Faculty of Spatial Sciences research programme: TRACE

TRAnsformations, Communities and Environments

The field of Urban and Regional Studies, or more broadly Spatial Sciences, at the University of Groningen has a strong academic position, nationally and internationally, and is well-embedded in a wider range of disciplines, such as social sciences and technology sciences. Its relevance is in addressing spatial aspects of the key societal challenges and emerging technological transitions of today.

Our research programme is titled TRACE (TRAnsformations, Communities and Environments). Our ambition is to create scientific and societal impact by undertaking cutting-edge research at the interface of people, places, and planning in rural and urban settings, especially at local and regional scales, in the Netherlands, Europe and globally.

Our orientation

We have a strong empirical orientation, and focus on individuals, communities and institutions in urban and regional contexts worldwide. We encourage innovation and the cross-fertilisation of insights drawn from demography, cultural geography, spatial planning and design, environmental and infrastructure management, economic geography and real-estate studies. We collaborate with the four University Schools and with disciplines across the University of Groningen involved in addressing technological and societal transitions.

Our focus

Our focus is on linking academic knowledge with intended action and impact in urban and regional contexts. Research activity across the institute is underpinned by a clear commitment to inter- and transdisciplinarity, which forges innovative new directions for research. The Urban and Regional Studies Institute (URSI) houses a mutually complementary group of disciplines to meet the goal of enhancing wellbeing for all as envisioned by the sustainable development goals.

Our themes

TRACE focuses on three themes:

1) Transformations: spatial and institutional conditions and design

Cities and regions are rapidly changing in response to interrelated contemporary transitions and challenges. Our aim is to understand and support transformations in their specific socio-spatial contexts. The key questions of this theme are to understand the development of transformations, how people can cope with them, and which spatial interventions, planning strategies and pathways are effective for places to become more resilient, addressing the root causes of societal and climate risks, shifting systems away from unsustainable, unjust, and unequal trajectories.

2) Communities: wellbeing, equity and resilience for people and places

Our aim is to support people and communities, based on the integration of demographic, economic, social-cultural, and spatial knowledge. The key question here is to understand what leads to, and how we can support, wellbeing, equity and resilience for people and places.

3) Environments: socio-spatial differences and sustainable development

Our aim

Our aim is to understand socio-spatial differences and support place-based sustainable development in different environments. Key questions refer to the causes of socio-spatial differences and conditions for sustainable development on the local and regional scale. We investigate the (perceived) natural, economic, human, and cultural characteristics of a place that can make it special and/or distinctive, and how these may be the focus of civic, public, and private actors and activities, towards sustainable futures.

URSI distinguishes itself by using a wide variety of research approaches and methods. Our research approaches originate from demography, human geography, and spatial planning. We involve communities and achieve societal impact via participatory methods. Our research results in a variety of outputs, including academic articles, professional reports, policy advice, spatial designs, keynote presentations for different audiences, and knowledge dissemination and valorisation to societal groups, stakeholders, the private sector and NGOs. We thus aim to provide tailor-made advice and insights for different societal users, such as fellow academics, policymakers, professional organisations, and the public. Our aim is to support open science and to generate high scientific as well as societal impact, integrating knowledge and insights from different spatial disciplines.