Dr Scott Ogletree represented OPENspace at the Earth Research & Impact Forum on 7th May, which focused on Sustainable Cities as one of the University of Edinburgh’s strategic priority areas.
The Forum took the form of an informal, workshop-style session, bringing colleagues together to share ideas, build new connections, and contribute to early discussions around a potential framework for Sustainable Cities research at Edinburgh.
The session began with a short introduction to the Edinburgh Earth Initiative and its emerging approach to the Sustainable Cities Challenge Area. OPENspace was highlighted as one example of bringing researchers together across disciplines. Participants then took part in a series of discussions structured around three transdisciplinary sub-themes, informed by a mapping exercise of existing research activity across the University. The workshop concluded with a wider discussion exploring future opportunities, priorities, and directions for collaborative research.
The three discussion themes were:
· Urban life, health and inclusion
· Urban risk, adaptation and equitable resilience
· Urban data, design and democracy of urban systems
The event provided a valuable opportunity to contribute OPENspace perspectives on urban environments, health, inclusion, and resilience, while strengthening connections with colleagues working across related areas of Sustainable Cities research.
