The Planning and Architecture Research Group (P+ARG) seeks to improve understanding of the social and environmental processes that contribute to and result from current economic conditions through an interdisciplinary conference on March 18th and 19th , 2011. While media attention has focused narrowly on bank practices, housing market volatility, and foreclosures, this academic forum provides an opportunity to tie these to overarching issues of urban form, natural resource use, culture, and justice. For the majority of the planet's population, these are lean years, but they serve to bring both ecological limits and structural inequalities into sharper focus. We are thus especially interested in exploring alternative strategies and policies that foster community empowerment, innovation, and adaptation.

In addition to the traditional presentation of papers accepted on the basis of an abstract, this is the first P+ARG conference that will also accept visual art and media submissions for a parallel gallery show. Questions? Please contact David Epstein davideps@umich.edu.