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作者

来源

URBAN GEOGRAPHY,Vol.42,Issue6,P.713-714

语言

英文

关键字

作者单位

Department of Geography/Manchester Urban Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

摘要

These are hard words to write. Three years after his diagnosis with cancer, this world is no longer home to Pow Choon Piew. A fuller obituary appears on the webpage of the Department of Geography at the National University Singapore (NUS) at which he spent his academic career. Here, I want to acknowledge, celebrate, and share the role of Pow as an editor at Urban Geography.In the summer of 2017, Urban Geography advertised two editorial positions. The aim of these appointments was to diversify the editorial collective. This meant it would better reflect both the journal’s North American origins and the locations out of which urban geography is now produced. As a well-respected urban geographer, with interests in Asian urban contexts, we were delighted to get an application from Pow. He and I had met at academic conferences a few times over the years. He was chatty and engaging, with a slightly mischievous sense of humor. He certainly seemed to have the academic and personal skills that are necessary for an editor of a journal. This came through in his interview, and we were delighted to offer him one of the positions. He was also keen to explain that, in his own words, “I do not see myself as an ‘Asian’ specialist area editor and I am certainly open to handling papers from other regions and contexts.”Pow took up his position on 1 January 2018, and he was true to his word. He took the lead on managing the large number of submissions the journal receives on Asian cities, especially those from China and on Chinese cities. This was no easy task. He undertook this with care and consideration, working with authors to ensure that the best of the work in this field made it onto the pages of Urban Geography. He also contributed more widely to the editing of the journal. He was happy to share his views on the journal’s various initiatives, to push other editors, albeit doing it in his typically self-effacing and understated manner.Unfortunately, Pow had only been an editor for 8 months when he emailed to share his initial diagnosis with me. Pow being Pow, he was concerned that his time in hospital would lead to a backlog of papers in the journal. Over the remainder of 2018 and then 2019 and 2020, Pow continued to perform his editorial responsibilities, supported by other editors when he had to take time off for treatment. With quiet effectiveness, he was able to promote and support some outstanding papers on different aspects to cities in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Korea. Moreover, and as if to underscore that he was more than an “Asian specialist,” during his time as editor Pow also oversaw papers published on Belgrade, Boston, Jerusalem, Johannesburg, London, and Los Angeles. At the end of 2020, Pow stepped down as an editor and joined the journal’s editorial board.The passing of Pow on 22 July 2021 is a loss to the global urban geography community. It is a loss felt by many as witnessed through the responses to the announcement on Facebook and the website of his home department at NUS. Family and friends are in mourning. At Urban Geography, Pow was the kind of editor that those who knew him well would imagine him to have been: careful, generous, and supportive. He worked behind the scenes with authors to improve their papers, downplaying his work on the finished product. Since he stepped down as editor, I have missed his input into our collective decision-making. However, I looked forward to our paths crossing again at one conference or another. Now even that is no longer possible. Such a loss but Pow leaves a legacy at the journal.Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).