For the third year running, RTPI ran an online planning conference to mark World Town Planning Day, linking up with planning organisations round the world.

This year we were joined by the South African Council of Planners and FIU which represents planners in Spain, Portugal and Latin America. Gratifyingly, that extended the audience to new countries and we had over 80 participants from 14 countries.

• Management and development of public space

The theme this year was use, management and development of public space. Alison Brown of Cardiff University set the tone with her clear and challenging keynote speech about 'contested space', for example, kerbs and roadsides used for street trading. Along the way we looked at play-spaces, urban gardening (echoes of last year's conference topic, food and planning), forestry and nature, community engagement, creating pedestrian areas, public art and - inevitably - the use of open spaces for public protest.

Pictured right: public protest in Bristol

• Why an online conference?

Online conference offer professional updates and discussion without international travel. Put on the headphones, click on the Connect button and you are 'in the room'. You hear the speakers, watch their slides, type a question or comment in the Chat box for all to read, or 'raise your hand' to be given the microphone to say it out loud. Chatting to your neighbour in the audience in a physical conference is not the done thing - but in an online conference it is positively encouraged. As you think of a local example of something the speaker has mentioned, type in a web link or a book title and all can see it.  Missed a session? Listen to the recording, uploaded as soon as the session finishes. Can't attend a conference in working hours? The online conference runs through the night to be fair to participants in distant time-zones. The cost of the conference is low ($10 for students and those in low-income countries, maximum $50 in rich countries) and the atmosphere in them is without fail friendly and collaborative. 

Click here for more information about the International Development Network.

Author:

James Butler

Publisher:

The Royal Town Planning Institute

Date:

08-Nov-11

Categories:

 

Sections:

News & Media

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