CITIES’ Newsletter: Issue #11 Reflections about AY 2023-2024
CITIES Research
The Center for Interacting Urban Networks (CITIES) at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) is an interdisciplinary research center dedicated to advance urban science and promote cutting-edge research that is translated into practical, real-world solutions for the benefit of society. Our ultimate goal is to foster sustainable, resilient, and equitable cities with a particular emphasis on Abu Dhabi and the UAE.
This newsletter offers an overview of CITIES’ ongoing research efforts and initiatives for a more sustainable approach to the way we live our cities and interact with the built environment.
Summary of This Year
During the AY 23-24, CITIES has maintained its alignment with NYUAD’s Excellence 2030 Strategic Framework and UAE’s strategic priorities, focusing on research, education, and outreach to ensure societal impact. Broadly speaking, we further solidified our framework where our cutting-edge research informs and guides all CITIES’ education and outreach programs fostering engagement with the government, private sector, and society for valuable feedback that further enhances research. Notable efforts include promoting interdisciplinary research at the intersection of a city’s physical, digital, and social layers, further supporting research with global relevance and UAE impact, and activating new interdisciplinary urban science research streams in partnership with other NYUAD research centers. On the education front, CITIES has continued to support a broad range of initiatives, including Research Assistantships, Administrative Assistantships, Summer Assistantships, Internships, PPTPs, and the CITIES Fellowship program, while also supporting student organizations and events. Progress has been made in the proposal for a new interdisciplinary Ph.D. program in Urban Science. In terms of outreach, CITIES has expanded its networks of local and international collaborations, creating a unique ecosystem to maximize scientific and and community engagement. This has been evident through successful events such as workshops, roundtables, and seminars organized for the broad community in partnership with local and international institutions. Overall, these efforts have solidified CITIES and NYUAD as a leading knowledge hub in Urban Science, reinforcing their position as contributors to global knowledge with local significance.
The decision of the Research Review Council (RRC) to RENEW CITIES for the next five years reflects the center’s exceptional achievements and ongoing success in research productivity, outreach initiatives, and commitment to graduate education at NYUAD. This renewal, effective from September 1, 2024, underscores the RRC’s confidence in CITIES’ leadership, visionary approach, and impactful contributions to urban science.
CITIES Research Outputs
CITIES continues to make significant strides in urban science research! As we reflect on the AY 2023-2024, these figures tell a story of progress, growth, and a deep commitment to advancing knowledge for the benefit of cities worldwide.
CITIES Video
We are thrilled to unveil our latest milestone in this edition of our newsletter. Immerse yourself in our newly released video, showcasing the pioneering efforts and innovations at CITIES. This visual narrative celebrates our dedication to redefining urban development, highlighting our collaborative ventures, and groundbreaking projects aimed at fostering a sustainable and innovative future for our cities. It is an embodiment of our journey towards creating more livable, resilient, and technologically advanced urban spaces.
CITIES Collaborations
As part of a larger effort to promote research that has both global relevance and a strong local impact, this year, CITIES activated several collaborations with local and international entities.
2024 NYUAD CITIES X Masdar City: The Cities Lecture Series
CITIES started a collaboration with Masdar City and together we organized the Cities Lecture Series, aiming to foster knowledge exchange between academia and the industry, by involving stakeholders from urban planning, design, engineering, and architecture in order to create more sustainable cities. This year’s focus is on decarbonizing cities. If you would like to see the inaugural lecture titled “Walking the talk: How does a city achieve net-zero?” which was delivered by Chris Wan, the associate director of sustainability and CSR at Masdar City, kindly access it on this LINK. Our next event will happen on the 29th of April, 2024; stay tuned for further information.
CITIES Post-Graduation Research Fellowship
The CITIES Post-Graduation Research Fellowship at NYU Abu Dhabi is crafted to support outstanding graduating seniors who exhibit a keen interest in academia. This competitive one-year fellowship at NYUAD serves as a platform to nurture innovative research endeavors, retain exceptional academic talent within the region, and foster the growth of research in the UAE. It offers a unique opportunity for students to delve into diverse research avenues and explore possibilities for graduate studies, particularly in urban science, spanning disciplines such as Engineering, Computer Science, Sociology, History, and the Arts.
We are delighted to announce that the CITIES Committee has selected two exceptional individuals as Fellows for the academic year 2024-2025:
- Ella Goeckner-Wald, Bachelors of Economics & Political Science
- Xander Christou, Bachelors of Arts in Social Research & Public Policy
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to them and wish them the very best in their research endeavors.
CITIES Upcoming Events
Join us for the upcoming events organized by our center:
Stay tuned for the Issue #12 of our newsletter that will come out in July, 2024.