Closing date: 31 January 2023

Eligible candidates: Members of ISOCARP

The Scientific Committee of ISOCARP plays a critical role in enabling the Society to present city and regional planners in internal and international debates and policy-making for some of the greatest challenges of our times. The aims of the Scientific Committee are:

• To assist the Society to remain at the forefront of planning thinking and practice.
• To provide substantive opinion that helps the Board and the Secretariat to continue to shape ISOCARP’s proactive and progressive agenda of sustainable urbanisation and territorial development.
• To provide evidence-based analysis that enables the Society to make public contributions to international debates on critical issues related to cities and regions.
• To support the aims and objectives of the Society as set out in its Constitution.

The Scientific Committee is appointed to advise on major technical planning issues with professional and academic integrity and competence. Members provide substantive opinion to shape ISOCARP’s proactive and progressive agenda, provide evidence-based analysis to enable Society contributions to international debates, and ensure ISOCARP remains at the forefront of planning thinking and practice. The new Scientific Committee will serve a 3-year period, 2023-2025. The Committee is tasked by its Terms of Reference (ToR).

The criteria for appointment are:

• Relevant scientific achievement and/or contribution to the practice of city and regional planning in one or several of the fields relevant for urban and regional research, planning and development including integrated and inclusive planning, localizing global goals, planning systems and education, planning in the Global South;
• Commitment to making a sustained contribution to the activities of the Scientific Committee in the upcoming three years;
• Interest in providing substantial technical support e.g. to ISOCARP activities including the World Planning Congress and Awards Juries and/or secretariat support to the Scientific Committee;
• Ensuring that the Scientific Committee is broadly representative of the world’s planners in terms of (i) age, (ii) gender), (iii) global regions and (iv) area of practice (local, regional and national governments; private practice; teaching and research).

Submissions of applications (one page statement + updated CV) have to be sent at the latest by 31 January 2023 to the Chair of the Scientific Committee, Dr Ulrich Graute AcSS

Email: chairscicom@isocarp.org

Terms of Reference

The Scientific Committee of the International Society of City and Regional Planners plays a critical role in enabling the Society to present city and regional planners in internal and international debates and policy-making for some of the greatest challenges of our times.

1 Mission

The Scientific Committee advises the Board, the Executive Committee (ExCom), the World Planning Congress teams and other working bodies in the Society on major technical planning issues, with professional and academic integrity and competence.

2 Aims

The aims of the Scientific Committee are:

• To assist the Society to remain at the forefront of planning thinking and practice.

• To provide substantive opinion that helps the Board and the Secretariat to continue to shape ISOCARP’s proactive and progressive agenda of sustainable urbanisation and territorial development.

• To provide evidence-based analysis that enables the Society to make public contributions to international debates on critical issues related to cities and regions.

• To support the aims and objectives of the Society as set out in its Constitution.

3 Membership

The Scientific Committee consists of the Chair and six or more members. The Chair of the Scientific Committee is appointed by the President of the Society, while the other members are appointed by the Chair of the Scientific Committee following the processes described in clause 5. The Chair and those appointed must continue to be members of the Society during their term of office. The criteria for appointment are:

• Relevant scientific achievement and/or contribution to the practice of city and regional planning;

• Commitment to making a sustained contribution to the activities of the Scientific Committee (see clause 6);

• Ensuring that the Scientific Committee is broadly representative of the world’s planners in terms of (i) age, (ii) gender), (iii) global regions and (iv) area of practice (local, regional and national governments; private practice; teaching and research).

Members of the Scientific Committee are appointed for three years. Members may be appointed for a maximum of two consecutive three-year terms.

4 Duties and privileges of chair and members

Chair and members of the Scientific Committee are expected to consistently contribute to the activities of the Committee (see clause 6), The work of the Scientific Committee is conducted through online meetings, internet discussions, review of documents and as far as possible in person meetings (e.g. at the occasion of World Planning Congresses).

Chair and members are expected to attend the annual World Planning Congress and the Annual Meeting of the Society which is held at the same time. If financial support for travel is available through sponsorship, chair and members are also expected to attend at least one workshop a year.

As with other roles in the Society, chairmanship and membership of the Scientific Committee is voluntary. The Society relies on members volunteering their time and expertise in the interests of ‘Knowledge for Better Cities and Regions’, and such contributions are greatly appreciated. Chair and members of the Scientific Committee do not pay the registration fee to attend the annual World Planning Congress.

5 How to contribute to ISOCARP as a member of the Scientific Committee

All members of the International Society of City and Regional Planners are eligible to nominate for appointment to the Scientific Committee. A Call for Candidates is issued every three years to all members of the Society. Candidates are invited to submit, within one month of the Call:

• A one-page statement (i) addressing the selection criteria listed in clause 3 and (ii) describing how the candidate intends to contribute to the Scientific Committee;

• An up-to-date CV;

• Evidence of any prior involvement in the Society, such as attending the World Planning Congress;

• A signed statement (i) accepting the responsibilities described in the Scientific Committee’s terms of reference and (iii) agreeing to be bound by the Society’s Code of Conduct.

6 Appointment and procedure

The Chair of the Scientific Committee is appointed by the President of the Society. The Chair of the Scientific Committee appoints members for the new term 2023-2025 after consultation with continuing members from the term 2020 -2023. The Chair reports to the President and the Secretary General about the appointment of six or more members to the Committee.

The Committee determines its own procedures.

Through the Chair the Committee provides regular reports to the Board, which may:

• Describe a number of topics of significant interest in the international planning field, in the present and near future which are aligned with the ISOCARP agenda and are suitable for a future Congress or a major publication;

• Identify distinguished experts and authors on issues of special or urgent importance, selected from the membership of the Society;

• Identify distinguished experts and authors on issues of special or urgent importance from outside the membership of the Society, who may be invited to join the Society.

The president and the Secretary General ensure that the activities of the Scientific Committee are aligned with the ISOCARP programs including UPATs and YPPs and working groups; and provide coordination with the ISOCARP Secretariate.

7 Activities

The Scientific Committee will determine its priorities and program, taking into consideration the following needs.

• The scientific/technical content of the World Planning Congress:

o Identifying themes for future Congresses;

o At the request of the Board, General Rapporteur and Congress Team, preparing statements regarding the theme and scope of the Congress;

o At the request of the Board, General Rapporteur and Congress Team, proposing keynote speakers, other speakers, and Congress team members;

o Reviewing abstracts and papers for the Congress;

o Drafting the Congress Declaration for consideration in the final plenary.

• Advice on and reviewing of articles for ISOCARP publications.

• Support for ISOCARP mentoring (including Mentor a paper Program).

• Possible other activities:

o Providing an opinion on ISOCARP’s substantive proposals, initiatives, dialogues, or roundtables;

o Providing input to articles and case studies;

o Providing support for flagship and other ISOCARP publications;

o Providing support and advice to ExCom.

8 Non-Compliance with the Terms of Reference

Members of the Scientific Committee who are not in a position to attend the Annual Meeting of the Committee, or who cannot be actively involved in the discussions and activities of the Committee, are expected to offer their resignation or may be asked by ExCom to make their position available for another suitable candidate.