Getting our Cities Right #4How do complex sustainability challenges unfold in urban landscapes? Welcome to the fourth conference in the series Getting Our Cities Right. This event will critically explore the relationships between people, places, and the processes of urbanisation, with a focus on local, place-specific dynamics.
Throughout the conference, we will examine urban transformation through emerging narratives and the evolving use of urbanscapes. We will offer interdisciplinary perspectives on sustainable urban development, with a focus on key areas such as water, health, food, energy, nature-based solutions, and socio-cultural approaches to planning. We look forward to welcome you to our 2-day conference, combining critical keynotes with co-creative workshops, and an exhibition shaping research and collaboration for envisioned urban futures!
| | | Drivers of Action for Change: The Psychology of Planning and Communication Strategies to Combat Urban Heat StressHow can we overcome the challenges of raising awareness and implementing planning changes to address the urgent need for sustainable urban design in response to rising temperatures and heat-related health risks? In the third article of our Urban Heat series, researchers Kristina Blennow, Elizabeth Marcheschi, and Zahra Khosravipoor explore these issues and propose solutions. They explain how different factors can lay the seeds for change towards more sustainable urban futures. | | | | | Urban Food & Farming week |
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This week, September 16-22, Botildenborg in Malmö is organising the annual event Urban Food & Farming Week. The goal is to highlight important issues around food, farming and the urban landscape. SLU is co-organizing the events that are taking place, through the collaboration SOIL. This year's theme is about preparedness for food shortages. During the week, there are lectures, a conference, workshops and discussions. On Sunday everyone is welcome to join the harvest festival - Skördefesten. We hope to see you there! Location: Botildenborg, Västra Skrävlinge Kyrkoväg 12, Malmö | | | | | Urban forests: The impact of tree origin on urban biodiversity |
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| Non-native, also known as exotic, trees are prominent in cities and urban forests worldwide. With calls to further increase the proportion of non-native plants in city planning as a proposed climate adaptation strategy, it is crucial to evaluate the impacts of species origin on biodiversity.
Welcome to the first Urban Forests webinar of the fall semester, when Johan Kjellberg Jensen, Ph. D. and researcher at Lund University's Centre for Environmental and Climate Science (CEC) explores the ecological consequences of tree species choice in urban areas, based on recent research on arthropods and birds in Sweden. | | | | | Webinar: Urban Health #2 – Exploring Urban healthscapes with interdisciplinary experts and new perspectives | The Urban Health webinar series is an interdisciplinary collaboration between the platforms SLU Urban Futures and SLU Future One Health. In part two, we continue to explore the concept of 'urban healthscapes'. We investigate how the design of urban landscapes and urban planning affects our well-being and our health. The deadline for registration is 1 October. | | | | | | | | A researcher residency in the spirit of interdisciplinarityFor the third year, SLU's Future Platforms invited SLU researchers to a research residency to discuss interdisciplinarity – a competence in itself. The focus was on the environment and sustainability in relation to forests, food, health and urban landscapes. Thirteen SLU researchers from all faculties had the opportunity to meet – and exchange different perspectives and discuss concepts and methods in depth. | | | | | New book on urban farming in prisons – the UrbanFarm2024 ChallengePrevious studies show that less fighting and improved health are some of the benefits of rehabilitation through green space and farming activities for prison inmates. These aspects will be considered when developing the new prison facility in Trelleborg in Skåne, Sweden. In collaboration with the University in Bologna, Anna María Pálsdóttir at SLU initiated an innovative partnership with the Swedish Prison and Probation Service (Kriminalvården) and the architect firm Krook & Tjäder, engaging students at both universities in the UrbanFarm2024 challenge. The results have now been published in a book that summarizes the results of the international student challenge UrbanFarm2024, where students develop a plan for an urban agriculture project within the Swedish prison in Trelleborg.
▸ Download the book UrbanFarm 2024: Integrating social, economic and environmental sustainability pillars for inmates rehabilitation in the new Trelleborg prison in Sweden ▸ Read more about UrbanFarm2024 Challenge | | | | |
Enacting Transdisciplinary Knowledge
The International Association of People-Environment Studies (IAPS) holds a conference every two years. This summer the 28th IAPS Conference was held in Barcelona, and our Hub Coordinator Amanda Gabriel was there. The theme of the year was: Enacting Transdisciplinar Knowledge: People, Places, Movements and Sustainabilities. Read Amanda's report from the conference! | | | | Thinking ecologically about cities in the southWatch the recording of the keynote presentation given by Professor Harini Nagendra from Azim Premji University during the IUFRO congress in June. “In a world where cities in the Global South are experiencing rapid growth amidst the challenges posed by climate change, Professor Nagendra’s expertise shines. Her extensive experience, spanning over 30 years, encompasses groundbreaking research that delves into the intricacies of forest conservation and urban development in South Asia. Her unique approach combines landscape ecology with a strong commitment to social justice.” | | | | | | |
