African Centre for Cities

NEW ARTICLE | When Trans met Discipline: scenes from an arranged marriage In this article, Rike Sitas and heeten bhagat take on a playful troubling in what they observe as a limitation of the scope of transdisciplinary work. Their provocation starts with an imagined facilitated session – masquerading as couples therapy – between Trans and Discipline. They imagine Trans and Discipline as individual entities that have been put together to attend to a growing sense of incomprehension about academically produced knowledge. This article is part of the Global Social Challenges Journal's special collection. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/dQXkY-u2

HAPPENING TODAY | How does planning ease or entrench urban violence? ACC Director, Edgar Pieterse, will be part of this important conversation that puts reflections on violence at the centre of urban development planning. Alongside the brilliant Kamna Patel and Caroline Moser, Edgar will reflect on 'Violence as Atmosphere '. Questions to be explored include: How do planners enact violence? What is the difference between urban violence and violence in cities? Is addressing violence central to better planning? WHEN | Thurs, 20 March 2025 TIME | 16:30 GMT | 18:30 SAST WHERE | Register on Zoom to join the discussion: https://lnkd.in/gcJ_FiQ8 The seminar series is organised by The Bartlett Development Planning Unit, UCL.

INFO SESSION | DAAD x MPhil Urban Studies Scholarship Are you interested in applying for the DAAD 2026 In-Region scholarship and need more info about the MPhil Southern Urbanism programme offered at University of Cape Town? Join our info session with course convenor, Dr Anna Selmeczi for an overview of the programme structure, teaching approach and entry requirements. There'll be an opportunity to ask questions about the MPhil. WHEN | Thurs, 20 March 2025 TIME | 09:00 GMT | 11:00 SAST WHERE | Register on Zoom https://lnkd.in/dw8AsBCV

WEBINAR | "Transitioning towards a regenerative built environment" Yes: the built environment accounts for 40% of CO2 emissions, 60% of resource use, and 50% of global waste. And yes: with urban population expected to increase by 2.2 billion by 2050, the doubling of building stock could consume 3/4 of the carbon budget required to meet the 1.5°C target of the Paris Agreement. So, how can we shift toward a regenerative future? Join Bauhaus Earth and project partners for two insightful webinars on "Transitioning Towards a Regenerative Built Environment" this March. 🇿🇦 ”Insights from Cape Town and Beyond” 📅 20 March 2025, 2.30 – 4 pm CET / 3.30 - 5 pm SAST 🎤 Speakers: Dr Gediminas Lesutis (Bauhaus Earth), Johanna Westermann (Independent Researcher/Urban Designer), Noella Nibakuze (MASS Design Group) and Prof Edgar Pieterse (African Centre for Cities) 🎙️ Moderation: Prof. Andrew Boraine 🌍 ”Innovations from Global Cities” A spotlight on global case studies and policy frameworks to inform city-level initiatives worldwide. 📅 26 March 2025, 11.30 am – 1.00 pm CET / 12.30 - 2.00 pm SAST 🎤 Speakers: Dr Dr Gediminas Lesutis (Bauhaus Earth), Johanna Westermann (Independent Researcher/Urban Designer), Erica Udas (ICIMOD), N.N. (TBC) 🎙️Moderation: Prof. Dr. Philipp Misselwitz (Bauhaus Earth) Register here: https://lnkd.in/eGDnuUkC The Changemaker’s Guide is supported by Toni Piëch Foundation #ChangeAgents #Changemakers #ClimateAction #UrbanDevelopment #RegenerativeArchitecture #CircularEconomy #FutureOfConstruction #RealEstate #BauhausEarth #BauhausErde

ICYMI | DAAD In-Region Scholarship Info Session If you're interested in applying for the MPhil Urban Studies - Southern Urbanism scholarship and have questions about the application process, join DAAD South Africa's info session this morning (10:00 CET / 11:00 SAST). MS Teams link: https://bit.ly/43PeN86

BROWNBAG | Sustainable Fashion & Textiles in Africa In Cape Town? Join us on Thursday as we host Dr Lauren England for our first brownbag of the year. A Creative Economies lecturer at King's College London, Lauren will present initial reflections from an ongoing pilot research project on sustainable fashion and textile manufacturing in Kenya and South Africa. The project is a collaboration with Ogake Mosomi (University of Nairobi) and Prof Jen Snowball (Rhodes University). The session will be moderated by ACC's Laura A. Nkula. Brownbag seminars have been great platforms for researchers and visiting scholars to share their current projects and get feedback from colleagues. https://lnkd.in/d3mbV_dy

🌟 Celebrating the Women of the African Centre for Cities 🌟 Today, we take a moment to honor and celebrate the incredible women who make the African Centre for Cities such a dynamic, innovative, and impactful institution. From the dedicated admin and support staff who ensure everything runs smoothly behind the scenes to the brilliant researchers and teaching staff who contribute to transformative knowledge and solutions, you all are at the heart of our success. Your hard work, commitment, and passion shape the work we do and the future we strive towards. Whether it's driving groundbreaking research, offering invaluable support, or guiding the next generation of urban leaders, each one of you plays an essential role in making the Centre the thriving community it is. Thank you for your unwavering dedication and for continually pushing the boundaries of excellence. Your contributions make all the difference, and we are incredibly proud to work alongside such talented, inspiring women. #WomenInLeadership #WomenInResearch #WomenInAcademia #GenderEquality #AfricanCentreForCities #WomenAtWork #ThankYou

ICYMI | The Promise of Planning Book Launch Join us next Monday evening as we host Philip Harrison and Alison Todes for the launch of their latest book, The Promise of Planning: Global Aspirations and South African Experience Since 2008. Alongside discussants, Edgar Pieterse and Sue Parnell, we will reflect on planning as an increasingly complex and diverse governmental practice within a perpetually changing world. Limited copies of the book will be on sale at a discounted price of R500. You may reserve your copy via the email on the poster. https://lnkd.in/d3aYxS7e

Finally it is here, our own journal for URBAN POLITICAL ECOLOGY! Several of my colleagues are involved in this important development of UPE. Two of my former postdocs and collaborators, Wangui Kimari and Suraya Scheba are Associated Editors, together with Tait Mandler and Creighton Connolly, alongside Yannis Tzaninis who is Editor-in-Chief. Founding editors are UPE-stalwarts Maria Kaika and Roger Keil. I have myself joined the editorial board, alongside a range of excellent scholars in our field, several with whom I have had great collaborations with over the years. Anybody interested in Urban Political Ecology and wants to contribute and grow the field, publish here! Go and check it out here: https://lnkd.in/d8Ek3wy8 *And a QUIZ!* Here is a quick selection of important publishing dates in the development of UPE: 1996, 2005, 2006, 2014, 2019, 2023, 2025... There is two articles, the rest are monographs, reviews or edited volumes. What are the titles? (There are of course many more.)

SCHOLARSHIP | DAAD Call for Scholarship Applications 2026 The African Centre for Cities, through DAAD South Africa, is calling for scholarship applications for 2026. DAAD are offering five In-Region Scholarships for students from Sub-Saharan Africa who enrol for the MPhil in Urban Studies – Southern Urbanism programme at the University of Cape Town. The MPhil Urban Studies - Southern Urbanism is a full-time programme at UCT, completed over 18 - 24 months. It offers scholars an opportunity to explore urban studies from African and global southern perspectives. Key dates to diarise: - DAAD Info Session: 13 March 2025 - MPhil Info Session by programme convener: 20 March 2025 - Application deadline: 09 April 2025 https://lnkd.in/dJCmnysP