RSA Events – Event Report – RSA Annual Conference, Coproduction, Environmental Change, and Regional Futures
2025 RSA Annual Conference
Navigating Regional Transformation
University of Porto, Portugal
6 May 2025 – 9 May 2025
Report
I am grateful for having been selected as a 2025 RSA Annual Conference Bursary winner, which enabled me to attend the Conference in Porto, Portugal, in May 2025.
The annual conference created a unique space to expand the visibility and recognise the importance of geographical research on regional transformation. This year, in line with my research interests, I am focusing substantially on environmental and sustainability issues. During the three days of the conference, I could choose from numerous sessions and presentations under conference streams such as environment, sustainability, climate, and politics. I found the sessions I attended enriching and provided me with ample opportunity to interact with academics worldwide. Regarding my presentation, the conference proved to be an excellent platform to disseminate my research beyond US borders and Latin America, as I connected with academics and researchers primarily from European universities.
As part of the session entitled “Political Activity, Participation and Co-Producing Regional Futures”, I greatly benefited from the feedback received during and after the session particularly with refining ideas on the role of collaboration and coproduction between state and civil society actors in bringing about political and environmental change at the regional level and spanning both the urban and rural. More broadly, the research presentations during this session illuminated both the conceptual and empirical dimensions of coproduction and some of the current issues with its usage and application in the academic literature.
It was then possible for us to discuss future directions in coproduction research, how our research intersected and expanded our understandings of coproduction, and possibilities for research collaboration among the presenters. A lively and engaged audience contributed to the discussions and new insights, particularly by highlighting other aspects of coproduction that were not considered in the presentations or needed greater clarity. In light of these experiences, my 2025 RSA Annual Conference was a productive and collegial gathering that has connected me to great scholars and enhanced my research’s impact.
The author of this report
Dayna Cueva Alegría, PhD Candidate
Geography Department, University of Kentucky
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Conference Statistics
The Regional Studies Association’s Annual Conference 2025 #RSA25 was held in partnership with the School of Economics and Management at the University of Porto, Portugal. This four-day conference brought together academics and policymakers to exchange news, views and research findings from regional studies and science, regional and economic development, policy and planning. There was representation from 57 different global territories as we gathered established experts and early career researchers in the beautiful city of Porto.
The conference featured 750+ presentations, high-profile plenary speakers, several specially convened sessions, workshops, professional development and networking sessions, walking tours and field trips. The social programme included the conference dinner and a reception, side events, exhibitor stalls and post-conference tours to explore Porto.
