Tag Archives: spatial planning research

National planning research awards highlight creativity and innovation

Posted on by

rtpi_awards_for_research_excellence_logo_300x208By Morwen Johnson

As part of our ongoing relationship with the RTPI, we were pleased to sponsor two of the categories of this year’s RTPI Awards for Research Excellence.

The winners have just been announced today and represent a showcase of high quality, impactful spatial planning research with clear implications for policy and practice.

Worthy winners

The Sir Peter Hall Award for Wider Engagement went to Dr Paul Cowie, School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, Newcastle University for his collaborative project, The Town Meeting. Developed with Cap-a-Pie theatre company, the immersive theatre piece uses the issues faced by a fictional town to help audiences explore how communities plan for their future. This is especially relevant given the new context of the changes around localism and neighbourhood planning.

Andrew Riley, Chief Operating Officer, Idox plc said: “Innovation comes from doing and seeing things differently. Dr Paul Cowie’s project, The Town Meeting, which has received The Sir Peter Hall Award for Wider Engagement, offers a creative perspective on public engagement and is bringing the complexities of planning policy to life for the public in a way which is new and exciting.”

Meanwhile, Emma Thorpe, a student in the School of Planning and Geography, Cardiff University won the Student Award for her research Getting Wales Active: Exploring Secondary School Students’ Attitudes Towards Active Commuting.

Andrew Riley, Chief Operating Officer, Idox plc commented: “The development of a new generation of talented young researchers is vital and we are pleased to be working with the RTPI in recognising gifted planning research students who are early in their careers. Emma Thorpe from Cardiff University produced research with impact. Her work can be used by planners to develop more effective active travel planning policies.”

Increasing the links between practice and research

Announcing the winners, Janet Askew, RTPI President said: “The RTPI’s Awards for Research Excellence are an important way of increasing the links between practice and research.  I am delighted to see that this research, often carried out in conjunction with practitioners and communities, really can make an impact to create better places.  By recognising this, we can show Government and the public that students and academics in our accredited planning schools are working on very relevant research which will make a difference.”

As the UK’s leading provider of planning and building control solutions to local authorities, Idox actively engages with issues affecting the planning profession. We are proud to support the RTPI Awards for Research Excellence and congratulate all the winners and commended entries for their achievements.

The Idox Information Service has also introduced a new individual membership offer in partnership with the RTPI which offers a 30% discount on the normal price.

Follow us on Twitter to see what developments in public and social policy are interesting our research team.

Idox sponsors RTPI research excellence awards

Posted on by

 

rtpi_awards_for_research_excellence_logo_300x208We are very pleased to be supporting the new RTPI Awards for Research Excellence this year, recognising and promoting high quality spatial planning research. We see our core mission as improving decision making in public policy, by improving access to research and evidence, and we are proud to be playing a part in these awards to promote academic, researcher and student excellence in this area.

The awards are open to all accredited planning schools, and submitted research and its potential implications for planning policy and practice can relate to anywhere in the world (not just the UK and Ireland).

Andrew Riley, Managing Director of Idox’s Public Sector and Information Solutions Division, said:

“Idox is proud to be supporting both the Student Award and the Wider Engagement Award. We have worked for over 40 years to promote excellence in research and to ensure that the latest thinking is accessible to planning students, practitioners and academics through the Idox Knowledge Exchange and its Information Service. From creating better homes and regenerating cities to protecting our natural environment, planners help make better places and these awards continue to highlight how this vital work is based on sound evidence and best practice.”

The Idox Information Service is sponsoring the prizes for both the student award and the Sir Peter Hall Award for Wider Engagement. Both these awards are close to our heart, as we seek to help those starting their planning career and support those wishing to ensure stronger engagement with audiences beyond academia.

The prizes are:

  • Student Award – One year’s subscription to the Idox Information Service and an iPad mini.
  • Sir Peter Hall Award for Wider Engagement – One paid conference fee bursary (conference fee and/or reasonable travel and expenses) to a practitioner or policy-focused conference (up to the value of £350).

The closing date for entries for all the awards is 31st May 2015.

You can find out more about the RTPI Awards for Research Excellence here and how to apply here.

The Idox Information Service has also introduced a new individual membership offer in partnership with RTPI which offers a 30% discount on the normal price.