Category: Weekly reflection
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From complexity to collaboration: Insights from energy systems, urban planning, and transformative governance

This week’s episodes of the What is The Future For Cities? podcast sparked a deep exploration of urban futures, focusing on energy systems and transformative planning. Episode 335R unpacked the research article “A framework for exploring futures of complex urban energy systems” by Sumedha Basu and Catherine S. E. Bale, while Episode 336I featured a…
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Lessons from placemaking: Building cities that feel like home

This week on the What is The Future for Cities? podcast, we explored the art and science of placemaking through two compelling episodes. Episode 333R unpacked John Friedmann’s 2010 research, Place and Placemaking in Cities: A global perspective, offering a deep look at how small urban spaces become cherished community hubs. Episode 334I featured an…
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From reactors to resilience: Nuclear’s Role in the future of cities

Nuclear energy: a divisive topic that sparks heated debates about safety, resilience, and the future of our cities. This week, the What is The Future for Cities? podcast tackled nuclear’s potential through a research summary of Investigating the Potential of Nuclear Energy in Achieving a Carbon-Free Energy Future by Jānis Krūmiņš and Māris Kļaviņš, and…
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AI, optimism and the future of cities – What we learned this week

This week on the What is The Future for Cities? podcast, we investigated how cities are evolving and what it takes to shape their futures. Episode 329 explored a five-decade analysis of artificial intelligence (AI) in local governance, while Episode 330 featured an insightful interview with Thomas W. Sanchez, Professor of Landscape Architecture and Urban…
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The soul of cities: Five lessons on urban evolution and innovation

This week on the What is The Future for Cities? podcast, we embarked on a fascinating journey through urban evolution, exploring how cities have shaped humanity’s past and will guide its future. Episode 327, a research summary of Cities through the ages: One thing or many? by Michael E. Smith and José Lobo, delved into…
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The transformative power of public transport in shaping urban futures

This week on the What is The Future for Cities? podcast, we investigated the multifaceted role of public transport in shaping the cities of tomorrow. Through Episode 325, a research summary of Economic and Social Impacts of Public Transport Investments by Paulo Anciaes and Jacob Albin Korem Alhassan, and Episode 326, an insightful interview with…
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Shaping tomorrow’s cities: Lessons from Tanzania and AI’s urban frontier

Cities are the heartbeat of human progress, where ideas, economies, and communities collide. This week on the What is The Future for Cities? podcast, we explored two powerful perspectives on urban development: a 2017 study from Tanzania on long-term urban planning (Episode 323R) and an interview with Fin Moorhouse, a research fellow at Forethought, on…
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Five lessons on AI and light cities for a smarter urban future

This week, we dove into the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI) and visionary urban design with two compelling episodes. Episode 319’s research summary, Intelligent Urbanism with Artificial Intelligence (2023, Journal of Cloud Computing), explored AI’s practical applications in smart cities. Episode 320’s interview with Glenn Drew, CEO and founder of SQUIZZ.COM, TOTECS, and Connected…
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Redesigning cities: Five key lessons on charter cities

This week on the What is The Future for Cities? podcast, we investigated the transformative potential of charter cities—new urban centers designed with innovative governance, sustainable foundations, and a vision for resilience. Through episode 317’s research summary, Building Resilient Cities: The Role of Charter Cities in Promoting Resilient Urban Development by Eva Klaus and the…

