of funding for research studentships to allow recruitment of students for interdisciplinary PhD research. This is a key next step for developing the research base of the Institute and expanding its research capacity. In addition, the Institute would benefit from 'seed' funding to establish and maintain a website, seminar programme, annual lecture series and provide administrative support.

Professor Nick Fyfe (Geography)
Dr. Lorens Holm (Architecture)

22/5/06
03/11/06