Each year, plaNext aims to publish two volumes; one of which presents a collection of original works following an open call, and the other presents a selection of articles from the AESOP Young Academics (YA) conference of the previous year. Representing the former, the call for papers was published in early 2023. We selected eight manuscripts based on the submitted abstracts and the six listed below ended up in this volume, being finalized between summer 2024 and spring 2025.

This volume of PlaNext includes manuscripts presented at the 16th AESOP Young Academics Conference ‘In Search of Well-Being in Liminality: No Longer-Not Yet’ that took place in Istanbul between April 5-8, 2022, in addition to one research paper which was submitted to plaNext through its regular open calls. This paper raised important questions to the topic of this volume. All papers use different perspectives on notions of ’well-being’ and how they can be achieved, following a comprehensive and holistic perspective under the liminal and uncertain conditions that cities experience today. The topic is timely and inspiring. The call for conference papers attracted more than forty original papers. The editors of this volume invited ten manuscripts, following the nomination made by the chairs of sessions. But the process of publication remains challenging for many young academics. This is mirrored in the number of manuscripts that were eventually published in this volume. The contributions went through a rigorous peer-review process managed by an editorial board.

This volume of plaNext includes manuscripts presented at the 15th AESOP-YA Conference “‘Governing the Unknown: Adaptive Spatial Planning in the Age of Uncertainty”, Tirana, Albania, March 29 - 2 April 2021. The call for papers attracted forty original papers. The editors of this volume however invited ten manuscripts, following the nomination made by the chairs of sessions. Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and its dramatic impacts on all walks of life only six contributors were able to complete and submit their top-quality manuscripts. Their contributions explore a range of complex matters that challenge but also inspire the “governing of uncertainties”, reflecting on topical debates in academia and planning practice. Their contributions explored new planning ideas and technologies that can be further developed to facilitate a sustainable transition towards (more) adaptive planning. The authors’ contributions went through a rigorous peer-review process managed by an editorial board. This board consists of: Prof. Rudina Toto, from Co-PLAN Institute for Habitat Development and key-speaker at the 15^th AESOP-YA conference; Elisa Privitera, from the University of Catania (Italy) who is a member of both plaNext Editorial Board and of the coordination team of YA-AESOP Network (2020-22); Mafalda Madureira from the University of Twente (Netherlands) who is member of plaNext Editorial Board; Pinar Doerder, formerly chair of the YA coordination team; and Kejt Dhrami, who is member of Co-PLAN Institute for Habitat Development and coordinator of planning studies in the Faculty of Urban Planning, Management and Environment at Polis University, she was also one of the local organizer of the AESOP YA conference in Tirana.

Each year, plaNext aims to publish two volumes; one of which presents a collection of original works following an open call, and the other presents a selection of articles from the AESOP Young Academic (YA) conference of the previous year. Representing the latter, the 9th Volume of plaNext stems from the 12th AESOP-YA Annual Conference, “Navigating Change: Planning for societal and spatial transformations”, held in Groningen (The Netherlands), March 2018. Invited authors’ contributions went through a rigorous peer-review process in which, Dr. Paulo Silva - Senior Guest Editor – from University of Aveiro, Dr. Mafalda Madureira – member of plaNext Editorial Board – and Batoul Ibrahim - member of YA Coordination Team in 2018 – acted as guest editors.
This special edition presents a selection of articles elaborating diversity of planning approaches that deal with various forms of (positive or negative) change and questioning how they impact society and affect people’s every-day lives.

Each year, plaNext aims topublish two volumes; one of which presents a collection of original works following an open call, and the other presents a selection of articles from the AESOP-YA conference of the previous year. Representing the former, plaNext Volume six invited contributions from researchers and practitioners in planning and other related fields of research. A number of manuscripts were submitted to be considered for publication in this volume. The authors of the enclosed two manuscripts and one book review were able to meet the deadline set for the publication of volume six. The other manuscripts will be published Online First and included in volume eight. All contributions to plaNext go through open peer-review process before they are published.