CONVIN SA: Athens marks a new cycle in the research and study of Urban and Regional Development

The annual conference of the Research Committee 21 of the International Sociological Association (ISA) on Urban & Regional Development was an exceptional success in every aspect. It was held in Athens, 2022 August 24-27, at the premises of NTUA & HUA and at various points of interest in the city.

Established in 1970 and one of ISA's largest and most dynamic Research Committees, RC21's annual conference is a very important event for those concerned with urban and regional development issues. It is held either autonomously — like the one in Athens — or in the context of the ISA world conference or the corresponding world Forum.

The conference organized in Athens by CONVIN SA, was the first with a physical participation after the pandemic (last year it was held online with the University of Antwerp as the organizer) and next year it will be held in a hybrid format in Melbourne as part of the ISA world conference.

500 delegates participated from all over the world (163 from Central Europe, 140 from Southern Europe, 23 from Northern Europe, 21 from Eastern Europe, 9 from the United Kingdom, 37 from North America, 37 from East Asia, 33 from Latin America, 22 from Middle East, 7 from Africa and 3 from Australia).

The theme of this year's conference was Ordinary Cities in Exceptional Times with an emphasis on reflecting on what normality and exceptional conditions mean in a world that is moving at an ever-increasing speed, facing predictable and non-predictable problems, and how these situations can be regulated (policies) in different regions of the world with very different conditions, unequal resources, different paths, and history.

The organization of the conference in Athens was distinguished for its impeccable result, which is reflected both in the satisfaction expressed by the delegates, both in the level of multiple discussions (which is of course a given for RC21 conferences) and in the organizational aspect in managing the processes and flow of the large number of participants. Harokopio University felt like an ideal place to hold conferences of this scale and with an emphasis on the essence of scientific dialogue.

Athens does not say “goodbye” but “see you again”. It is certain that in the future the city will have the honor and pleasure to host once again the great international scientific event.