4/6/2014

I am deeply saddened to share with you the news that Dr. Lawrence Alan Brown passed away peacefully around 10:43am this morning, surrounded by his family and close friends, at Zusman Hospice, 1151 College Avenue, Bexley, Ohio.

Larry was born in 1935 and raised in Erie, Pennsylvania to immigrant parents. His life and work reflects in many ways the classic American immigrant story of success. His father and other relatives fled the pogroms in Ukraine; and the family name was changed from Browarnick to Brown when they immigrated to the U.S. via Ellis Island. His parents instilled in him deep values about the importance of education and achievement.

A self-described “dead-end kid,” Larry initially aspired to be an auto mechanic which may explain his affinity for late-model BMWs. Instead of technical school, Larry went to college after high school because it meant something to his immigrant parents. He received his undergraduate degree in 1958 from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, with a B.S. degree in Economics/Business . He first worked as an accountant in New Orleans and then tried law school before discovering his true passion for geography, enrolling in the graduate program at Northwestern University in Chicago in the early 1960s.

The roots of Larry’s interest in geography were set much earlier, however, when he and his brother Ed travelled through Latin America, driving down the Pan American Highway in the late-1950s.  There he encountered an international development worker who shared Preston James’ book - Latin America (1950) with him—an event that Larry often recounted in stories of his early discovery of geography. His formal training began at Northwestern where he earned an MA in geography in 1963 and PhD in 1966. The renowned Swedish geographer, Torsten Hägerstrand, supervised his dissertation fieldwork on innovation and diffusion processes.

Larry’s seminal book, Innovation Diffusion: A New Perspective (1981, Methuen), provided the definitive account of the ongoing adoption and spread of new products and techniques. Earlier research had emphasized the adopters themselves, but Larry refocused attention to the social and geographic processes that supported transformative technologies, products, and behaviors.  Later, his research on mobility and migration offered new insights into why and where people move. His pioneering theory of intra-urban migration (with Eric Moore) in 1970 separated residential mobility process into two stages: dissatisfaction with the current home and the search for a new one. This influential work inspired several generations of demographers and  urban geographers who went on to clarify the mobility behavior of young adults just leaving the family home, the role of residential change in the upward mobility of new immigrants, and the way local housing markets affect homeownership—all compelling and socially significant issues today.

More recently, up to and following the publication of another important book, Place, Migration and Development in the Third World (1990, Routledge), Larry’s research sought to show how context shapes the relations among urbanization, economic growth, and population change in Latin America, Third World development, and  in US metropolitan areas.

In addition to these groundbreaking intellectual achievements, Larry’s legacy to OSU and the field of geography lies in his generous, strategic, and unstinting mentorship of graduate students. As a faculty member at OSU, he advised thirty PhD students in all, many of whom are intellectual leaders themselves today. He made a lifetime commitment to those who chose to work with him: following their careers, offering advice when asked, writing hundreds of timely, and pointed letters of recommendation; taking an interest in their personal lives, and being the go-to person in times of need. He had a special relationship with a large cluster of doctoral graduates from Korea, and the story goes that his sociable participation in karaoke sessions won him lasting admiration and gratitude. His hallmark departmental "pointer" was a very simple yet effective item to have people remember their visits, and of course, also came in handy in the classroom.

In a lifetime of professional effort he deservedly earned high honors himself. He was President of the Association of American Geographers, Department Chair (at the same time!), a Guggenheim Fellow, President of the North American Regional Science Council, and a Distinguished University Professor at Ohio State. In recognition of his extraordinary vision and leadership in the field of geography, the AAG presented its Lifetime Achievement Honors Award to Larry in 2008. Larry also worked assiduously to advance the many causes he championed. As department chair, he nominated countless colleagues for teaching, service, and research honors, as well as honorary doctorates. He nominated former students for similar positions at their home universities.

There were also sides to him of which few were aware. Larry had been a consummate golfer in earlier years. He was a very good tennis player and an excellent swimmer. He had an extensive collection of blues and American roots music. He was widely read outside the social sciences.. He felt things deeply and cared for people. And yet, those of you who know Larry will not be surprised that he spent the final days at his place of work: a corner office in Derby Hall with a window facing Bricker Hall where his light often burned late into the night. The hallways and hearts of OSU geography faculty, staff, and students are filled with reminders of Larry’s devotion to the discipline, to his friends, colleagues, and students.  His style and dedication to service has shaped the way we are today, and this lives on in the Lawrence A. Brown Faculty Fellowship.

“Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal.” The first floor of Derby Hall will be different without Larry. He will be forever missed.

Daniel Sui

Professor & Chair

Department of Geography

The Ohio State University

English version of the Meeting website is already available: http://www.reunionesdeestudiosregionales.org/Home-82-home

In attach you have more information.

Important dates:

Abstracts: 15 May 2014
Abstract acceptance: 31 May 2014
Paper: 30 September 2014
Final acceptance: 15 October 2013
Regular Payment Period: 31 October 2014
Extra Payment Period: 21 November 2014

By invite and organization of RSAI Armenian section and financial support of Gulbenkian Foundation honorable professor of Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam Dr. Peter Nijkamp visited Armenia on March 21th.

The purpose of this visit was to become acquainted with the scientific capacity of Armenia and to discuss among many things the possibility of bilateral cooperation with Armenian university.

During his one day visit professor had separate meetings with scholars of Armenian State University, American University of Armenia and Armenian State University of Economics.

The purpose of his visit was also to conduct public seminar on “International migration and regional development” for Armenian students and researchers in AUA (number of participants is around 40). 

With the culmination of the visit came an understanding of further steps that should be taken, particularly has been agreed that in autumn of 2014 with support of Armenian universities international workshop will be organized. Also the team that will be responsible for organization of the workshop and will be decentralized from any institution was created during this visit and is composed from scholars of main universities of Armenian. 

REPORT

From March 20-22, 2014 Peter Nijkamp has visited Armenia, with a view to the creation of an Armenian Section of the RSAI. This visit was a follow-up of earlier contacts established by Tomaz Dentinho. He visited three universities in the capital city Yerevan, the American University of Armenia, the State University of Yerevan, and the Armenian State University of Economics. The meeting was well prepared by the local organizer, Anahit Harutyunyan. Various meetings took place to seek for opportunities to reinforce regional science initiatives in the country and to come to the foundation for an official RSAI Section in Armenia. Several international workshops and teaching courses are foreseen in the coming year, so that the plan for an Armenian RSAI Section may materialize next year. Some Armenian representatives will also participate in the forthcoming ERSA conference in St. Petersburg (August 2014).

Migration Impact Assessment: New Horizons

Prof. Dr. Peter Nijkamp

Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam 

Abstract. Most countries of the world  are increasingly affected by international migration: either as senders of emigrants, receivers of immigrants, or in many cases as both. The composition of the migrant population is often very different from that of the host population in terms of demographic, cultural and socio-economic characteristics.  Migrant settlement is world-wide also predominantly concentrated in specific ‘attractor’ regions, in particular in metropolitan agglomerations of the developed world. The extent to which foreign migrants exert positive or negative long-range effects on the local, regional or national economy is, however, an underresearched topic in many counties. Broadly speaking, both sending countries and host countries have gained from two centuries of mass population redistribution and crossborder mobility is presently greater than ever before. However, in recent years there has been a growing backlash against the notion that international migration at current levels provides a net benefit to nation states. Migrant-sending countries are concerned about  a ‘brain drain’ of highly qualified workers, while receiving countries worry that the ‘migrant absorption capacity’ has been exceeded, leading to detrimental  economic outcomes and rising social tensions. Of course, there are clear parallels with the other dimensions of unprecedented global economic integration since 1980s, namely trade and capital mobility, of which the benefits and costs are also hotly debated. This paper discusses examples of a range of the scientific methods that are currently available to conduct Migration Impact Assessment (MIA). It also provides various case studies that may assist in verifying and quantifying the societal consequences of international migration. We define MIA as the integrated application of scientific tools to trace the broad socio-economic impacts of cross-border migration and related policies. Clearly, the impacts of migration go beyond the socio-economic realm and include cultural, environmental, political, spiritual and strategic issues. 

International Workshop on Irregular Migration

Marrakech and Rabat, Morocco

April 8-11, 2014

Organizers:

Amelie F. Constant (George Washington University and IZA)

Abdellatif Khattabi (Association Marocaine des Sciences Régionales)

Peter Nijkamp (Free University, Amsterdam and IZA)

Abdelaziz Adidi (Institut National de l’Aménagement et de l’Urbanisme)

Karima Kouritit (Free University, Amsterdam)

Final Program (download)

Information and Program of the Workshop (download)

The School of GPEM is recruiting a new Head of School, Professor in Planning, Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Human Geography, and Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Urban Environmental or Development Planning.

Applications for Head of School close 28 April 2014. Apply online: http://uqjobs.uq.edu.au/jobDetails.asp?sJobIDs=495813&stp=AW

Applications for all other positions close 14 April 2014. Apply online: http://uqjobs.uq.edu.au/jobDetails.asp?sJobIDs=495778&stp=AW

Dear NECTAR friends,

We would like to remind you that the deadline for the next NECTAR Cluster 4 meeting on Commuting, Migration, Housing and Labour Market is soon approaching (Friday 4^th of April).

This cluster meeting will be held during the 12^th and 13^th of June (2014) in Stockholm Sweden. Please see the attached call for paper for more information.

All questions about this meeting should be directed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Kind regards

Ana Condeço-Melhorado

NECTAR secretary

2nd Call for Papers

It is our pleasure to announce the 20th APDR Congress, to be held at the University of Évora, Portugal, from July 10 to July 11, 2014. 

Theme of the Conference:

Renaissance of the Regions of Southern Europe

The 20th APDR Congress has the main theme of Renaissance of the Regions of Southern Europe. In the recent years, the southern Europe countries experienced, particularly aggravated, the economic crisis that affected much of the western world. This crisis has thus helped to exacerbate the existing inequalities between the North and South of Europe. After several decades away from levels of development and economic growth recorded elsewhere and the considerable efforts in terms of regional development policies, the southern regions of Europe need to find your way. Thus, this Congress will seek to answer the following questions: What conditions are necessary for the economic revival of southern Europe? What is wrong in regional development policies pursued so far? How can countries of southern Europe to improve their levels of development? The boundary between Europe and the Mediterranean is a threat or an opportunity? How can Southern Europe take advantage of the connection to the South Atlantic?

Provisional Program is attached.

The 2nd call for papers is open and your participation is very welcome!

Deadlinefor Abstracts submissions: April 24th , 2014. Abstracts should be submitted electronically, using the platform available on the Conference website: https://events.digitalpapers.org/apdr2014/

All information at the congress website: http://www.apdr.pt/congresso/2014/

Looking forward to meeting you in Évora!

Maria Conceição Rego

Chair of the Local Organizing Committee

Dear colleagues,

This mail is to present the course "Spatial econometrics with applications in GeoDaSpace and R", which will take place in Madrid (Spain), at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid in May 21-23, 2014. This course is part of the scientific activities supported by the ECONRES Research Group (www.uam.es/econres) and financed by the METAGEO Project (UAM-Santander Bank). Prof. Dusan Paredes (IDEAR-Universidad Católica del Norte, Chile) and Coro Chasco (ECONRES-Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain) will give a series of lectures (14 hours) on spatial econometrics. The lectures are supplemented with special PC training sessions (4 hours). Applications to be presented are in economics and social sciences.

The goal of the Seminar is to provide the participants with a sound understanding of basic and more advanced principles of spatial econometrics and to offer tools for practical application of the methodology. Commonly available software products (GeodaSpace and RStudio) will be introduced and practiced in the PC training sessions. Please, find enclosed the course flier with more specific information. For ON-LINE REGISTRATION and FEE PAYMENT, you must select the correct option in the following webpage:

http://matriculas.fuam.es/matriculauam/Convocatorias.action

There are different fees depending on the following options:

Graduate and Post-graduate students from UAM: 75 EUROS.
Graduate and Post-graduate students from other (non-UAM) Universities or Academic Institutions: 100 EUROS
Scholars from UAM and other Universities or Academic Institutions: 200 EUROS
People from other private or public institutions: 350 EUROS.
Members of the ECONRES research group and the METAGEO UAM-Santander Project: 0 EUROS

Please, take in mind that prices will experience an increase after May 12, 2014.

We are looking forward to meeting you in Madrid.

Best regards,

Coro Chasco Yrigoyen
Profesora Dpto. Economía Aplicada
Directora del Grupo de Investigación ECONRES
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
28049 Madrid (Spain)

Telf.: ++34 91.497.3668/4266
Fax:  ++34.91.497.39.43
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
http://www.uam.es/coro.chasco
http://www.uam.es/econres
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Coro_Chasco

The Universidad Católica del Norte (www.ucn.cl), Department of Economics is recruiting two associate professors for researching and teaching activities.

We invite to apply Doctors and PhD in Economics and Geography. We will specially value the knowledge in the fields of regional economics, economic geography, urban economics, natural resources economics and economic development. The position requires a medium level of Spanish language. The applicant must 1) contribute to graduate-level teaching; 2) teach undergraduate courses; 3) ability to develop and maintain an externally funded research program; 4) ability to contribute to the department’s interdisciplinary mission with publications.

It is expected that the candidate will be available to start working preferably in August, 1st 2014.

Required qualifications: 1) a full curriculum vita, 2) a doctoral degree closely related to the fields above describe at the time of appointment, 3) letter of application describing research and teaching interests, 4) samples of working papers or publications and 5) the names and contact details of two referees plus the recommendation letter

Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled.

Any question about the application process must be sent to Dusan Paredes, Tel. 56 55 355746, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.