Planning Practice and Academic Research: Views from the Parallel Worlds

Despite their different roles, academic and professional planners share many common goals. Both are concerned with the future of cities, and committed to goals of sustainability, equity and prosperity. Many academics hope to contribute knowledge that will influence practice and many practitioners wish to draw upon current research to promulgate best practice. Yet while this symbiotic relationship may appear clear in principle, in practice the two groups find it difficult to connect. This paper reports on a survey of planners in Australia and New Zealand, which asked respondents to consider the state of the theory/practice divide and suggest some solutions.