Space Matters

As the subject of earnest discussion, the meaning of space reaches far beyond the horizon of a single discipline. Lukas Feiriss has assembled a collection of international contributions for Space Matters, a publication of the space & design strategies study program of the Univeristy of Art and Design, Linz, Austria to create an inspiring expansion of the contemporary discourse on space. The publication addresses cultural resarchers and readers in creative professions – architects, artists, curators, scientists and students in all the related fields as well as those members of a broader audience that are interested in the incorporation of space and the pratices with which it is designed in cultural, social and humanities-oriented contexts.

From the spaces between words in a sentence to the vast, blue sky, spaces, both large and small, add beauty and make sense of the world around us.

Public spaces are vital to a healthy civic life. Even fleeting interactions in such places tend to expand people's horizons. Sidewalks, plazas, public parks, central squares, and public libraries all enhance public life in unique ways. Yet, as Setha Low details in Why Public Space Matters, we are losing public spaces to urban development and the belief that public spaces are expendable. Just as important is the broad and ongoing corporate privatization of public space. This book explores why public spaces are so vitally important today and what we can do about protecting these essential places.

Shows the interconnectedness of life on Earth to space and why space matters to all of us.

This is a Festschrift to honour Professor Melvin Greenhut who has long toiled on spatial economics. The book accordingly focuses on a single question: in what sense 'economic space' matters in economic theory. Space in economics is an elusive concept, apparently separating and embracing economic agents at the same time. This is why adding it to already overly complicated economic agents at the same time. This is why adding it to already overly complicated economic models may not necessarily help economics to become sufficiently realistic. In this book, leading scholars of international stature try to find ways of introducing space in economic theory which will make it simpler and more realistic, analysing theoretical and historical issues of contemporary relevance, such as land use, congestion and public goods, location theory and spatial competition.

This book provides a detailed analysis on the history and development of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS) and the Conference on Disarmament (CD) and the coordination and cooperation between these two fora. Furthermore, it discusses the future challenges that these fora will have to deal with and conclude in which way the current system can change to cope with the evolution of space matters. This is necessary for the proper discussion of space matters because these matters cannot simply be divided between military and non-military, but are interrelated.

The human perception of Earth in space is ever changing. Once upon a time there was this belief that our Earth is flat... But scientifically, what is currently known of Earth in space and life on Earth? In Space-Earth Matters, Dr. Parashar outlines the scientific history of space from the Big Bang and the genesis of stars and planets billions of years ago to the recent human enterprise of placing thousands of satellites in orbit around our Earth. Dr. Parashar will spacewalk you through the characteristics of orbital mechanics and the basics to understanding the motion of planets and satellites in space and answer such questions as: • How are space science and technology through satellites, sensors, and ground systems being employed for the observation of Earth and exploration of our solar system? • Are such activities in space regulated and managed—and by whom? • Who is responsible for the global governance of space including space debris? • Are there any socio-economic returns of space investments and who has the capability to deploy space missions in order to derive these benefits? Dr. Parashar explains why space-based applications like weather and environmental monitoring, resource mapping, disaster management support, communications, and navigation are of utmost value to all of us on Earth. Space-Earth Matters is a diverse and yet thoroughly approachable exploration of all matters Space and Earth for you, your colleagues, friends, and family.

More than a decluttering guide, this book “speaks to the heart and soul of the minimalist lifestyle . . . a must-have manual for serenity in the modern world!” (Anne Sage, author of Sage Living). For anyone looking to declutter, organize, and simplify, author Erin Boyle shares practical guidance and personal insights on small-space living and conscious consumption. At once pragmatic and philosophical, Simple Matters is an essential manual for anyone who wants to bring more purpose and sustainability to their daily lives. Boyle demonstrates how the benefits of “living small” are accessible to us all—whether we’re renting a tiny apartment or purchasing a three-story house. Filled with personal essays, projects, and helpful advice on how to be inventive and resourceful in a tight space, Simple Matters shows that living simply is about making do with less and ending up with more: more free time, more time with loved ones, more savings, and more things of beauty.