PhD Courses in Denmark

Urban planning is, by definition, concerned with long-term, transformative change. Yet, the conceptualisation of the factors and dynamics that lead to such change remains limited in much planning practice. Transition studies can contribute to understanding these dynamics, and in recent years have increasingly turned to the urban as both an object of study and an arena for intervention. However, transition scholarship often lacks an adequate conceptualisation of the urban and the role of collective action – a long-standing focus of spatial planning traditions. 

This course explores the potential of an encounter between transition studies, Science and Technology Studies (STS), and spatial planning. STS brings a critical understanding of how technologies, infrastructures, and socio-material arrangements shape – and are shaped by – urban life. Combined with planning studies, it offers a powerful lens for examining how political, institutional, and spatial dimensions interact in processes of urban transformation. The course addresses both structural conditions and tactical, everyday practices, while engaging participants with three contemporary agendas: Positive Energy Districts (PEDs), the 15-Minute City, and Circular Urban Economies. 

For additional information, updates, and registration, please refer to AAU PhD Moodle via the link provided on the right side of this page.