plaNext in transition: A decade of young academic publishing in planning (2015–2025) – Insights and futures

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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24306/plnxt/109

Keywords:

spatial planning, inclusive research, emerging scholars publishing, interdisciplinary planning futures, editorial transition

Abstract

This article reflects on the ten-year journey of plaNext – Next Generation Planning, an open-access, peer-reviewed journal initiated by the AESOP Young Academics Network (AESOP-YAN). First published in 2015, plaNext has served as a platform for early-career researchers to engage in planning debates, publish their work, and foster professional development. As the journal approaches its tenth anniversary, this reflection examines its history, legacy, and future directions, highlighting its role in promoting inclusive, critical, and innovative scholarship in the field of planning. Over the past decade, plaNext has evolved into a dynamic forum that publishes diverse contributions, fosters international dialogues, and challenges conventional planning paradigms. The journal’s commitment to promoting interdisciplinary dialogues is evident in its eclectic range of published works, encompassing empirical research, theoretical discussions, innovative methodologies, and critical case studies. This breadth reflects plaNext’s mission to serve as a conduit for creative and socially responsive planning research. As the journal evolved, it remained steadfast in its dedication to nurturing the professional development of young academics by providing opportunities for early-career researchers to engage in editorial processes, peer review, and scholarly debates. As plaNext transitions to a new editorial board, this article offers a comprehensive overview of its evolution and impact. Drawing on the journal’s trajectory and broader shifts in planning scholarship, the discussion highlights the critical role of platforms like plaNext in shaping the discipline’s future.

Published

2025-08-18

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OnlineFirst

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Essay

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Copyright (c) 2024 Asma Mehan

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Author Biography

Asma Mehan, Editor in Chief of plaNext – Next Generation Planning; Architectural Humanities and Urbanism Lab (AHU_Lab), Huckabee College of Architecture, Texas Tech University, USA

Asma Mehan is an Assistant Professor at the Huckabee College of Architecture, Texas Tech University, USA, where she also directs the Architectural Humanities and Urbanism Lab (AHU_Lab). She currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of plaNext. Dr. Mehan has authored three books and edited two volumes. Her debut, Kuala Lumpur: Community, Infrastructure, and Urban Inclusivity (Routledge, 2020), explores how infrastructure shapes social equity in the Malaysian metropolis. She followed this with Tehran: From Sacred to Radical (Routledge, 2022), a critical analysis of political transformation in Tehran’s public spaces from a Global South perspective. Her most recent authored book, The Affective Agency of Public Space: Social Inclusion and Community Cohesion (De Gruyter Brill, 2024), examines how public spaces in cities such as Amsterdam and Houston foster urban connection and civic interaction. She also edited After Oil: A Comparative Analysis of Oil Heritage, Urban Transformations, and Resilience Paradigms (Springer, 2025) on post-industrial city futures, and City, Public Space and Body: The Embodied Experience of Urban Life (Routledge Research in Planning and Urban Design, forthcoming November 2025).

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