Space and spatial relations have gained importance in recent and current research projects, beyond the metaphorical disciplinary borders of (human and social) geography. The once dominant notion of territory as›container space‹has long been replaced by an understanding of space as a relational and dynamic phenomenon, both constituted by and through social practices and relations as well as having structural effects on such practices and relations. A diverse variety of social sciences, such as sociology, political science, communication studies, social and human geography, as well as gender, migration and border studies, acknowledge and employ this understanding of relational space. However, there is no consensus on how to analyse refigurations of socio-spatial processes employing corresponding methodologies and methods. The summer school therefore offers two such relational methodologies – Geometric Data Analysis (GDA) and Social Network Analysis (SNA) – and aims at equipping participants with the basic skills to apply them in their own research projects. The main goal is to deepen methodological knowledge as well as practical methodical competence in relational analysis of spatial phenomena and to support participants in integrating either methodology in their research designs. Additionally, we aim at building a community
of researchers interested in relational spatial analysis and to further the exchange of young researchers using relational methods across borders and disciplines in the European scientific space.

Schedule and Organisation

The first part of the summer school (12.-15. September 2022) will be dedicated to equipping participants with the basic skills needed to apply GDA or SNA in their own research projects. It is organised in two tracks (GDA or SNA), whose daily schedule includes both sociological and statistical lectures as well as practical courses on the hands-on application of software (SPAD and R). Additionally, open work sessions and one-on-one consultations are offered to foster the exchange between participants, organizers and teaching staff, providing the opportunity for participants to analyze their own data and to discuss their research projects (detailed information in the attached schedule).

The second part (16.-17. September 2022) is a workshop in which invited scholars will present their own research and discuss possibilities and pitfalls of applying either or both methodologies in relational spatial analysis. Two questions will be central for these methodological discussions: First, how are we to account for geographic and material dimensions of space in quantitative analyses beyond the mostly metaphorically used notion of social space? Second, how can we move beyond merely documenting the territoriality of space to taking the spatiality of the sociality and social processes into account? The two-day workshop will
give participants of the summer school the chance to get first-hand insights into current research projects using GDA and SNA, engage in current debates over relational spatial analysis, and discuss their own ideas and projects with leading researchers in the field. Participants are free to either join the workshop or only take part in the summer school.

Teaching staff for the summer school are Brigitte LeRoux, Frédéric Lebaron and Philippe Bonnet (for GDA), and Jan Fuhse and Oliver Wieczorek (for SNA).
Keynote speakers at the workshop include Frédéric Lebaron (Université Paris Saclay), Ronald Breiger (University of Arizona), Jennifer Robinson (University College London), and Mike Savage (London School of Economics).

How to apply

This call for applications addresses doctoral candidates and post-doctoral researchers from the diverse range of social sciences whose research focuses on or includes issues of space and spatialities. In your application (3 pages max.), please include:

• a motivational letter with a brief description of your current research project, and stating your preference to participate either in the GDA or the SNA track, and
• your CV.

Please send your applications to relational.spatial.methods(at)gmail.com until the 20th of June 2022. Fee for the Summer School is 100€. Traveling expenses and accommodation costs of participants are not covered. In case you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the organisers severine.marguin(at)tu-berlin.dehanwolf(at)uni-potsdam.dechristian.schmidt-wellenburg(at)uni-potsdam.de