I was selected to participate in the sixth Summer Institute in Urban Studies in Brussels, Belgium from July 7-11, 2025. It was jointly organized by the Urban Studies Institute (University of Antwerp), Brussels Centre for Urban Studies (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Stadsacademie (Ghent University), KU Leuven Urban Studies Institute (KU Leuven) and The University of Manchester. Many thanks to the local organizing committee, Dr. Kevin Ward, Dr. Greet de Block, Dr. Ben Derudder, Dr. Bas Van Heur, Dr. Michiel Dehaene, and Dr. Gert-Jan Put, and to the visiting speakers, Dr. Gavin Shatkin, Dr. Desiree Fields, Dr. Wangui Kimari, Dr. Katherine Hankins, and Dr. Ayona Datta, for facilitating an exciting set of conversations around critical urban studies over a week in Belgium. Below are some images from the workshop:

About the Summer Institute in Urban Studies (source: https://www.kuleuven.be/lusi/news-and-events/summer-institute-in-urban-studies-2025)

The Summer Institute in Urban Studies provides an opportunity to investigate leading-edge theoretical and methodological questions, along with a range of associated career development issues, in the field of urban studies.

After three Summer Institutes in Manchester in 2014, 2015, and 2016 it moved to a biennial footing, held around the world in partnership with other universities, with SIUS2018 taking place in Singapore in July 2018, and SIUS2020 taking place in Toronto. We are excited to host the event in Belgium in July 2025.

Generally, we tend to receive 100 to 125 applicants for each Summer Institute.

The Summer Institute features contributions from internationally renowned academics from across urban studies, from inside and outside of the host universites. The Summer Institute comprises an intensive, four-day programme of activities and is open to:

• doctoral students (usually post-fieldwork);
• post-doctoral researchers;
• recently appointed faculty and lecturers (normally within three years of the first continuous appointment).