The Next Generation of Planning: A Year of Milestones from AESOP Young Academics

Abstract

This report provides an overview of the activities of the AESOP Young Academics (YA) Network during the 2024–2025 term, marking a period of significant milestones. It highlights the network’s central role within AESOP, fostering the participation of early-career scholars through major initiatives such as the AESOP PhD Workshop 2024 in Grenoble, the AESOP Annual Congress in Paris 2024, and the 19th YA Conference 2025 in Hanover. The paper also reviews the growth of plaNext – Next Generation Planning journal, the Booklet Series Conversations in Planning Theory and Practice, the AESOP Memories project, and the Regional Ambassadors initiative. Together, these activities underline the YA Network’s expanding international presence and its contribution to intergenerational dialogue within the planning discipline.