Conference ReportThe International Academic Association on Planning, Law and Property Rights (PLPR) returned to Europe for its 9th annual conference - following the 2014 conference in the Middle East (Haifa) and 2013 conference in North America (Portland, OR). Our gracious hosts were longstanding PLPR member Kostas Lalenis and his team from the Department of Planning and Regional Development, University of Thessaly, Volos, Greece. The local organising committee did a wonderful job in welcoming us to Volos and organising keynote lectures and parallel sessions which encouraged a high level of academic discourse throughout the conference.PhD sessionPrior to the official start of the conference, a session was held for approximately 15 PhD students whose abstracts were accepted for presentation during the conference. Here the students had the opportunity to meet each other and discuss their research in an open environment. Short presentations by each student allowed them to practice before presenting in their parallel sessions and exposed the group to a range of topics that are relevant to the PLPR association. Two senior academics and long-time PLPR members attended the session as mentors - Founding President Rachelle Alterman (Technion, Haifa) and Vice-President Richard Norton (University of Michigan). The mentors gave the students some valuable tips on publishing their research and 'life after the PhD'.Papers in parallel sessionsThe PLPR conference abstract review process focuses not only on ensuring that academic standards are high, but that the papers presented are truly relevant to the intersection of fields represented by the Association. That is, the subject of each paper presented must cross over at least two of the three themes in the Association's name - Planning, Law and Property Rights. By adhering to that rule, the PLPR conference provides a unique setting for researchers to explore the fields of planning law, property rights law or planning and property rights.As we see from the conference book of abstracts,1 the topics explored by PLPR scholars are diverse. Several papers dealt directly with planning processes, reforms and legal developments affecting property rights. In addition, the relationship between planning, law and property rights and housing, environment, agriculture, tourism and recreation, cultural heritage and social issues were covered. Participants were given the opportunity to learn about these issues in the context of several countries across six continents - Europe, Asia (Far East, Middle East and South), North America, Australia, South America and Africa. The papers were grouped together thematically for presentation in parallel sessions, including three pre-organised special sessions: 'The time factor and planning instruments'; 'Maritime spatial planning/exclusive economic zones';2 and 'Contested lands'.Several papers (or groups of papers) sparked passionate discussion and debate amongst participants. One example was the paper titled 'Three options for dealing with corruption in the planning field' by Francesco Chiodelli (Gran Sasso Science Institute) and Stefano Moroni (Polytechnic of Milan). The presentation discussed the practice of corruption within the planning system and proposed three strategies for dealing with that corruption: greater transparency in land use planning, reduction of potential for financial gain and reduction in discretionary powers in land use decisions. Following the presentation of this paper, the participants discussed the definition of corruption and how that definition changes across cultures. For example, it was noted that some cultures may consider the participation of government officials in judicial review to be a form of corruption. In addition, participants reacted strongly when it was suggested that corruption is 'good' because it demonstrates that the government system is healthy.The presentations in the parallel session titled 'Housing and building regulations' also sparked interesting discussion. …