The Regional Studies Association announces opening of a new US Project Office in collaboration with UCLA

The Regional Studies Association (RSA), the leading international learned society in the field of regional studies, announces opening a new US Project Office in collaboration with the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA).

Professor Lois Takahashi, Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies, Luskin School of Public Affairs, UCLA has been appointed to lead a team of two, Dr Beth Tamayose and Taner Osman in a project including the mapping regional studies and science in North America. Lois says “We are delighted to work with the RSA on this important project. Deliverables will include not only events and publications but also development of knowledge exchange between the worlds of academia, policy and practice. We hope it will also foster more cross Atlantic collaboration on key research questions.”

The new Office expands on RSA’s long-standing ability to support the work of students, early career researchers, academics and practitioners in advancing the field of regional studies and regional science and in connecting evidence-based research to policy and practice. “The fast growing number of members, the geographical spread and the interdisciplinary of the fields covered under the umbrella of regional studies, has encouraged RSA  to commit important resources in this project and to embark upon and embrace this new enterprise” said Professor David Bailey,Chair of the Association.

“We are confident that the new Office will be a great asset to the Association and its international members” said Sally Hardy, Chief Executive of the Association. “During the planning and the launch of this initiative the Associationhave received great support and encouragement from the whole international community of regional studies andregional science” continues Sally.

The main deliverables linked to the US Office, which include the mapping of key assets, and the identification of key themes and trends in regional studies and regional science in the American continent, fully reflect the ambitious goals set out in the 2008-2013 Association Development Plan. The Association has a reputation for never failing to deliver very complex international projects. The US project builds on the success and experience of the Association and contributes to its unprecedented growth, which will culminate in the 2013 RSA Annual International conference, which will be held in the United States

Regional Studies Association,

PO Box 2058, Seaford, BN25 4QU, United Kingdom

Tel: 00 44 (0)1323 899 698 – Fax: 00 44 (0)1323 899 798

Email: rsa@regionalstudies.org – www.regionalstudies.org

Reg. Charity No. 1084165 – Reg. in England and Wales No. 4116288