Introducing the first edition of The City is [Not] a Tree: The Urban Ecologies of Divided Cities in collaboration with Tshwane University of Technology, South Africa, IEREK is proud to announce that the conference will be held as a hybrid conference from 5 to 7 July 2022, choose to attend physically in South Africa, or online from the comfort of your home country.

THE CITY IS [NOT] A TREE creates awareness of the problems that cause spatial, physical, political, social, economic, racial, and religious divisions in cities. Architects, planners, built environment professionals, social and political scientists, economists, designers, and artists will come together to discuss the reasons for the divisions as well as to conceptualize an approach to heal those divisions. The conference involves developers, local authorities, and communities in the conversation.

The fuller conception of the nature of divisions in cities means that effective principles and strategies can start to be formulated towards healing and transformation into livable and loveable places, which are a ‘home’ to more integrated communities, cities, and a more just and unified society.

We are laying the ground for the possibilities of a new commons, new social and physical formations, seeking ways to work meaningfully for societal advantage. We explore the different kinds of approaches, tools, and possibilities that may be learned between different actors, knowledge, and disciplines.

The conference unpacks two possible conditions:

The city is a tree - the city reproducing itself (more walls, more divisions)

The city is not a tree - the city remaking itself anew (an alternative condition)

The ecologies of division shape spatialities, territories, and geographies, between or within nations and different groupings. The difficult questions and tensions lay and where do these divisions manifest? Do they manifest into borders, walls, buffers, and security? How were these spaces or lines socially or physically constructed, and how are they policed, maintained, perpetuated, or contested?

‘Place’ is neither exclusive to the building/object nor the space around it, but both are inclusive of human inhabitation, encompassing space for the individual and for society. How the actors who shape the built environment define it, is a fundamental component of human interactions and relationships. In divided and pathological societies, this suggests redefinitions and repurposing of what place/space could mean and could be. The (re)definitions of space as a first step in the making of ‘place’ and the forming of a sense of ‘home’.

Fuelled by systemic problems, the urban ecologies of divided cities appear as mutually constituted physical, psychological and social conditions. Socio-spatial realities remain entrenched in identities and the urban psyche without even much notice or resistance. The project is an inquiry into such intersecting systemic currents, but it is also an exploration of the imaginative and potentially creative possibilities which could begin to challenge either-or binaries and offer the potential for creative space. As a collaborative and inter-disciplinary project, THE CITY IS [NOT] A TREE is also interested in the imaginative and multi-stranded confluence of memory, history, and social and political contexts, helping construct new physical, social and symbolic ground on which to build.

The City is [Not] A Tree: The Urban Ecologies of Divided Cities will be the subject of an international conference to be held in Pretoria, South Africa, in May 2022, with a selection of proceedings to be developed into a book publication. As questions, analyses, investigations, proposals and provocations, some of the sub-themes of the project are surmised below:

• 1. Historical and contemporary processes

  1.1 Understanding how divisions are constructed, reproduced and contested

  1.2 Awareness of the division

  1.3 Reasons and formation of the division

• 2. New grounds

  2.1 Possible approaches and tools for facing the challenges of division

  2.2 Strategies to the healing process of division

  2.3 Solutions to lay grounds for new common, social, and physical formations

  2.4 Ways to work meaningfully for societal advantage

  2.5 Forms of resistance against division

  2.6 Bottom-up, grassroots movements for peacebuilding

• 3. Territories and taxonomies

  3.1 Ecologies of division and their effect in shaping spatialities, territories and geographies, between nations, groups, faiths, economic classes, and races

  3.2 Where do the tensions lay, and where do they exist?

  3.3 Gates, Walls and the Enclosure of Urban Space

  3.4 Urban Inequalities and Environmental (In)Justices

  3.5 Urban Socio-Economic Inequalities

  3.6 How were these spaces or lines socially or physically constructed?

  3.7 How were these spaces or lines socially or physically policed or maintained

  3.8 Understanding the both material and non-material borders through which urban division is constructed and maintained

• 4. (Re)definitions

  4.1 Effect of placemaking

  4.2 Human interactions with the place and space

  4.3 Redefining the purpose of place and space

  4.4 The use of memory work to reimagine the divided city

• 5. Questions of Agency

  5.1 The role of architecture and urban planning in rebuilding space

  5.2 How social movements reimagine urban space and place

  5.3 The role of art and creativity to sustain intercommunal relationships

  5.4 How different groups construct identities in the city

All accepted extended abstracts (1,500 words) submitted to the "The City is [NOT] a Tree: The Urban Ecologies of Divided Cities (1^st UEDC)" after the double-blinded peer-review process will be published in the conference proceedings in the ASTI Book series by Springer. Authors of high-quality selected Extended Abstracts will be asked to submit a full-lengthed paper to be published as chapters, as part of an edited volume, in the Book Series “Advances in Science, Technology and Innovation” (ASTI) by Springer after the conference.

The ASTI Book Series by Springer is by highly professional members of an International Editorial Board to ensure a high-quality publication material to be eventually published online and printable.

The ASTI Book Series is indexed Scopus and will be submitted for indexation in Web of Science (ISI) and  EI-Compendex databases.

If you are not sure whether you or one of your co-authors will be able to attend the conference, you should bear in mind that there is a fee to be paid for Audiences (Co-authors, Learners, and Interests). The accepted paper will not be included in the conference proceedings without paying the fee (see Conference Fees for more details). A research paper fee allows only one author, whether main or co-author, to attend the conference and receive only one copy of the conference abstract book in both hard and soft copies. Extras can be requested for a fee shown below.

Publishing in ASTI by Springer (Scopus indexed)                  

After the conference, the submitted manuscripts of authors interested in publishing in the ASTI book series will undergo a rigorous peer review process resulting in a final decision made by the editors. Only accepted research will be published as a chapter in the Book Series entitled “Advances in Science, Technology and Innovation” (ASTI) by Springer. The ASTI Book Series is by managed highly professional members of an International Editorial Board to ensure high-quality material for online publication.

The ASTI Book Series is fully indexed in Scopus. Some titles have been successfully indexed or submitted for indexation in Web of Science (ISI).

About the ASTI series

Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation (ASTI) is a series of peer-reviewed books based on important emerging research that redefines the current disciplinary boundaries in science, technology and innovation (STI) in order to develop integrated concepts for sustainable development. It not only discusses the progress made towards securing more resources, allocating smarter solutions, and rebalancing the relationship between nature and people, but also provides in-depth insights from comprehensive research that addresses the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) as set out by the UN for 2030.

The series draws on the best research papers from various IEREK and other international conferences to promote the creation and development of viable solutions for a sustainable future and a positive societal transformation with the help of integrated and innovative science-based approaches. Including interdisciplinary contributions, it presents innovative approaches and highlights how they can best support both economic and sustainable development, through better use of data, more effective institutions, and global, local and individual action, for the welfare of all societies.

The series particularly features conceptual and empirical contributions from various interrelated fields of science, technology and innovation, with an emphasis on digital transformation, that focus on providing practical solutions to ensure food, water and energy security to achieve the SDGs. It also presents new case studies offering concrete examples of how to resolve sustainable urbanization and environmental issues in different regions of the world.

The series is intended for professionals in research and teaching, consultancies and industry, and government and international organizations. Published in collaboration with IEREK, the Springer ASTI series will acquaint readers with essential new studies in STI for sustainable development.

About Springer:

Springer is a leading global scientific, technical and medical portfolio, providing researchers in academia, scientific institutions and corporate R&D departments with quality content through innovative information, products and services. Springer has one of the strongest STM and HSS eBook collections and archives, as well as a comprehensive range of hybrid and open access journals. Springer is part of Springer Nature, a global publisher that serves and supports the research community. Springer Nature aims to advance discovery by publishing robust and insightful science, supporting the development of new areas of research and making ideas and knowledge accessible around the world. As part of Springer Nature, Springer sits alongside other trusted brands like Nature Research, BioMed Central, and Palgrave Macmillan.

Click on the below image to learn more about the editors

The 1st edition of the international conference “The City is [Not] a Tree: The Urban Ecologies of Divided Cities that will be held in collaboration with Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) at The Capital Menlyn Maine Hotel.

Location:

Authors must refer to, and abide by, the following instructions in submitting their abstracts/ papers:

Step 1: Abstract Submission Process

- The author should prepare and submit an Abstract (250 300 words) through the website and before the abstract submission deadline.

- The abstract should clearly state the purpose, results, and conclusions of the work to be described in the final paper.

- The author should select the most relevant topic for the paper from the corresponding conference topics.

- The author can use/download an abstract writing template to submit the abstract file accordingly.

To download the Abstract Writing Template, Click Here

Step 2: Abstract Review

- Upon submission, an abstract will undergo a preliminary evaluation process by members of our scientific committee.

-A relevant topic of the conference should be proposed with clear writing, aims, and objectives of the study clearly presented and sound literature and methodology of the work.

- The author will receive a notification by email, within 2 weeks, of:

• Approval, after which they will be requested to prepare and submit their full/short paper submissions.
• Rejection, if the topic proposed does not fit the theme of the conference.

Step 3: Extended Abstract submission & Preliminary Review

Extended Abstracts:

- Should be no longer than 1,500 words and suits research that makes significant contributions and is either still in progress or can be reported on briefly.

- The structure of an extended abstract should resemble that of a paper and should contain its abstract, keywords, introduction, problem statements, and state the major issue(s) addressed, the potential significance of the work, the theoretical and methodological approach(es) pursued, major findings, conclusions, implications, and relevant scholarly references.

- An extended abstract will go through a double-blind peer-review process before inclusion in a conference proceedings book to be published in ASTI; a Scopus-indexed Interdisciplinary IEREK book series published by Springer.

- After review, high-quality papers may be invited to extend their work/ extended abstracts into full papers for consideration in an Edited volume to be published in the Series.

- The author should adhere to the deadlines available in the Important Dates section to be considered in the conference proceedings book.

- The full/short paper should be written in English as it's the official language of the conference.

Full-Length Paper (In case of selection after the Extended Abstract Submission):

- The Full/ Long paper submission is 6000 ~ 8000 Words in length.

- The full paper should state the major issue(s) addressed, the potential significance of the work, the theoretical and methodological approach(es) pursued, major findings, conclusions, implications, and relevant scholarly references.

- A full/long paper will be considered for publication and published, upon acceptance, in Advances in Science, Technology and Innovation; a Scopus-indexed Interdisciplinary IEREK book series published by Springer.

- The author should submit the full paper written on/ following the writing template and available through our online submission system.

- The Full-length paper should be written in English as the official language.

- The full/short paper should be written in English as it's the official language of the publication.

Step 4: Similarity Check/ Plagiarism Detection

All Chapters will be screened for similarity using iThenticate; a Turnitin Plagiarism detection software, used for academic publishers. Springer Similarity guidelines are as follows:

• Max. % from all sources: 10-15%
• Max. % from one source: 3-5%
• Higher than 30% (all sources): Reject completely
• Lower than 30% (all sources): Ask for revision to decrease the similarities  

To download Paper Writing Template, Click Here

Step 5: Payment Completion & Confirmation

Once Preliminary approval for presentation at the conference and/or consideration for publication is granted, authors will be expected to complete payment in reference to the Conference Fees.

Note: 
In this phase of revision, the research paper will be evaluated based on its originality, structure, and relativity to the conference theme. If the paper gets acceptance by one reviewer, a paper preliminary acceptance notification will be sent to the author accordingly.

- As soon as payment is confirmed and done successfully, corresponding official documents can be issued from our end such as:

• A signed/stamped preliminary acceptance letter
• Receipt of Payment
• Visa Invitation Letter

Step 6: Rigorous Peer Review Process (Full-length papers only)

Only after payment is confirmed,

- and the full paper submission deadline is reached, a submitted full-length paper is assigned to an Editor from the Editorial Board, in alignment with IEREK’s revision SOP (double-blind process).

- Each paper/ chapter is evaluated by a minimum of two reviewers, after which a final decision by the responsible Editor is made. There is no maximum to the number of times a paper can be reviewed, depending on the quality of the submission.

- Once a decision is made by the Editors, IEREK Editors will communicate one of the following three final decisions:

• Accepted without comments
• Revise and Resubmit – Minor or Major revision
• Final Rejection

- If modifications are in order, authors will be sent the relevant instructions and a deadline will be set. Missed deadlines may result in complete exclusion from the final publication/ final rejection.

- A back and forth process, modifications will be sent back to the responsible Editor/ Series Editor and another round of evaluation conducted.

Physical Attendance

Online Attendance

• University of Tshwane TUT Affiliates (Full and Associate Professors, Lectures, and PhDs) Participating with their own contributions (paper) a 50% reduction on conference fees.
• University of Tshwane TUT Audience members (Affiliated with the University), Free attendance (non-inclusive of merchandise).
• If multiple abstracts by the same first author submitted to the conference, a 25% discount is applied to each additional submission.
• Each research paper should have one main author who should pay the full fee (Author fees) regardless of attendance. Co-authors, each, have their own fees to pay to attend the event. This applies to online attendance as well as physical attendance.
• A research paper fee allows only one author, whether main or co-author, to attend the conference and receive only one copy of the conference Abstract book in both hard and soft copies. Extras can be requested for an additional fee.
• Professionals are categorized as participants who are not affiliated with universities such as practitioners, policymakers, entrepreneurs etc.

C. Extra Fees

*Authors may request that their kits be delivered, for an additional fee decided by the courier, and upon request. Alternatively, authors located in Egypt can pick them up from Cairo/ Alexandria office.

* For Full paper extensions, please check the Authors' Instructions Step 3 the part entitled "Full-Length Paper (In case of selection after the Extended Abstract Submission)"

Payment Terms and Guidelines:

• Authors who have registered and completed payment for virtual attendance CAN request a change to physical attendance. However, a change from physical to virtual is NOT possible.
• After online registration and payment, the registration fee cannot be reimbursed.
• Final Acceptance/ rejection of your full/ extended paper can only be given after the peer review process.­­
• Inclusion in the conference program, acceptance letters issuance and consideration for publication must be preceded by registration and payment completion.
• Payment of the registration fee can be made via the following methods (only after online registration):
  • Bank transfer
  • Online payment gateway
  • Cash in IEREK branches
• Contact our Financial Department for inquiries/ requests.

 A.Physical Attendance

Pretoria is one of South Africa's three capital cities. It stretches along both sides of the Apies River and extends into the western foothills of the Magaliesberg on the east.

It is Known as the Jacaranda City for all the purple blossom-bedecked trees.

1- The Union Buildings

The Union Buildings form the official seat of the South African government and also house the offices of the President of South Africa. They are considered by many to be the architect's greatest achievement and a South African architectural masterpiece.

2- Distong Museum of South Africa

It is a union of eight museums, seven in Tshwane and one in Johannesburg.

They have diverse collections covering the fields of fauna and flora, paleontology, military history, cultural history, geology, anthropology and archaeology.

3- Freedom Park

Freedom Park is a national and international site that celebrates the ideals of liberty, diversity and human rights.It is a cultural institution housing a museum and a memorial dedicated to documenting  and honouring the many who sacrificed themselves to South Africa's liberation.

4- The Voortrekker Monument

This massive granite Structure is located on a Hilltop, and was Built to commemorate the Voortrekkers who left the Cape Colony between 1835 and 1854.

-Airports:

-Wonderboom National Airport

15.5 km from Tshwane University of Technology/ 23 min. by car.

Address: Lintvelt Road, Doornpoort, Pretoria, 0110, South Africa

-Bus Stops:

-Tshwane Bus Services

4.9 km from Tshwane University of Technology/ 10 min. by car.

Address:  R104 WF Nkomo St, Pretoria Central, Pretoria, 0183, South Africa

-Thaba-Tshwane Bus Stop

8.0 km from Tshwane University of Technology/ 13 min.

Address: Stephanus Schoeman Rd, Thaba Tshwane, Centurion, 0187, South Africa

-Nana Sita

4.9 from Tshwane University of Technology/ 10min.

Address: 352 Nana Sita St, Pretoria Central, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa

Hotels in Pretoria, South Africa

1-The Capital Menlyn Maine, Pretoria, South Africa

Address: 194 Bancor Ave, Menlyn, Pretoria, 0010, South Africa

17.1 KM from Tshwane University of Technology (30 min. by car)

Phone Number: +27 12 942 5000

2- Apogee Boutique Hotel & Spa

Address: 212 Johann Rissik Dr, Waterkloof Ridge, Pretoria, 0181, South Africa

17.2 km from Tshwane University of Technology/ 24 min. by car.

Phone Number: +27 12 786 0740

3- The Rasmus

Address: Solomon Mahlangu Dr, Erasmus Park, Pretoria, 0048, South Africa

19.9 km from Tshwane University of Technology/ 24 min. by car. 

Phone Number: +27 12 111 9170

4- Protea Hotel by Marriott Pretoria Loftus Park

Address: 416 Kirkness St, Arcadia, Pretoria, 0007, South Africa

10.3 from Tshwane University of Technology/ 21 min. by car.

Phone Number:  +27 12 030 0420

5- Menlyn Boutique Hotel

Address: 209 Tugela Road, Ashlea Gardens, 0081 Pretoria, South Africa

14.7 km from Tshwane University of Technology/ 28 min. by car.

Phone Number: +27 86 100 7387

Outline of the conference:

The City is [not] a Tree: The Urban Ecologies of Divided Cities is an international conference that will take place 5-7 July 2022 in Pretoria, with Professor Amira Osman as the Conference Chair. It is an international collaboration to research, discuss and devise strategies to address the spatial, physical, political, social, economic, racial, and religious divisions in cities that affect the lives of so many in different parts of the world, including South Africa. 

The conference is a cooperation between Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and IEREK (International Experts for Research Enrichment and Knowledge Exchange), Germany/ Egypt, and the vehicle to build a platform from which we can deepen our understanding of both the reasons and the implications for the divisions as well as conceptualize a rigorous approach to healing these divisions and transforming our urban spaces. The objective is to involve developers, local authorities, and communities in the conversation to explore the different approaches, tools, and possibilities that may be learned from sharing between a variety of research disciplines and city stakeholders.

• Keynote Speakers
  1. Professor Geci Karuri-Sebina
  2. Althea Peacock
  3. Michael W. Mehaffy
  4. Ricardo Sanín Restrepo
  5. Ahmed Essop Vawda
  6. Magda Mostafa
     
     
• Guest speakers:
  1. Stephan de Beer
  2. Noeleen Murray
  3. Robert Krasser
     
     
• Workshops to be presented by:
  1. Michael W. Mehaffy and Robert Krasser
  2. Prof Stephan de Beer and Prof Genevieve
  3. Ayanda Roji
     
     
• Papers to be delivered by:
  1. Iting Chuang
  2. Dzumhur Lejla
  3. Rhena Delport
  4. Tin Ojo
  5. Davide Dimodugno
  6. Alona Martinez
  7. Ritika Rajput
  8. Jhono Bennet
  9. Anisha Meggi
  10. Prof Mauricio Unda
  11. Oda Maraire
  12. Barend Engelbrecht
  13. Daniel Freitas
  14. Bruno Fernandes
  15. Elif Es
  16. Wihan Hendrikz
  17. Jabu Makhubu
  18. Francine van Tonder
  19. Zaakirah Jeeva
  20. Noussayba Rahmouni
  21. Beisi Jia
  22. Munqeth Othmangha
  23. Stephan Winter
  24. Ayla Hoeta
  25. Maria Giovanna Di Bitonto
  26. Mariam Wagialla
  27. Linette Knudsen
  28. Kenny Chiwarawara
  29. Belula Tecle
  30. Paul Devenish
  31. Kirti Mistry
  32. Carolina Almeida
  33. Sonwabile Lugogo
  34. Jason Oberholser
  35. Ayari Pasquier
  36. Tariq Toffa
  37. Luciana Andrade

To Register, please click here! specifying whether you would like to attend the "Pattern language" workshop only or the whole event.

Contact Us

Conference support: [email protected]

Local contact (TUT): [email protected]