One of the aims of the Transport Planning Society is to support the development of younger professionals.  We do this in many ways, but one of the most successful has been the annual TPS Bursaries.  The scheme is designed to provide young transport planners with the opportunity and funding (usually £500) to conduct a piece of innovative and structured thinking on a topic of current relevance to transport planning.  Successful applicants work with a mentor (normally a TPS Board member) to prepare a paper and present it to the TPS Board.  The paper is published on the TPS website and many end up being accepted by major conferences such as the Transport Practitioners Meeting, providing the opportunity for even greater exposure for the bursary holder.  Previous bursary holders have thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of writing and presenting their paper and have found it to be a valuable part of their professional development.

We are therefore pleased to launch the 2012 TPS Bursary scheme at an event that will showcase three of the papers from last year:

• Stephen Walford – Bananas with Pickles: Does the localism menu risk creating the recipe for strategic malaise?
• Emma Kinsey – Delivering transport initiatives through the localism agenda; will it create a fairer society?
• Alina Tuerk – Power to the Cyclists: Opportunities for partnerships between transport planners and cycle campaigners.

Further details of the TPS Bursary Scheme are available at http://www.tps.org.uk/main/bursaries/, where you will also find copies of the papers that will be presented by Stephen, Emma and Alina as well as papers by other bursary holders, including those from previous years.

We will also be providing details of this year’s scheme, so come along and find out all about it, and hear from some of the young professionals who have benefitted from the scheme in the past.

TPS Members free with membership card. Non-members £10, payable on the evening.  Priority will be given to TPS members.  Please register early by emailing pauline.arundel@ice.org.uk or calling her on 020 7665 2236 with your name, organisation, telephone number and, if you are a TPS member, your TPS membership number.  Alternatively complete the form attached,  and return it to: Transport Planning Society, 1 Great George Street, London SW1P 3AA.