Listen Now

Pervasive across infrastructure literature and discourse are the concepts of centralized, decentralized, and distributed systems, and there appears to be growing interest in how these configurations support or hinder adaptive and transformative capacities towards resilience. There does not appear to be a concerted effort to align how these concepts are used, and what different configurations mean for infrastructure systems. This is problematic because how infrastructure are structured and governed directly affects their capabilities to respond to increasing complexity. Dr. Alysha Helmrich recommends a multi-dimensional framing of de/centralization through a network-governance perspective where capabilities to shift between stability and instability are paramount and information is a critical mediator.Articles:De/centralization - https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2634-4505/ac0a4fLeadership - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsc.2022.791474/full Follow our guest on Twitter: @AlyshaHelmrich---If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, e-mail us at futurecitiespodcast@gmail.com or find us on Twitter @FutureCitiesPod. Learn more about the NATURA project at natura-net.org.

Dr. Christina H. Fuller shares her work on environmental health and justice, particularly examining how air quality varies down to a block-level across communities. She provides insights on conducting participatory research within frontline communities and advocating for more inclusive environmental justice research. Dr. Fuller also discusses her diverse work experiences from industry, non-profits, consulting, and academia.Follow our guest on Twitter: @DrCHFuller ---If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, e-mail us at futurecitiespodcast@gmail.com or find us on Twitter @FutureCitiesPod. Learn more about the NATURA project at natura-net.org.

Dr. Mikhail Chester hosts Dr. Stephanie Pincetl, whose work engages a multitude of disciplines (from engineers to urban planners to economists) to advance urban sustainability science and decision-making for water, energy, transportation, and land use systems. She explores how understanding and synthesizing these diverse systems surrounding our complex urban systems opens opportunities for future alternatives.This episode is part of a continuing series: Infrastructure and the Anthropocene Forum. Follow our hosts:Dr. Mikhail Chester (@mikhailchester)Dr. Stephanie Pincetl (@SPincetl)Recommended Readings:Transforming California: A Political History of Land Use and DevelopmentThe Nutmeg's CurseEnvisioning Real UtopiasDesigns for the Pluriverse---If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, e-mail us at futurecitiespodcast@gmail.com or find us on Twitter @FutureCitiesPod. Learn more about the NATURA project at natura-net.org.

The built environment has significantly contributed to climate change, and it is becoming increasingly clear that net-zero carbon emissions is not enough. Phil Horton and Alysha Helmrich discuss the importance of carbon capture and explore how cities may play a role in carbon banking. In this episode, we will discuss the role that buildings and urban infrastructure will play in carbon draw-down and decarbonization through: end-to-end carbon accounting, building material innovations, and emergent alignment and coordination across critical stakeholders and agencies in the future of our urban environments.Follow the hosts on Twitter: Philip Horton (@asudesignschool) Alysha Helmrich (@AlyshaHelmrich) ---Additional Resources: Build Beyond Zero https://islandpress.org/books/build-beyond-zeroCarbon Cure https://www.carboncure.com/Dr. Klaus Lackner and Mechanical Trees https://mechanicaltrees.com/our-latest-news/arizona-state-university-and-carbon-collect-announce-agreement-to-deploy-worlds-first-commercially-viable-passive-carbon-capture-technology/Center for Negative Carbon Emissions https://globalfutures.asu.edu/cnce/Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation https://sustainability-innovation.asu.edu/Arizona Center for Algae Technology and Innovation https://asu.pure.elsevier.com/en/publications/production-of-functionalized-carbon-from-synergistic-hydrothermal ---If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, e-mail us at futurecitiespodcast@gmail.com or find us on Twitter @FutureCitiesPod. Learn more about the NATURA project at natura-net.org.

Distributive, procedural, recognitional justice are vital for nature-based solutions, but these dimensions of justice have multiple and conflicting meanings. Drs. Katinka Wijsman and Marta Berbés-Blázquez explore how political theory and philosophy help in understanding differences and conflict. They present five key justice questions for researchers and practitioners to reflect with. One major takeaway? Praxis and reflectivity are crucial to balancing the act of practicing justice.Topic paper: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2022.06.018Hosts & Twitter handles: Katinka Wijsman (@KatinkaWijsman) Marta Berbés-Blázquez (@MartaBerbes) @SGPL_UU and @UniUtrecht Alysha Helmrich (@AlyshaHelmrich) ---NATURA RULA-IRES project Opportunity: https://natura-net.org/rula ---If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, e-mail us at futurecitiespodcast@gmail.com or find us on Twitter @FutureCitiesPod. Learn more about the NATURA project at natura-net.org.

Whose voice counts? Whose visualization informs the design of cities? And how do we collaborate in nurturing resilient equitable futures? Join a conversation led by Ananth Udupa between Duván López, Mathieu Feagan, Melissa Moreno, Theresa O’Neil, and Daniela Moreno.   Follow the hosts on Twitter: @duvanhernan @MathieuMatt @ttttheresa @DanielaGarMo --- If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, e-mail us at futurecitiespodcast@gmail.com or find us on Twitter @FutureCitiesPod. Learn more about the NATURA project at natura-net.org.

This month's episode was initially published in Spanish -- the co-hosts' native language. Today, we are publishing a dubbed English version.---The episode discusses the NATURA Thematic Working Group  'Urban Informality and Innovation for Resilient Futures,' and the work strategy that has been developed in Bogotá, Colombia, so-called Local Labs, supported by @catunescosost, @ccdUPC, and @Unisalle.Initially, the differential focus of research on informality is discussed by Duván H. López (@duvanhernan) and Tony Pererina (@peregreenmx), and the relevance of approaching exploratory sites immersed in deep environmental conflicts, and strong social conditions of vulnerability, for Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) scholars and practitioners.NbS are envisioned as a stepping stone, working in informal cities to introduce the natural assets harmonizing with the urban form, facilitating social inclusion, and triggering adaptive trends. Finally, the voice of communities is amplified. @Tuarraigo calls for the international collaboration and engagement of academics into collaborative networks to encourage knowledge spillover and break the inertias of exclusion, therefore, opening transformative opportunities in marginalized areas.---If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, e-mail us at futurecitiespodcast@gmail.com or find us on Twitter @FutureCitiesPod. Learn more about the NATURA project at natura-net.org.

This month's episode is initially being published in Spanish -- the co-hosts' native language. On September 15th, we will be publishing a dubbed English version.---The episode discusses the NATURA Thematic Working Group  'Urban Informality and Innovation for Resilient Futures,' and the work strategy that has been developed in Bogotá, Colombia, so-called Local Labs, supported by @catunescosost, @ccdUPC, and @Unisalle. Initially, the differential focus of research on informality is discussed by Duván H. López (@duvanhernan) and Tony Pererina (@peregreenmx), and the relevance of approaching exploratory sites immersed in deep environmental conflicts, and strong social conditions of vulnerability, for Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) scholars and practitioners.NbS are envisioned as a stepping stone, working in informal cities to introduce the natural assets harmonizing with the urban form, facilitating social inclusion, and triggering adaptive trends. Finally, the voice of communities is amplified. @Tuarraigo calls for the international collaboration and engagement of academics into collaborative networks to encourage knowledge spillover and break the inertias of exclusion, therefore, opening transformative opportunities in marginalized areas.---If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, e-mail us at futurecitiespodcast@gmail.com or find us on Twitter @FutureCitiesPod. Learn more about the NATURA project at natura-net.org.

This month's episode, Heat Risk, explores the risk of heat exposure in Phoenix, AZ but has relevance across the globe with the current heat waves being experienced. Dr. Alysha Helmrich interviews Dr. Yuliya Dzyuban and Adora Shortridge about their recent studies on heat risk in Phoenix, and she discusses the Phoenix Office of Heat Response and Mitigation with the director, Dr. David Hondula.LinksYuliya's Paper: Evidence of alliesthesia during a neighborhood thermal walk in a hot and dry cityAdora's Paper: HeatReady schools: A novel approach to enhance adaptive capacity to heat through school community experiences, risks, and perceptionsHeatReady Schools websiteConnect with our guests:Dr. Yuliya Dzyuban: @DrDzyuAdora Shortridge: https://www.ascendwithadora.com/Dr. David Hondula: @ASUHondula City of Phoenix Office of Heat Response and Mitigation: @HeatReadyPHX ---If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, e-mail us at futurecitiespodcast@gmail.com or find us on Twitter @FutureCitiesPod. Learn more about the NATURA project at natura-net.org.

In this month's episode, Dr. Alysha Helmrich sits down with Marissa Webber, a PhD Candidate at Carnegie Mellon University, to discuss her recent publication: A Review of Decision Making Under Deep Uncertainty Applications Using Green Infrastructure for Flood Management. We also introduce our new sponsor, NATURA. Review Paper: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2021EF002322DMDU Book: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-05252-2---If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, e-mail us at futurecitiespodcast@gmail.com or find us on Twitter @FutureCitiesPod. Learn more about the NATURA project at natura-net.org.

This month’s podcast is brought to you by the children of Cadder Primary School in Glasgow and the Lost Woods Project to tell you all about their work on Every Tree Tells a Story in the run up to COP26 and work to create the Glasgow Children's Woodland.Please note, this episode is partially recorded outdoors due to COVID-19 restrictions. Follow the guests on Twitter: @CadderPrimary @The Lost Woods @everytree––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, e-mail us at futurecitiespodcast@gmail.com or find us on Twitter @FutureCitiesPod. Learn more about the Urban Resilience to Extremes Sustainability Research Network (UREx SRN) at urexsrn.net.

Green infrastructure features are often celebrated as multifunctional solutions in cities, with an array of benefits that they could provide. However, the implementation of green infrastructure can also cause disservices, including gentrification when green infrastructure features are implemented without a plan for how those features will interact with existing systemic issues. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Fushcia-Ann Hoover about her research on environmental justice issues surrounding green infrastructure. She tells us about her path towards interdisciplinary research, recommendations for cities to envision more equitable green infrastructure implementation, and her business, where she helps researchers and planners alike to center environmental justice in their work and to see the connections between people and the environment.Follow Dr. Fushcia-Ann Hoover on social media! Twitter: https://twitter.com/EcoGreenQueen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ecogreenqueen/ ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, e-mail us at futurecitiespodcast@gmail.com or find us on Twitter @FutureCitiesPod. Learn more about the Urban Resilience to Extremes Sustainability Research Network (UREx SRN) at urexsrn.net.

Dr. Sybil Derrible (@SybilDerrible) is the creator of the Actionable Science for Urban Sustainability (AScUS) society, and former chair of the International Society of Industrial Ecology's Sustainable Urban Systems section. He is an Associate Professor of Civil, Materials, and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois Chicago. His work embraces the growing complexity of cities, exploring our changing relationships with the built environment, natural environment, and cyber technologies, through innovative techniques that reveal the changing networks and behaviors that define urban dynamics. He is interviewed in today's podcast by Dr. Mikhail Chester (@mikhailchester), a professor in the School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment at Arizona State University.Infrastructure Misfits (un)Society:http://www.infrastructurecomplexity.org/Metis Center for Infrastructure and Sustainable Engineering | Arizona State University: https://metis.asu.edu/––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, e-mail us at futurecitiespodcast@gmail.com or find us on Twitter @FutureCitiesPod. Learn more about the Urban Resilience to Extremes Sustainability Research Network (UREx SRN) at urexsrn.net.

Discussions about infrastructure are often centered on the opinions and prevailing ideas within engineering, but other disciplines have valuable insights on what infrastructure is and what it can be. In this first installment of the 2021 Infrastructure and the Anthropocene series, Professor Mikhail Chester of Arizona State University (ASU) interviews his ASU colleague, Professor Chuck Redman, who looks at infrastructure from a more anthropological and social sciences perspective. Topics discussed include whether to think of infrastructure as permanent or impermanent, the ways existing infrastructure shapes future path dependencies, and inserting values into the pursuit of resilience.Infrastructure Misfits (un)Society: http://www.infrastructurecomplexity.org/Metis Center for Infrastructure and Sustainable Engineering | Arizona State University: https://metis.asu.edu/––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, e-mail us at futurecitiespodcast@gmail.com or find us on Twitter @FutureCitiesPod. Learn more about the Urban Resilience to Extremes Sustainability Research Network (UREx SRN) at urexsrn.net.

In this month's episode, we talk with Nkosi Muse (@weatherkos), a scientific advisor on climate change adaptation to the city of Miami and Ph. D. student at the University of Miami, about climate change and gentrification processes in Miami. We delve into the phenomenon of "climate gentrification," a form of gentrification that proceeds by the wealthy buying properties in marginalized communities in Miami because of their higher elevation and longer-term resilience to climate change. We also touch on another form of gentrification, "downward raiding," identified elsewhere in the world that probably also exists in the US. Finally, as potential inspiration to other academics working in urban resilience, we talk about how Nkosi obtained his dual-status as academic researcher and scientific advisor.––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, e-mail us at futurecitiespodcast@gmail.com or find us on Twitter @FutureCitiesPod.

This week we bring you another podcast from the city of Glasgow focusing on the Hidden Environmental Histories of the River Clyde. At the height of the British Empire, Glasgow was the hub of the Scottish and European Enlightenment with a vast manufacturing and ship building industry which profoundly shaped the river and the surrounding communities. We're joined by Ria Dunkley, University of Glasgow and Gillian Dick, Glasgow City Council to tell us all about a new partnership that has been set up between artists, academics, local government, museums and community groups to explore and expose how the rise of empire and industrialisation shaped the River Clyde and its surrounding urban and natural environment. Singer song writer, Ainsley Hamill and poet, Eilidh Northridge also perform artistic contributions that were inspired by the project. Keep up with the people and projects highlighted in this episode on Twitter: The Hidden Environmental Histories of the River Clyde (@hiddenclyde21) Ria Dunkley (@RiaDunkley) Gillian Dick (@gilliand) Eilidh Northridge (@EilidhNorth) Ainsley Hamill (@AinsleyHamill) You can learn more about Ainsley Hamill at her website (www.ainsleyhamill.com), and buy a physical CD with notes and lyrics at her store. Her music is available on all streaming platforms, such as Spotify.––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, e-mail us at futurecitiespodcast@gmail.com or find us on Twitter @FutureCitiesPod.

In this episode, a diverse team of graduate students discuss their research on climate gentrification in the Eastern coast of the United States and their personal stories about why they are inspired to study this topic. They share perspectives on the importance of interdisciplinary science in their own professional development and the value of an interdisciplinary approach to tackling wicked problems like climate change gentrification. The team also reflects on the importance of team science with peers in building confidence and establishing an essential network of support as early career researchers.Learn more about the the National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center at sesync.org.Follow and connect with this month's guests:Kelsea Best: Twitter, LinkedInAzmal Hossan: Twitter, LinkedInSharif Islam: Twitter, LinkedInZeynab Jouzi: Twitter, LinkedInTimothy Kirby: Twitter, LinkedInBecca Nixon: TwitterRichard A. Nyiawung: Twitter, LinkedIn––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, e-mail us at futurecitiespodcast@gmail.com or find us on Twitter @FutureCitiesPod.

Clair Cooper, PhD Candidate at Durham University, is joined by Gillian Dick, Strategic Planning Manager with Glasgow City Council, and Donagh Horgan from the Institute of Social Innovation at the University of Strathclyde to talk about Every Tree Tells a Story.  Every Tree Tells a Story is an innovative new nature-based solution that aims to help communities reconnect with urban nature, particularly urban trees, and understand what are nature-based solutions by sharing and mapping their favourite stories about trees. Gillian and Donagh talk about their inspiration for the project, how it relates to the concept of nature-based solutions, and explain our deep connection with trees. Gillian and Donagh then talk about why it's so important that we educate people about the role of trees in the fight against climate change and how they plan to help people reconnect with trees through community participation and mapping of stories about our favourite trees. You can keep up with this exciting project by following @everytree_ and using #EveryTreeTellsAStory on Twitter.Other Twitter links:Institute for Future Cities (@iFutureCities)Glasgow City Council (@GlasgowCC)Gilian Dick (@gilliannd)Donagh Horgan (@godonagh)Clair Cooper (@cooper_clair)––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, e-mail us at futurecitiespodcast@gmail.com or find us on Twitter @FutureCitiesPod.

We hear the term used all over the place: in music, on TV, in books– but what IS resilience? In this episode, we discuss resilience from the Social-Ecological-Technological Systems (SETS) perspective. To understand what resilience means from this perspective, we interviewed urban resilience experts from each of these three disciplines. Dr. Nancy Grimm is a professor of ecology in the School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University (ASU) and a co-director of the Urban Resilience to Extremes Sustainability Research Network (UREx SRN). Dr. Marta Berbes is a professor in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society at ASU, but is transitioning the University of Waterloo where she'll work on their Future Cities Initiative. Dr. Dan Eisenberg is a Research Assistant Professor of Operations Research at the Naval Postgraduate School. Learn more about and connect with our hosts and guests by checking out these links:Hosts:Stephen Elser: Twitter, LinkedInSam Markolf: Twitter, UC-Merced website, Google ScholarGuests:Nancy Grimm: Twitter, lab webpageMarta Berbes: Twitter, Future Cities InitiativeDan Eisenberg: Personal faculty page, research group page––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, e-mail us at futurecitiespodcast@gmail.com or find us on Twitter @FutureCitiesPod.

Green infrastructure (GI) and nature-based solutions (NBS) are relatively new concepts in expert circles, at least by those terms. In this episode, Dr. Elizabeth Cook and Clair Cooper join first-time host Charlyn Green to discuss what green infrastructure and nature-based solutions mean for non-experts. Topics of discussion include examples of GI and NBS at scales ranging from household to city, the benefits of having access to private green space, and factors involved in work to advance the uptake of nature-based solutions in cities.Here are some links to learn more about projects mentioned during the episode:NATURA Network of Networks: https://natura-net.org/Convergence Resilience Research Project | http://convergence.urexsrn.net/  Urban Nature Atlas Follow this month's host and guests on Twitter! Elizabeth Cook: @e_m_cookClair Coope:r @cooper_clairCharlyn Green: @CharlynEGreen  ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future episodes, e-mail us at futurecitiespodcast@gmail.com or find us on Twitter @FutureCitiesPod. Learn more about the Urban Resilience to Extremes Sustainability Research Network (UREx SRN) at urexsrn.net.