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NEXTEUK

Knowledge Diplomacy Seminar - Cities as Sites of Knowledge Creation

When: Wednesday, March 9, 2022 - Monday, March 7, 2022, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Where: Zoom

This online Knowledge Diplomacy seminar series is a collaboration between the Goethe Institut,(Opens in new window) British Council (Opens in new window)(France and Germany), University of London (London and Paris) and is supported by ICR Research(Opens in new window). The second event of the series in 2022 is also supported by Queen Mary University of London(Opens in new window) and NEXTEUK (Opens in new window)project.

The series takes place in a form of online discussions that bring leading experts and institutions together to discuss how Knowledge Diplomacy is highly relevant in both academic and policy circles. This is an opportunity for academics, policymakers, practitioners and students to join an exciting conversation and exchange ideas linked to the emerging concept of knowledge diplomacy.

Knowledge creation depends on the social and institutional characteristics of places. Cities provide a rich environment for knowledge creation through the concentration of knowledge organisations within their borders, economic actors, individual leaders, and the media. At the same time, it is universally accepted that other factors such as norms, values, trust and social capital, affect knowledge creation, even if they are not specifically tied to a particular place.

Given that both accounts are valid, and that knowledge creation is a global initiative, how can the concept of Knowledge Diplomacy offer a framework to create social spaces for knowledge creation? How can the framework connect cities across the world and link them to global flows of knowledge? What can this mean for the current political economy of the UK and Europe? What potential do London, Paris and Berlin as centres of knowledge creation and exchange offer to address the many challenges facing Europe today, i.e.: the pandemic, climate change, demographic, technological and economic change?

The event focuses on the relationship between places and knowledge creation. The online seminar will discuss knowledge creation, the urban ecologies of Berlin, London and Paris in post-Brexit Europe, and the potential of collaboration for sustainable futures. The panel discussion will bring experts together with an audience and explore the implications for practical action and collaboration as we work through the effects of COVID-19 and start to imagine how the nexus of culture, education and civic governance will emerge in a post-pandemic world. In addition, the discussion will examine this renewed configuration and its potential to help tackle global challenges.

Speakers

The event will be chaired by Professor Ben Rogers, Professor of Practice, University of London.

There will be a panel discussion with speakers from or working in the three cities:

  • Paris: Jean-Louis Missika - Visiting Senior Fellow at LSE Cities, former Member of the Council of Paris and Deputy Mayor for Urban Planning, Architecture, Greater Paris Projects, Economic Development and Attractiveness.
  • Berlin: Benjamin Foerster-Baldenius - Freelance architect at Raumlaborberlin, Founder and Chair of the Floating University, Professor for Cohabitation at Städelschule Academy of Fine Arts, Frankfurt.
  • London: Jo Beall, Emeritus Professor and Distinguished Research Fellow at the London School of Economics, Distinguished Policy Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences.

 

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