Geoff was invited by the organisers to be a discussant at the final colloquium of a six year multi-disciplinary research program on Megacities – Informal Dynamics of Global Change held in Bonn, Germany. The programme focused on two major urban centres – Dhaka in Bangladesh and the Pearl River Delta in China.

More than 100 researchers from Bangladesh, China and Germany assessed a wide range of challenges facing expanding from climate change, governance, public health, migration, economics, and environment. Geoff was the discussant for a session on ‘Informality and Urban Governance’ which included two presentations on both country cases. Geoff is extremely grateful to Professor Dr. Frauke Kraas and Professor Harald Sterly for the opportunity to participate in this stimulating event and for the hospitality provided.