Organization of the Project Work / Dissemination of Results

The project work is organized in a matrix structure of researchers and policymakers.  Main research will be carried out by an interdisciplinary group of research specialists from five continents (North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia), forming the so-called "intranet."  It is crucial to the project that policymakers concerned with the problems shrinking cities have to face from the areas mentioned above play an active role in the work.  These key representatives of national, local or regional planning and policymaking institutions will be involved as the so-called "extranet" of the project.  They will function as catalysts for the distribution and implementation of newly gained knowledge about community building and regional governance in relation to shrinking cities.  We will facilitate interaction so that members of the intranet and the extranet participate actively in the exchange of information via web-based discussions, video conferences and a one-day symposium at UC Berkeley on shrinking cities to discuss problems, compare innovative solutions, and develop recommendations for regional governance.

The comparative approach to shrinking cities, incorporating a broad range of case studies, is both unique and innovative.  The systematic dissemination of results related to planning practice, using an internet platform and selected international forums for discussion, will be an integral part of the project and will initiate a joint learning process.  We are organizing a roundtable at the 2005 congress of the Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) to be held in July in Vienna, and a pre-organized paper session at the International Planning Schools Congress to be held in Mexico in 2006.  Moreover, the research-based results of the project will be summarized in a book publication.