Latest news with #OrlandoWoods
Korea Herald
20 hours ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Global experts at SMU City Dialogues Vienna: Urban resilience requires trust, equity and 'smart enough' solutions
SINGAPORE and VIENNA, July 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As a partner event of the Mayors Forum of the World Cities Summit 2025, the fourth edition of SMU City Dialogues was successfully organised by Singapore Management University (SMU) in partnership with Urban Innovation Vienna (UIV) on 2 July 2025 at Vienna City Hall. City Dialogues Vienna welcomed over 100 attendees from 20 countries; with representation from more than 20 universities and over 30 private and public organisations – a testament to the diversity and dynamism of our global community, and the urgency and relevance of the dialogue topic of urban resilience. The event opened with a welcome address by SMU Provost, Professor Alan Chan, followed by remarks from Mr Melvyn Ong, Permanent Secretary (Development) at the Ministry of National Development, Republic of Singapore. The keynote address was delivered by Mr Jürgen Czernohorszky, Executive City Councillor for Climate, Environment, Democracy and Personnel of the City of Vienna. Centered around the guiding question "What is the value of urban resilience?", the event brought together urban leaders, policymakers and academics from Europe, Asia and beyond to exchange actionable insights towards resilient, inclusive and future-ready cities. The programme featured three thematic tracks, each addressing a core dimension of urban resilience: These parallel discussions concluded with a joint key takeaway session led by SMU professors Winston Chow and Orlando Woods, alongside UIV's Johannes Lutter. Their insights made one thing clear: urban resilience is not a buzzword, but a lived responsibility which requires trust, participation, and context-sensitive action. Professor Winston Chow, Co-Chair of the IPCC Working Group II and Professor of Urban Climate at SMU, said, "Resilience isn't just about surviving, it's about thriving. We need to align financial systems with social goals, build trust through good governance, and empower communities to shape their own future." Prof Chow also cautioned against over-reliance on public-private partnerships, noting that "public-private partnerships can be powerful tools, but they are not universal solutions. They require competent, stable governments, extensive due diligence and clear alignment of interest." SMU Professor of Geography Orlando Woods, who is also Director of the SMU Urban Institute, reflected on the limitations of digital solutions in addressing complex urban challenges. While his group was tasked with exploring innovation and technology, much of the discussion shifted toward the structural problems that technology alone cannot resolve. "It's not about being a smart city. It's about being a smart enough city. Smart enough relative to the context, the specific problem we are trying to solve with the technology that we have." He emphasised that overreliance on data and digital tools often leads to oversimplified responses, while masking deeper systemic issues like inequality, mental health, or infrastructural neglect. Dr Johannes Lutter Senior Urban Planner at Urban Innovation Vienna, outlined three key messages on how resilience can be made more socially inclusive and locally grounded. "Given our limited resources, it is essential that we take targeted action—focusing in particular on those who are most vulnerable. To do so effectively, we must have a clear understanding of who is at risk." "We must restore agency to communities—not by shifting responsibility onto them and stepping back, but by fostering a structured dialogue between governments and communities, ensuring genuine collaboration between public institutions and the people they serve," he added. Initiated in 2019 by Singapore Management University, the City Dialogues series fosters candid exchange among policymakers, academics and business leaders. It aims to generate actionable recommendations for sustainable and inclusive urban development. Previous editions held in Singapore and Bangkok successfully brought together leaders from government, industry, and academia to engage in honest, action-oriented conversations.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
SMU and 4 overseas universities join forces to advance human-focused urban research
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox SMU Urban Institute director Orlando Woods (right) at the signing with (from left) LSE head of geography and environment Hyun Bang Shin, Boston University's Initiative on Cities director Loretta Lees, Melbourne Centre for Cities director Cathy Oke and University of Toronto's School of Cities director Karen Chapple. VIENNA, Austria – The Singapore Management University (SMU) and four universities in other countries have come together to conduct joint research on how city dwellers navigate and shape the environment in which they live. Apart from SMU, the four other members of this Global Alliance on Sustainable Urban Societies are: Boston University in the US, the London School of Economics and Political Science, the University of Melbourne in Australia, and the University of Toronto in Canada. This partnership was announced on July 2 at SMU City Dialogues, a conference held in Vienna, which brought together global academics, government officials and corporates to discuss how cities can resist various shocks from climate change to financial crises. 'The real motivation for this alliance is to put humans first, and recognise that people are the engines of cities and sustainability,' said Professor Orlando Woods, director of the one-year-old SMU Urban Institute. The institute aims to address the urban challenges that confront Singapore and key Asian cities. '(For urban issues), so much research is dominated by the built environment, where we want to build buildings better, we want to perfect digital systems to make cities smarter, and AI... but they never actually talk to people who use these systems,' said Prof Woods. And this alliance aims to shift focus by prioritising the very people who live in cities, and examining the ways they move through and transform urban spaces. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore and Cambodia to expand collaboration in renewable energy, carbon markets and agri-trade Singapore Ong Beng Seng's court hearing rescheduled one day before he was expected to plead guilty Singapore Three hair salons raided in clampdown on touting, vice, drugs in Geylang and Joo Chiat Singapore The romance continues: Former 'Singapore girl', 77, returns to Osaka Expo after 55 years Singapore GrabCab, Singapore's newest taxi operator, hits the roads with over 40 cabs to be rolled out in July Singapore Police looking into claim by driver who caused teen's death that he was an NUS student Singapore Man on trial for raping drunken woman after offering to drive her and her friend home Singapore 3 weeks' jail for man who touched himself on train, flicked bodily fluid on female passenger 'By recognising people as sensors, enablers and actuators, the collaboration acknowledges the vital, multi-faceted role of residents in shaping sustainable urban societies,' said the five universities in a joint statement on July 2. While specific research projects have not been decided yet, one potential work area could involve examining how extreme heat affects the mental health of city dwellers. This research proposal was led by Boston University's Initiative on Cities department and submitted for potential funding to the Wellcome Trust, a London-based charity focused on health research. The effect of heat stress on the human body, from rashes to heat stroke, is well studied; but how rising temperatures affect people's mental health and emotions, not so much, noted Prof Woods. A separate Boston University study in 2022 found that on extremely hot summer days in the US, people were at higher risk of rushing to emergency departments because of crises arising from substance use, anxiety, and stress and mood disorders. The proposed study could involve participants in several countries, including Singapore, the US and Australia, documenting how hot weather is affecting them, said Prof Woods. Beyond joint research, the alliance will also collaborate through workshops, student exchanges and data sharing. Professor Loretta Lees, director of the Initiative on Cities at Boston University, said the strength of the coalition lies in 'working with like-minded urbanists' to find out how different cities are dealing with challenges. Prof Woods added: 'It is a formal framework through which we can do more work together... if an opportunity comes along where we need to build a bigger research team that's not just SMU.' In 2022, SMU and the University of Toronto compared the challenges faced by students from India in both countries, and their sense of belonging as student migrants. Soon, both universities will embark on studies related to emerging trends in transport. The one-day SMU City Dialogues is a partner event of the World Cities Summit Mayors Forum that will be held in Vienna on July 3 and 4. The upcoming forum serves as a platform for mayors and city leaders to discuss pressing urban challenges and share solutions.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Leading global institutions launch alliance to advance human-centric urban research
VIENNA, July 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Five globally respected academic institutions have come together to launch the Global Alliance on Sustainable Urban Societies – a pioneering initiative that places people at the heart of urban research and policymaking. The partnership was announced today at the Singapore Management University (SMU) City Dialogues held in Vienna, taking place as part of the Mayors Forum of the World Cities Summit 2025. The founding members of the alliance are: The Urban Institute, Singapore Management University The Initiative on Cities, Boston University The Department of Geography and Environment, The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) (LSE) Melbourne Centre for Cities, University of Melbourne The School of Cities, University of Toronto Representatives from the five founding institutions signed an agreement at a networking reception of the SMU City Dialogues Vienna. Formed around a shared vision of interdisciplinary and human-centred urban research, the Alliance aims to deepen understanding of how city dwellers sense, navigate and shape the urban environments they inhabit. This includes examination of the social and cultural norms, social networks and economic linkages – the "soft infrastructures" – that underpin resilient and sustainable cities. In an era of accelerating digital transformation, the Alliance embraces the fusion of critical social science with data science to offer fresh, actionable insights into urban life. By recognising people as sensors, enablers and actuators, the collaboration acknowledges the vital, multi-faceted role of residents in shaping sustainable urban societies. The Alliance will collaborate through: Joint research initiatives and academic publications Co-hosted workshops and global conferences Faculty and student exchanges Responsible data-sharing protocols that uphold privacy and confidentiality The founding institutions extend an open invitation to like-minded academic institutions to join the Alliance in advancing a collective understanding of sustainable, people-first cities. Speaking at the SMU City Dialogues Vienna, the founding institutions underscored their commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive and global network of urban researchers. Professor Orlando Woods, the Director of the Urban Institute at SMU, said, "The joint vision is to pursue interdisciplinary research that views cities through a human-centred lens to shape sustainable urban societies and promote urban resilience. This exciting collaboration will deepen knowledge in an important field across the founding institutions, and it encompasses joint research projects, academic publications and workshops and conferences. It is also empowered by student and faculty exchanges, and data sharing initiatives that safeguard the confidentiality, privacy and security of individuals' data. We welcome like-minded academic institutions to join this alliance." Professor Loretta Lees, the Director of the Initiative on Cities at Boston University, said, "The Initiative on Cities at Boston University is an interdisciplinary research, learning and practice centre focused on resilient and liveable cities. To be resilient and liveable, cities must be socially sustainable, and we need to understand how individuals and communities perceive, interact with, and are affected by urbanisation and the urban environment. Ensuring equitable access to resources and opportunities in cities is important because this affects well-being and quality of life. Investigating urban community building and socio-cultural interactions and connections is strategic in terms of building human resilience to shocks, environmental, economic, or other. Working with like-minded urbanists globally is critical towards these goals, and we are very excited to be a part of launching this global urban alliance." Professor Hyun Bang Shin, the Head of the Department of Geography and Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science, said, "The Department of Geography and Environment at LSE embodies international excellence through its diverse community of globally engaged academics, researchers, and students. Our work addresses some of the world's most pressing urban challenges, combining rigorous academic inquiry with applied, policy-relevant solutions. Committed to fostering sustainable, equitable, and inclusive urban futures, we produce research that informs global debates, shapes practice, and empowers communities—from informal settlements to global cities—towards more just and resilient urban worlds. We are excited to be part of this global alliance on sustainable urban societies and look forward to working together with like-minded urban scholars across the world." Associate Professor Cathy Oke, Director of the Melbourne Centre for Cities, said, "At the Melbourne Centre for Cities we believe strongly in the importance of international collaboration between and amongst cities and universities, to further urban scholarship policy and decisions informed by lived experiences, shared goals, challenges and opportunities faced by urban settlements around the world. We're delighted to be part of this global alliance, and look forward to finding new opportunities to help leaders and citizens as they shape just, thriving cities." Professor Karen Chapple, Director of the School of Cities, and Professor, Department of Geography & Planning, at the University of Toronto, said, "The School of Cities is delighted to be a founding member of the Global Alliance on Sustainable Urban Societies. This partnership reflects our deep commitment to advancing inclusive, interdisciplinary urban research that centres the lived experiences of residents and city-builders. By working collaboratively across continents and disciplines, we can better understand the complex social fabrics that make cities resilient, and co-create solutions that are both innovative and grounded in the realities of urban life." About SMU Urban Institute Set up on 17 January 2024, the SMU Urban Institute plans to forge an interdisciplinary research agenda that bridges theoretical and applied research, data science and the critical social sciences, industry and academia, and Singapore and Southeast Asia. It seeks to synthesise and cultivate thought leadership and innovative solutions, inform policy decisions, and drive sustainable urban development practices for the development of more inclusive, resilient, and vibrant cities. Organised into three pillars – Urban Life, Urban Growth and Urban Infrastructure – it aims to address the evolving urban challenges that confront Singapore and key Asian cities. About Boston University Initiative on Cities The Boston University Initiative on Cities is a global urban research and policy center, founded in 2014, that serves as a bridge between academic research and real-world urban challenges. By leveraging the interdisciplinary expertise of Boston University's faculty and connecting it to practitioners, policymakers, and communities, the IOC seeks to advance more livable, resilient, and just cities. Learn more at About the London School of Economics and Political Science The Department of Geography and Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is a centre of international academic excellence in economic and urban geography, planning, environmental social science, and climate change. Accommodating the largest concentration of urban scholars at the LSE, the Department's research expertise is grounded in social sciences and policy relevance, excelling in six key areas that encompass city economies; housing, land and property; regional economic development; sustainability and environmental economics; global urban worlds; and environmental politics and justice. About the Melbourne Centre for Cities The Melbourne Centre for Cities is a cross-faculty, multidisciplinary initiative at the University of Melbourne, hosted by the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning. It leverages evidence-based research and bridges the gap between urban scholarship and policy-making, driving deeper academic understanding and transformative policy centred on key themes of urban sustainability, connectivity, leadership, and equity. About the School of Cities, University of Toronto The School of Cities is a unique multidisciplinary hub for urban research, education, and engagement creating new and just ways for cities and their residents to thrive. Based at the University of Toronto and in a fast-growing, culturally diverse, and economically dynamic urban region, the School of Cities supports leading scholars, practitioners, and community members spanning disciplines and lived experiences to co-create new understandings, policies, and practices. The School of Cities is playing a critical role in addressing climate change and justice, migration and belonging, inequality and democracy, and the world's collective ability to address urgent urban challenges.
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Leading global institutions launch alliance to advance human-centric urban research
VIENNA, July 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Five globally respected academic institutions have come together to launch the Global Alliance on Sustainable Urban Societies – a pioneering initiative that places people at the heart of urban research and policymaking. The partnership was announced today at the Singapore Management University (SMU) City Dialogues held in Vienna, taking place as part of the Mayors Forum of the World Cities Summit 2025. The founding members of the alliance are: Representatives from the five founding institutions signed an agreement at a networking reception of the SMU City Dialogues Vienna. Formed around a shared vision of interdisciplinary and human-centred urban research, the Alliance aims to deepen understanding of how city dwellers sense, navigate and shape the urban environments they inhabit. This includes examination of the social and cultural norms, social networks and economic linkages – the "soft infrastructures" – that underpin resilient and sustainable cities. In an era of accelerating digital transformation, the Alliance embraces the fusion of critical social science with data science to offer fresh, actionable insights into urban life. By recognising people as sensors, enablers and actuators, the collaboration acknowledges the vital, multi-faceted role of residents in shaping sustainable urban societies. The Alliance will collaborate through: The founding institutions extend an open invitation to like-minded academic institutions to join the Alliance in advancing a collective understanding of sustainable, people-first cities. Speaking at the SMU City Dialogues Vienna, the founding institutions underscored their commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive and global network of urban researchers. Professor Orlando Woods, the Director of the Urban Institute at SMU, said, "The joint vision is to pursue interdisciplinary research that views cities through a human-centred lens to shape sustainable urban societies and promote urban resilience. This exciting collaboration will deepen knowledge in an important field across the founding institutions, and it encompasses joint research projects, academic publications and workshops and conferences. It is also empowered by student and faculty exchanges, and data sharing initiatives that safeguard the confidentiality, privacy and security of individuals' data. We welcome like-minded academic institutions to join this alliance." Professor Loretta Lees, the Director of the Initiative on Cities at Boston University, said, "The Initiative on Cities at Boston University is an interdisciplinary research, learning and practice centre focused on resilient and liveable cities. To be resilient and liveable, cities must be socially sustainable, and we need to understand how individuals and communities perceive, interact with, and are affected by urbanisation and the urban environment. Ensuring equitable access to resources and opportunities in cities is important because this affects well-being and quality of life. Investigating urban community building and socio-cultural interactions and connections is strategic in terms of building human resilience to shocks, environmental, economic, or other. Working with like-minded urbanists globally is critical towards these goals, and we are very excited to be a part of launching this global urban alliance." Professor Hyun Bang Shin, the Head of the Department of Geography and Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science, said, "The Department of Geography and Environment at LSE embodies international excellence through its diverse community of globally engaged academics, researchers, and students. Our work addresses some of the world's most pressing urban challenges, combining rigorous academic inquiry with applied, policy-relevant solutions. Committed to fostering sustainable, equitable, and inclusive urban futures, we produce research that informs global debates, shapes practice, and empowers communities—from informal settlements to global cities—towards more just and resilient urban worlds. We are excited to be part of this global alliance on sustainable urban societies and look forward to working together with like-minded urban scholars across the world." Associate Professor Cathy Oke, Director of the Melbourne Centre for Cities, said, "At the Melbourne Centre for Cities we believe strongly in the importance of international collaboration between and amongst cities and universities, to further urban scholarship policy and decisions informed by lived experiences, shared goals, challenges and opportunities faced by urban settlements around the world. We're delighted to be part of this global alliance, and look forward to finding new opportunities to help leaders and citizens as they shape just, thriving cities." Professor Karen Chapple, Director of the School of Cities, and Professor, Department of Geography & Planning, at the University of Toronto, said, "The School of Cities is delighted to be a founding member of the Global Alliance on Sustainable Urban Societies. This partnership reflects our deep commitment to advancing inclusive, interdisciplinary urban research that centres the lived experiences of residents and city-builders. By working collaboratively across continents and disciplines, we can better understand the complex social fabrics that make cities resilient, and co-create solutions that are both innovative and grounded in the realities of urban life." About SMU Urban Institute Set up on 17 January 2024, the SMU Urban Institute plans to forge an interdisciplinary research agenda that bridges theoretical and applied research, data science and the critical social sciences, industry and academia, and Singapore and Southeast Asia. It seeks to synthesise and cultivate thought leadership and innovative solutions, inform policy decisions, and drive sustainable urban development practices for the development of more inclusive, resilient, and vibrant cities. Organised into three pillars – Urban Life, Urban Growth and Urban Infrastructure – it aims to address the evolving urban challenges that confront Singapore and key Asian cities. About Boston University Initiative on Cities The Boston University Initiative on Cities is a global urban research and policy center, founded in 2014, that serves as a bridge between academic research and real-world urban challenges. By leveraging the interdisciplinary expertise of Boston University's faculty and connecting it to practitioners, policymakers, and communities, the IOC seeks to advance more livable, resilient, and just cities. Learn more at About the London School of Economics and Political Science The Department of Geography and Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) is a centre of international academic excellence in economic and urban geography, planning, environmental social science, and climate change. Accommodating the largest concentration of urban scholars at the LSE, the Department's research expertise is grounded in social sciences and policy relevance, excelling in six key areas that encompass city economies; housing, land and property; regional economic development; sustainability and environmental economics; global urban worlds; and environmental politics and justice. About the Melbourne Centre for Cities The Melbourne Centre for Cities is a cross-faculty, multidisciplinary initiative at the University of Melbourne, hosted by the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning. It leverages evidence-based research and bridges the gap between urban scholarship and policy-making, driving deeper academic understanding and transformative policy centred on key themes of urban sustainability, connectivity, leadership, and equity. About the School of Cities, University of Toronto The School of Cities is a unique multidisciplinary hub for urban research, education, and engagement creating new and just ways for cities and their residents to thrive. Based at the University of Toronto and in a fast-growing, culturally diverse, and economically dynamic urban region, the School of Cities supports leading scholars, practitioners, and community members spanning disciplines and lived experiences to co-create new understandings, policies, and practices. The School of Cities is playing a critical role in addressing climate change and justice, migration and belonging, inequality and democracy, and the world's collective ability to address urgent urban challenges.
