Aim and eligibility
‘Wider engagement’ is defined as conducting and/or communicating high-quality planning research to audiences beyond academia. As such, this category is open to all individuals who qualify for the Consultancy and Academic awards.
The engagement could be with a wide range of public, private and third-sector organisations, and/or directly with the public. Such activity should contribute to a stronger policy and/or public understanding of planning.
This activity could take many forms. For example, knowledge exchange between academic researchers and research users (through meetings, seminars, workshops and collaborative research activities etc), briefing materials aimed at policy-makers or practitioners, the publication of a book aimed at a non-expert audience, media activity, public outreach, working with community groups and civil society organisations, etc.
The Award is named after Sir Peter Hall, to reflect his life’s work to promote the wider understanding of planning and to apply academic research to policy and practice.
Entries
Given the aim of the award, entrants should consider the best way in which to communicate to the judges the nature and impact of the activity for consideration. In some cases this may be a published article (in an academic journal or report) that describes this activity. In other cases, it might be a selection of media articles, blogs, the report of a meeting or event, and so on.
Entries that are part of a long-term programme of research are welcome. However, to be eligible for the 2024 Awards, the engagement activity and/or reporting being submitted as evidence must have taken place between 1 April 2023 and 1 April 2024. Evidence of activities of publications from outside of this range will not be considered.
Entries must be submitted through the online application form, with a (maximum) 250 word ‘research summary’.
Judging criteria
Entries to this category will be judged on the strength of the publication submitted. Entrants should use the ‘research summary’ section of the submission portal to draw the judges’ attention to these criteria.
- Relevance: addresses issues and themes of current concern and relevance to spatial planning.
- Robustness & methodology: evidence of an appropriate review of relevant literature and understanding of the current state of knowledge. Evidence of sound methodological reflection leading to the choice of an appropriate methodology and methods, depth of analysis and critical abilities in handling the qualitative/quantitative results.
- Outcomes: clearly presented results that achieve a better understanding of the subject and/or the development of new fields of enquiry.
- Dissemination and impact: implications of the research and analysis for planning policy and/or practice.
