Australasian
Early
Career
Urban
Research
Network

The Australasian Early Career Urban Research Network (AECURN) aims to become the primary forum for PhD and ECR urban-focused research in Australia and the region. We promote, support, and advocate for early career agendas in urban research. We work across institutions and disciplines to empower early career voices in tackling pressing urban issues.

AECURN’s mission is to foster research capacity and community growth among early career scholars working in urban fields. This includes but is not limited to planning, urban design, geography, sociology, anthropology, and architecture. We welcome members from these and more disciplines to create a strong network of urban research in Australia and regionally.

AECURN is supported by the Australasian Cities Research Network (ACRN).

We work across three priority areas which align with the mission and values of our parent organisation, ACRN: 

Connection & community

  • Create and maintain a network of mutual awareness and support 

    Create regular opportunities for face to face and online engagement, networking, and social events

  • Polling members regularly (one or two polls a year) to inform advocacy and communicate results of surveys through wider channels

    Identify, understand, and promote the many faces of urban research in the region: building a membership database of early career experts on urban research for dissemination to academia and media

  • Grow and diversify membership (and leadership) to be cross-disciplinary, inclusive, and representative - across locations, institutions, and backgrounds 

    Support leadership pathways through executive committee and membership rotation

Enhancing career pathways

  • Support professional development by organising satellite events and programmes such as workshops, mentoring, publication support, awards, and summer schools

    Address career precarity by raising awareness of aspects such as teaching only contracts, promotion, relocation, industry change, isolation

    Increase visibility of successes and impact of urban researchers (website, Linkedin)

  • Support annual flagship events: e.g. PhD Symposium at the State of Australasian Cities conference (SOAC); ECR Forum at the Institute of Australian Geographers conference (IAG)

    Organise and promote opportunities for financial support and recognition

Championing urban research

  • Amplify the diversity of voices of urban ECRs from across Australia, Aotearoa (New Zealand), and the region via online communication and in person events

    Collate and share research funding opportunities, grant support, interdisciplinary support

    Voice ECR perspectives and interests in the direction of urban research and practice within higher education

  • Champion diversity of research to advocate for the value of urban disciplines: planning, geography, sociology, architecture, history, cultural studies, anthropology, ecology, etc.

    Establish relationships with similar organisations

AECURN is open to any postgraduate student or early career researcher whose work relates to cities and the built environment!

Becoming
a member

Interested?