Geographic Issues of the Development of a Rising Region [antikvár]

PREFACEA conference entitled "Régiónál Sciences, Pécs 1997" was held at Janus Pannonius University, Faculty of Sciences, Department of General Social Geography and Úrban Studies, on 5, November 1997, in the framework of the first Day of Hungárián Science. The conference represented the workshops working in Pécs, which deal with régiónál issues. The Hungárián Academy of Sciences Centre for Régiónál Studies Transdanubian Research Institute the Hungárián Academy of Sciences Pécs Committee, Committee of Régiónál Development and Environmental Protection, the Janus Pannonius University, Faculty of Economics, Department of Environmental and Régiónál Economics, the Councils of Régiónál Development in the region and county were represented and moreover several representatives of the South Transdanubian economic, political and intellectual life were present. The organisation and the volume of studies published now declare the outstanding importance of Pécs in the fields of science dealing with régiónál issues. The volume is very actual since the process of building of regions is happening now in Hungary, and so in South Transdanubia too. Good results achieved in building of our own region allow us to draw a conclusion that the régiónál thinking - not the least by means of the irradiation of these intellectual workshops - draws greater and greater attention. The ongoing researches, which this volume gives a foretaste of, help the recognition of problems and, hopefully, solving them as well.Not only building of regions is actual nowadays, but the "selling" of the region outside the region, the marketing too. Its objective area now is not only Hungary, but the whole European, even the global space too. This explains publishing the volume in English language as well.On 1, July 1998, by the integration of Department of General Social Geography and Úrban Studies, Department of Régiónál Geography and Department of Physical Geography, the Institute of Geography was established, which, as a workshop, belongs to the greatest ones, and, in this form, is unique in Hungary. The Geographical Institute consists of eight departments: Department of Geology, Department of Environmental and Meteorological Geography, Department of Geography of Hungary, Department of Régiónál Geography, Department of Social Geography and Úrban Studies, Department of Physical Geography, Department of Historical and Political Geography and Department of Tourism. Besides these, the Institute of Geography contains other units as well as the Geographical Information Centre and Library, alsó the Laboratory of Geographical Information System. Our specialities are régiónál and settlement development, development of tourism, political geography and environmental geography. There are graduate, postgraduate and Ph.D. training at the Institute.According to our plans, we wish to lay greater emphasis on the creation of more developed forms of training and research, so by applying the Geographical Information System, development of laboratories, development of our local and régiónál relations for example. We are continuously developing out international relations. Creation of new educational and research centres (Asia Centre, centre for Balcan Studies) is on the agenda by means of several contracts, building of partnerships, building of the internál organisation.In our belief the co-operation between our Institute and the partner institutes in Pécs promotes the strengthening and development of the internál integrity and the external relations of the South Transdanubian region, so these are becoming and can become the organic and the important parts of life of the region.Pécs, 1 May 1999