Episode #27 of “Becoming a post-growth planner: obstacles and challenges to changing roles and practices” with Dr Sophie Sturup (Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University, China). In conversation with Dr Christian Lamker (University of Groningen, the Netherlands).
“What kind of humans would populate the world that is actually sustainable?” Looking beyond individualism and the multiple beings, we are, and we can be in the world. Explaining the dangers of conceptualizing ourselves as separate from everything else. Using insights from Aboriginal thinking in Australia to remind science and ourselves about exposure to other worlds and the imperfection of language. Each of us matters, and the collective is me – working towards responsibility as something we take on as a duty of care to others. Pondering on own pathways into academia, towards governmentality, transport planning, public-private partnerships, and post-growth. Calling for authority and authenticity to speak in opportunities of participatory planning. Post-growth planning is not just an idea; it is something we must actually do.
You might want to read or listen into the following works that are related to this episode:
- University profile: https://scholar.xjtlu.edu.cn/en/persons/SophieSturup
- Low, N., & Sturup, S. (2017). Being and planning, world formation and authenticity in Heideggerian analysis. Planning Theory, 3(2), 147309521770423. https://doi.org/10.1177/1473095217704234
- Sturup, S., Vaide, J., Lee, J., Kim, K., & Dou, Y. (2025). Everyday Urbanism and Digitalisation – Where Are We and Who Are We Becoming? Urban Policy and Research, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/08111146.2025.2472456
- Sturup, S., & Low, N. P. (2019). Sustainable development and mega infrastructure: anoverview of the issues. Journal of Mega Infrastructure & Sustainable Development, 1(1), 8–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/24724718.2019.1591744
This episode is also available on YouTube (channel: @postgrowthplan).