Purpose of Working Groups

• Collaborate on research related to sustainable cities and landscapes.
• Build cross-institutional and cross-disciplinary networks.
• Develop shared academic outputs (publications, case studies, white papers, webinars).
• Engage with the host city and conference theme in meaningful ways.

Role of Working Group Leaders

Working Group Leaders guide their group’s academic direction and support collaborative engagement. Leaders contribute time and coordination before, during, and after the conference by:

• Setting clear goals and outcomes for the group.
• Communicating expectations and timelines to participants.
• Facilitating meetings, discussions, and collaborative writing.
• Helping the group turn conference work into publishable outputs

Before the Conference

1. Set Clear Academic Goals

• Define your Working Group focus in alignment with the conference theme.
• Clarify the main outcomes you aim to produce, such as:
  • Book chapter or journal article
  • White paper or case study
  • Webinar or other shared resource
  • Contribution to a collective conference publication

2. Plan Strategically

• Create a simple timeline for pre-conference, conference, and post-conference work.
• Consider pre-conference virtual meetings or preparatory tasks for participants.
• Outline expectations for ongoing collaboration after the conference.

3. Recruit Collaborators

• Invite faculty, researchers, students, and professionals who align with your theme.
• Use personal invitations when possible to encourage engagement.
• Share how participants can contribute and what you hope to achieve together.

4. Review Applications (If Applicable)

• Decide whether the group will be open to all or selectively curated.
• Communicate preferences and criteria to the conference host for the website.
• Notify accepted and non-accepted applicants before the conference.

5. Join Steering Committee & Leader Meetings

• Participate in scheduled meetings with the Steering Committee and other leaders.
• Use these meetings to coordinate research engagements and conference planning.

6. Coordinate Pre-Conference Activities

• Share contact information among working group members.
• Provide new members with an overview of the conference structure and activities.
• Organize an optional pre-conference online meeting if helpful.

During the Conference

7. Engage Students Meaningfully

• Clarify learning opportunities for students (discussion roles, co-authorship, mentorship).
• Foster an inclusive and supportive environment for student participation.

8. Meet and Work as a Group

• Use your scheduled time to make progress on agreed goals and outputs.
• Attend relevant field trips together when possible.
• Take advantage of informal times (meals, social events) to deepen collaboration.
• Prepare a brief end-of-conference report summarizing progress and next steps.

9. Present at the Conference Wrap-up

• Deliver a short presentation on your group’s work and planned outcomes.
• Follow the format and timing guidelines provided by the conference host.

After the Conference

10. Continue Communication

• Maintain contact with group members through regular check-ins (monthly or quarterly).
• Track progress toward shared goals and adjust timelines as needed.

11. Publish & Share Collaborative Work

• Work together to develop publications (book chapters, articles, white papers, op-eds).
• Inform APRU-SCL organizers when publications are accepted or collaborations expand (e.g., grants, visits, new projects), so they can help promote and share your work.

Thank You

Thank you for your leadership and collaboration. Working Group Leaders play a vital role in advancing the mission of APRU SCL by supporting meaningful research, student engagement, and long-term partnerships across the network.

Questions

Please email sclhub@uoregon.edu