Centre for Urban and Regional Studies

The Centre for Urban and Regional Studies (CURS) brings together academic staff, postgraduate students and research associates involved in contemporary studies of urban and regional change. The Centre's interests are focused on the socio-cultural, political and economic processes currently reshaping the geography of cities and regions in Australia and across the globe.  Our research encompasses traditional academic inquiry, commissioned industry and government projects, policy development and comment, and community engagement projects.

The Centre specialises in high quality geographical and interdisciplinary research collaborations, policy studies, and independent contract research in areas such as urban and regional change, urban governance and politics, housing studies, socio-spatial data analysis, critical development studies and cultural politics of the environment. CURS also provides a focus for undergraduate and postgraduate research and training in urban and regional issues; it organises seminars, courses, conferences and community education initiatives in urban and regional studies.  It includes a community of about 15 PhD and Masters students many funded by Australian Postgraduate Award Scholarships, some with industry and government partners. Its student membership is a vital component of CURS' research activity and its vitality.

CURS researchers maintain strong relationships with researchers across the University of Newcastle, especially those from the Centre for Full Employment and Equity (CofFEE), the Centre for Cultural Industries and Practices (CIPS), the Employment Studies Centre (ESC) and the newly established Institute for the Environment. We also have productive relationships with researchers across Australia, especially at Macquarie University, and with others at the Universities of Oxford, Edinburgh, Hull, Dublin, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Singapore, Auckland, Washington State and Kentucky.

CURS also has applied research capability in socio-spatial data mapping and analysis underpinned by state-of-the-art software, computing and graphical equipment.  This capacity has enabled us to forge strong collaborative working relationships with the NSW Departments of Housing, Education, Health, Ageing and Disability, and Premier’s and Cabinet, as well as enjoying the support of local government agencies and of private and community sector organisations from the region.

We are also expanding our research horizons. In 2006 CURS launched the South Pacific Governance, Scale, Transformations and Institutions project, a multi-faceted venture that will involve the Centre in research activity and services involving a range of critical urban and regional issues confronting nations of the South Pacific.

Centre Contacts

Professor Pauline McGuirk
Director
t: +61 2 4921 5097
f: +61 2 4921 5877
e: pauline.mcguirk@newcastle.edu.au

Louise Askew
Centre Coordinator
t: +61 2 4921 5196
f: +61 2 4921 5877
e: louise.askew@newcastle.edu.au