Presentation tour to Nanjing

International knowledge exchange and the discussion of findings from own work with experts from other countries are key components of research and knowledge transfer. At the invitation of colleagues from China, ILS researcher Prof. Dr Thomas Weith was able to take part in two significant events in Nanjing (China). On 4 November, at the invitation of Prof. Hongyang Wang PhD (University of Nanjing), he gave a lecture as part of an international lecture series on the topic of ‘Planning Evolution and Paradigm Shifts in Germany’. The specifics and changes in the German spatial planning system were discussed with students, postdocs and colleagues from Australia and the UK.

At the 8th Conference on People-Oriented Urban Design, Prof. Weith contributed a presentation entitled “International Garden Exhibition 2027 in the Ruhr Area” on the International Garden Exhibition to be held in the Ruhr region in 2027. The two-day international conference at Southeast University, organised by Ass. Prof. Dr Xin Yi, facilitated an exchange with Chinese and European colleagues on current issues in urban and regional development, including the role of AI in spatial and environmental planning. “It is precisely the highly dynamic nature of spatial development in China that offers new insights into future paths for urban and regional development and provides important inspiration for our own work,” said Professor Weith. The exchange with China is therefore set to continue.