2010 PhD Workshop  ~  23-26 June 2010  ~  Georgia Tech
Extended Application Submission, March 8
 

Agenda [draft] and Workshop Application

PURPOSE
The Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning invites doctoral students in planning working on their
dissertation research to attend the 2010 ACSP PhD Workshop. This year, the workshop will be hosted by the
Georgia Tech City and Regional Planning Program. The Workshop attracts PhD students from planning
programs from around the world to gather and discuss the practical details of creating, producing, distributing
and consuming planning knowledge among scholars. Workshop participants will learn to conceive, organize,
and present PhD-quality research to multiple audiences, including, most centrally, their peers. Students will
advise one another as scholars pursuing unique research paths within a community of shared inquiry. The
faculty work mainly as advisors and coaches. International students are welcome to apply.

PARTICIPANTS and FACULTY
The Workshop is geared toward planning doctoral students who will be taking, or have recently passed their
PhD qualifying examination (or equivalent). Students will have several opportunities to present their work to their
fellow students and workshop faculty in large group as well as smaller breakout sessions. Students will be
expected to have submitted a short dissertation prospectus. The workshop will be limited to approximately 20
students to ensure adequate time for participation and feedback. This year’s workshop faculty will be drawn from
several institutions. All have extensive experience advising PhD students in multiple areas. This year’s
workshop faculty will include: Georgia Tech’s Michael Elliott, Steven French, Dan Immergluck, and Nancey
Green Leigh; as well as University of Pennsylvania’s John Landis.

WORKSHOP THEMES
The workshop will include both plenary and small-group sessions. Each student will make at least two
presentations about their research with the objective of gaining insight into how to maximize the impact of the
participant’s dissertation research. Supplementary objectives include broader learning about planning research
design and communication, enhanced understanding about the place of planning scholarship in careers and in
the advancement of our profession, and network building among young planning scholars.
Building Block questions of the workshop will be Why?, What? How? And Who?:

• WHY: What purpose does your inquiry serve? Why should others care about your research? What difference
• will your inquiry and results make?
• WHAT: What is your thesis or argument? What knowledge claims do you expect your research to support? What
• questions do you hope to answer?
• HOW: How do you expect to conduct your inquiry? How will you organize your inquiry? What tools do you
• need to answer your major questions?
• WHO: Who is the audience for your research? Will it be undertaken and presented in a manner that is
• understandable to your audience?

FACILITIES AND COSTS
The workshop will take place on the campus of Georgia Tech in Atlanta. A registration fee of
approximately $400 will cover lodging and selected meals. Students (or their home institutions) will be
expected to provide their own transportation to Atlanta, and laptop computers. Internet access will be
provided by Georgia Tech. Limited partial scholarships funded by ACSP may be available. Home
institutions are encouraged to assist students with costs.

APPLICATIONS
Applications for participation are due to the workshop organizers no later than 8 March 2010. Applicants will be expected to submit a completed application form together with a resume, statement of interest discussing why they expect the workshop to be useful to them, and a letter of support by their principal dissertation advisor. Applications will be reviewed by the ACSP PhD Workshop Committee and applicants will be notified of acceptance or otherwise by 1 April 2010.

DISSERTATION PROSPECTUS
Those selected to participate must submit a 5-page dissertation research prospectus or summary no later
than 15 May 2010. These will be distributed to all participating students and faculty prior to the workshop,
so this deadline is firm. In addition, all participants will make a 15-minute, 5-slide presentation of their
research on the first day of the workshop.

FURTHER INFORMATION
For additional information, check www.acsp.org after 1 December 09, or contact: Dracy Blackwell,
dracy.blackwell@coa.gatech.edu, +1.404.894.2352.