37th Annual Johns Hopkins International Urban Fellows Conference
CHANGE AND CONTINUITY:  Cities in Evolution
Edinburgh and Glasgow, Scotland June 9-13, 2007

The conference addressed the dynamic nature of cities.  Change in population, economic activity, social expectation and technologies are inevitable, often constrained by conservation, heritage and other forces of continuity.  The aim was to learn from Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Edinburgh (population: 0.5 million) is a financial, legal, academic and political centre, as well as a festival city, tourist and conference attraction, and the location of the national and local institutions.  The historic value of the city centre is recognised as a World Heritage Site, while UNESCO has awarded Edinburgh the status of City of Literature.  Immigration almost equals emigration -- although recently the new European Union countries have produced large numbers as mainly summer workers.  Change within the central area competes with heritage and conservation values.  Peripheral public housing estates include areas of multiple deprivation and extreme social problems, contrasting with the affluent quality of life in the city centre and inner suburbs.

Glasgow contains almost half the population of Scotland (2.5 million).  The late 19th century saw expansion through ship building along the River Clyde, along with basic housing.  Glasgow has had to change and find a new role in the context of Scotland and beyond in spite of loss of traditional industries and also population.  The river has been the focus of regeneration, displacing the docks.  Tourism is now established with Glasgow seen as the third most popular UK destination after London and Edinburgh.

Both cities advocate the economic benefits gained from culture-led activities and regeneration.

Reference was made to the contribution of Patrick Geddes to planning, social policy and the social sciences, along with an examination of successful creative urban policies.  The essential Fellows research presentations continued in the concluding session of the conference.

For final program information, click here (PDF)