Rutgers, with the distinguished Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, is a major institution located strategically mid-way in the Boston-Washington corridor that the geographer Jean Gottmann named “Megaloplis” in his path-finding book of 1960. This effort includes pursuit of synergistic activities between PASCAL associates and Rutgers faculty and students.

The Division of Global Affairs at Rutgers has recently approved a seed grant to (1) invite PASCAL associates to present seminars to Rutgers students during the 2020-21 academic year, and (2) fund a research project co-directed by Rutgers and PASCAL faculty at the University of Catania, a project aimed at developing co-operation skills among middle school students in Catania.

We congratulate Prof. Radha Jagannathan, Professor of Statistics, on securing this grant, and are grateful to Prof. Piyshimita (Vonu) Thakuriah, Dean of the Bloustein School, for her support and encouragement. Dr. Francisco Javier Carrillo, PASCAL associate at Tec de Monterrey (Mexico), has already delivered a webinar, “Beyond Smart, Sustainable and Resilient Cities: Urban Knowledge Challenges for the Anthropocene”, as has Judith James, University of Swansea (Wales) on “Learning Cities and Entrepreneurialism”, and Marius Venter, University of Johannesburg (South Africa) on “Local Economic Development in South Africa”.  Further webinars are being defined and scheduled. This programme shows that learning and the exchange of experience cross the Atlantic in both directions.

Our vision of the world includes the North America; drifting apart is not an option. Unfortunately, travel across the Atlantic is not an option either. We must use what tools we can to learn from Rutgers and contribute toward its community and international engagement.

Josef Konvitz
Chair, PASCAL Observatory