Cities in Transformation: Processes, Problems and Policies
International Conference, St Catharine's College, University of Cambridge.14-15 July 2016
Major cities are facing an unprecedented set of economic, social and environmental challenges. There is mounting evidence that cities are demonstrating very different capacities to adapt, cope with, and respond to such challenges and this is leading to diverse
and unpredictable outcomes. Some cities have grown rapidly, while others have lagged behind. Some cities have managed to adapt and 'reinvent' themselves and undergo economic resurgence, while others have declined. In the United Kingdom decentralization and
devolution of policy-making suggests that such differences between cities will assume increased significance.
The aim of this conference is to examine the different experiences of cities as they transform. The first part of the conference (morning of Thursday 14 July), will give an overview of cities in transformation in various parts of the world (e.g. United Kingdom,
Germany, United States, China). A central element will be the presentation of the first findings of the ‘Structural Transformation, Adaptability and City Economic Evolutions’ project (by Ron Martin, Pete Tyler, Peter Sunley, Andy Pike, David Bailey, Ben Gardiner
and Emil Evenhuis), analysing patterns of growth and decline in urbanised areas in the UK over an exceptionally long period of more than 170 years (1841-2014) from differences in industrialisation, specialisation, structural change and enacted policies.
The afternoon of Thursday 14 July will then be dedicated to a discussion of the implications for policies to address spatially unbalanced growth among the cities. The sessions on Friday 15 July are reserved for particular aspects of urban transformation and
resilience (e.g. role of institutions, implications of new technologies, consequences of austerity, possibilities offered by big data and smart city technologies, etc.)
Conference speakers include: Ron Martin, Pete Tyler, Emil Evenhuis, Ben Gardiner (Cambridge University), Peter Sunley (Southampton University), Andy Pike, Peter O’Brien (Newcastle University), David Bailey (Aston University), Paul Swinney, Andrew Carter (Centre
for Cities), John Holden (New Economy Manchester), Richard Kenny (Birmingham City Council), Harry Garretsen, Phil McCann (University of Groningen), Charles van Marrewijk (Xi'an Jiaotong - Liverpool University and Utrecht University), Mark Kleinman (Greater
London Authority), Lewis Herbert (Cambridge City Council), Ian Gordon, Neil Lee (London School of Economics), Paul Hildreth, John Tomaney (University College London), Rüdiger Wink (HTWK Leipzig), Robert Huggins (Cardiff University), Alan Townsend (Durham University),
Piers Thompson (Nottingham Trent University), James Simmie (Oxford Brookes University) and Raffaele Lagravinese (University of Bari).
Registration for the conference is via the website
http://www.caths.cam.ac.uk/cities-transformation-processes-problems-and-policies. Registration and Conference, two-day ticket, 14-15 July - £190. Registration and Conference, two-day ticket, 14-15 July, at Student Rate - £90. Reception and Gala Dinner,
14 July - additional £70. A limited number of en-suite rooms in College are available at £63.00 per night, also bookable via the link above.
Contacts for further detail: Dr Emil Evenhuis [log in to unmask], Francis Knights
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