Doctoral School of Adventurous City
On October 18-19, 2024, Estonian master's and doctoral students from all disciplines interested in urban spaces are invited to participate in the Doctoral School of Adventurous City at the University of Tartu Library.
The city is a pool of people and ideas, public and hidden habitats, benefits, and obstacles of urban life. It is divided into neighbourhoods that embrace a specific sense of belonging. Some of these are connected and woven together, some of them stand in isolation. This happens both by building physical borders and drawing personal boundaries. However, at the borderlines between regularity and disorder, between animal and plant neighbours, between those living on land and those living in the water, the playful connections take place. Such connections in the city are an inspiration to play with urban life.
We welcome you to seek out adventures that help strive for a healthier and more diverse urban life and space. Let’s discuss the possibility of a new science – science of adventurous city.
The doctoral school takes place over two days, the first of which is an open conference.
Estonian-language conference open to professionals, students, activists and sympathisers, Estonian-English translation for those who need it. A poster session at lunchtime. In the evening a social event for doctoral school participants (a city tour and a joint dinner).
Workshop limited to doctoral school participants, conducted in English. A poster session in the morning.
Who can participate?
To take part of the interdisciplinary conference and workshop, you must be a Master’s or PhD level researcher in any field that relates to the study of urban life. Your English language skills must be sufficient to take part in academic discussions, and you will need to bring your personal computer if you’re selected to be a participant.
The doctoral school is for students studying at Estonian universities and free for participants, including participation in the doctoral school, meals, accommodation, and access to conference materials. Successful completion of the doctoral school earns 1 EAP.
How to apply?
To apply for the doctoral school, you must write a short essay or a letter of motivation expressing your interest in the urban space, clarifying your expectations from the doctoral school, and explaining how you can contribute to the interdisciplinary discussions during the event.
If you also would like to present a poster at the doctoral school, provide an overview of the idea in your motivation letter. The poster does not have to meet usual academic standards. It can also express creative thoughts about how the presenter's scientific discipline can contribute to the urban space, what problems or opportunities in the urban space it helps make visible, or in which roles and how you as a young researcher can improve the urban space alongside academic research.
To apply for doctoral school, you must send your application and motivation letter to Elin Sild (elin.sild@ut.ee) by September 6 2024.
The doctoral school is organised by the Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu. It is financed by the project “Cooperation between universities to promote doctoral studies” (2021-2027.4.04.24-0003) that is co-funded by the European Union, Centre for Sustainable Development of the University of Tartu, and project urbanLIFEcircles, co-funded by European Union LIFE-program.
