About

We are a group of scholars and practitioners working with Spatial Justice.

This network seeks to develop an international and interdisciplinary Spatial Justice community to advance the theory of spatial justice through the development of concepts and methods by which spatial justice can be explored.

This network builds upon existing (but limited) research on spatial justice, through the inclusion of scholars and researchers engaged in spatial justice research from across the globe. Through a united, directed and organised network, the goal of advancing the field of study related to spatial justice can be reached.

For the past several decades, spatial justice has been presented as a conceptual framework to understand and address the grave inequalities facing cities, countries and continents. However, while the concept holds much promise, the theory of spatial justice is under explored and the methods by which spatial justice can be studied are in need of development.

The SJ Network is envisioned as an entity that will develop conceptual and methodological innovations in spatial justice research through a collaborative process which engages scholars and researchers from around the world. Currently, over 90 scholars and researchers at 30 institutions participate.

The SJ Network contributes to the development of new research and educational practices that will expand the concept of spatial justice, bringing it into curriculums around the world in a coordinated way.

Specifically, the SJ Network will seek to build knowledge in the following areas: best practices for support of spatial justice education and practice; respectful ways to do community-based research using both qualitative and quantitative scientific research methods; research projects that are community inspired and of significance for communities of color and disadvantaged communities; and innovative undergraduate and graduate development programs and strategies. These activities will lead to a fuller understanding of the theory of spatial justice, develop new methodologies for applying/examining spatial justice and hopefully establish a mechanism by which spatial justice can be measured.

The use of interdisciplinary and international collaboration envisioned in this network results in the creation of a comparative model through which spatial justice can be more fully explored, and will generate a repository of ideas and methodologies for teaching, learning and researching spatial justice.

Steering Committee Members for the Spatial Justice Network (SJ Network) include:

Dr. Russell M. Smith (Winston-Salem State University),

Dr. Selima Sultana, (University of North Carolina at Greensboro),

Dr. Susan Fainstein (Harvard University),

Dr. Roberto Rocco (Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands),

Dr. Andreas Philippoulos-Mihalopoulos (University of Westminster, UK),

Dr. Andrew Vall (Oregon State University), Dr. Elise Barella (Wake Forest University),

Dr. Elizabeth Herbin-Triant (University of Massachusetts – Lowell),

Dr. Tony Reames (University of Michigan),

Dr. Paul Jargowski (Rutgers University)

(A comprehensive list of all members will be made available soon)