Annual Research on Cities Summit (ARCS) 8.0
International Conference
Future of Sustainable Urbanism in the Global South
School of Human Settlements
XIM University, Bhubaneswar, India
8 to 10 February 2024
On the other hand, local values, practices, and perspectives that shape the understanding and vision of sustainability in Southern contexts are frequently marginalized in global epistemic networks and policy discourses. This dynamic illuminates the need to focus on local ideas, perspectives and initiatives in these contexts; to pay attention to the ways in which Southern cities respond to sustainability challenges. It also prompts inquiry into how global sustainability discourses are adapted or innovated locally and the kinds of outcomes which emerge. It is vital to acknowledge the unique challenges faced by these cities and the innovative solutions they develop in response, including a potential resurgence of traditional sustainable practices. This Conference therefore seeks to elicit work which documents, explores and critically examines sustainability efforts in Southern contexts.
CALL FOR THESIS PROPOSAL
ARCS 8.0: International Conference on Future of Sustainable Urbanism in the Global South welcomes thesis proposals from final year students from undergraduate and postgraduate students. The thesis topic should be in the fields of urban planning, urban governance, urban management, architecture, civil engineering, geography, sociology, economics, public policy, law, and any other social science disciplines.
Interested students submit their proposals through the following link: https://forms.gle/
The fee is exempt for XIM University’s students.
The thesis proposal submission details are as follows:
CALL FOR PAPERS
The Conference tracks are structured along the typical urban systems (also termed sectors) such as housing, water, sanitation, transportation, etc. However, cities of the global South are rife with endemic issues such as informality, inequity and exclusion, fractured governance and poor capacities. Programmatic support and interest in digital applications also inform emerging sustainability efforts. Gender issues are less discussed but innovations for inclusive development are also emerging. We urge authors to explore one of these issues – or themes (SDGs and Policies; Informality; Equity and Inclusion; Gender; Smart & Digital Applications ) – within their tracks. The tracks and themes are given below:
| THEMES | SDGs and Policies | Informality | Equity and Inclusion | Gender | Smart & Digital Applications |
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TRACKS |
Economy & livelihood |
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Sustainable Infrastructure and services |
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Environment & Ecosystem |
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Urban Regeneration and Public Spaces |
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Settlement Planning and development |
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Urban Governance |
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Capacity building and education |
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CONFERENCE TRACKS
Track 1: Economy and Livelihood
This track will address the issues of economic development, growth, and creating equal, secure, and decent livelihood opportunities for all. It will answer the questions of sustainable livelihood approaches strategies. How does focusing on inclusive livelihood can lead to economic development? What are the various ways of achieving the same? What are the innovative techniques of income generation? What are the existing scenarios in the global south? The track is further divided into the following sub-themes:
- Economy of cities and its region
- Sustainable livelihood of the global south: approaches, policies, case studies
- Economic growth and cities of the global south
Track 2: Sustainable Infrastructure and Services
This track will look into the global south’s sustainable urban infrastructure (social and physical), like housing, transportation, delivery of basic services, and its management. It will also focus on WASH’s approaches, policies, and practices in the southern cities and its region. it will stress the questions of sustainable ways of transportation in terms of their social and environmental impact. How do accessibility, quality, and equity in WASH make cities clean, green, and healthy? How does a circular economy promote resource-efficient living? How is affordable housing contributing to the well-being of people?
- WASH in the global south
- Sustainable Transportation: towards green mobility
- Affordable housing and real estate in the southern cities: policies, impact, and practices
- Circular economy in promoting resource-efficient cities
- Case studies
Track 3: Environment and Ecosystem
This track will answer the question of achieving climate-resilient cities. What are the approaches, policies, and innovative planning to reduce the impact of climate change? What are the challenges and solutions in making cities resilient to disaster? How can the differential impact of climate change and disaster be addressed? The theme is further divided into the following sub-theme to answer these questions specifically:
- Climate-resilient sustainable cities- Adaptation strategies, present scenarios, and various approaches
- Disaster Risk Reduction: Practice and policies in the global south
- Case studies and best practices of inclusive resilient planning and management of cities and regions
- Nature-based solution for climate change and disaster mitigation
Track 4 : Sustainable Settlement Planning and Development
This theme will answer the urban, peri-urban, and rural landscape questions and their dynamics. Role of migration in shaping cities? What are the dynamics of the city region? What are the challenges in sustainable settlement planning and approaches? Exploring the rural-urban linkages and livelihood perspective. It is further divided into the following sub-themes:
- Dynamics of urban, peri-urban, and rural landscapes
- Rural-Urban Migration: Impact and Management
- Settlement Planning and Sustainable Land Use
- Rural-urban linkages and its dynamics in development
Track 5 : Inclusive Urban Regeneration and Public Spaces
The track revolves around creating public spaces considering beauty, quality, accessibility, connectivity, and resilience for sustainable urban regeneration. How is place making changes over identity, culture, and geography? How can we address the challenge of inclusivity in sustainable urban regeneration through place-making? Gentrification and conflict between formal and informal placemaking. It has the following sub-themes:
- Urban Regeneration: Social Inclusion and Equity
- Age-Friendly and Gender-Sensitive Urban spaces
- Sustainable placemaking: Policies and approaches
Track 6: Urban governance
Track 6 examines innovative planning and development approaches adopted for sustainability in the global south. How are the governance structure and policies in cities addressing sustainability? It will also focus on case studies, sustainable city framework, best practices, etc. This theme is further divided into the following sub-themes:
- SDGs and urban policy alignment in the global south
- Future sustainable cities- prospects and challenges
- Innovative Governance Strategies for Urban Sustainability
Track 7: Urban capacity building and education
This track will focus on capacity building of the urban planner, managers, and decision-makers. Why is it crucial to address the issue of capacity building among urban professionals and create awareness among the young generation for a sustainable future of cities? It will discuss institutional and human capacity-building practices, impacts, approaches, and policies. It will also address the existing scenarios of planning education in the global south, its issues, and what can be done. This track is divided into the following sub-themes:
- Capacity building of urban professionals in the global south
- Planning education for sustainable urban development
- Future of cities, planning education and urban professionals: approaches and strategies for way forward
Registration
All the attendees and presenters are required to register for the conference.
Registration Fee Includes:
- Admission to the technical sessions
- Admission to all Plenaries and Roundtables
- All-Conference materials
- An invitation to the Special event (cultural and dinner)
- Tea/coffee and lunch
- Certificate (only to the registered attendees and presenters)
Note: The conference fee does not include accommodation and airport transfer. Only limited accommodation is available on campus.
Cancellation Policy: The registration fees are not refundable in case of cancellation or non-attendance.
Registration Fees for Indian Nationals | ||
Registration Fee ( for presenters*) | Amount in INR Early bird |
Late |
Industry Professional | 4000 | 4500 |
Faculty delegates | 3000 | 3500 |
Student delegates (PG & Above) | 2000 | 2500 |
Student delegates (UG) | 1200 | 1500 |
Thesis Presentation | ||
Student delegates (PG & RS) | 2000 | 2500 |
Student delegates (UG) | 1200 | 1500 |
Accompanying person | ||
Accompanying person with the presenter but not presenting (will receive only participation certificate) | 1000 | 1500 |
NRI and Foreign Nationals | ||
International delegates | 6000 | 7000 |
*If multiple authors are presenting the paper, each author has to register separately as a presenter to avail the presenter certificate.
NOTE: Author/co-authors not attending the conference in person will not receive any certificate. Please do not email requesting a certificate post-conference.
Important Dates
Submission deadline for abstracts | 31st December 2023 |
Notification of abstract acceptance | 5th January 2024 |
Early Bird Registration deadline | 10th January 2024 |
Late Registration Deadline | 22nd January 2024 |
The Conference | 8-10 February 2024 |
Important Links
Abstract (800- 1200 words) may be submitted to: https://forms.gle/wEsqSc97yUfiGe4C6
Abstract template for submission: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FSt3LKQDWS7MCkmrON-csr6LXOS88mDv/edit?
All inquiries may be sent to: xu-arcs@xim.edu.in
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