More than 50 speakers and nearly 500 students, academics, and practitioners attended the sold-out Ecological Urbanism Conference held at the Harvard Graduate School of Design April 3-5. Participants and attendees included experts in urban design and planning, public health, social epidemiology, landscape architecture, architecture, public policy, engineering, art and allied professions, who explored the complexity of myriad issues and systems related to creating alternative and sustainable cities of the future. More than energy-efficient building technology and “green” design metrics, the panel discussions and presentations called for social and economic sustainability as well as political equity.
Proponents of user-generated urbanism and advocates for environmental justice as well as environmental protection fostered discussion and candid debate during a number of the sessions. Panelists also addressed the role of education as the most stable infrastructure for ecological urbanism and the importance of religion and the arts and humanities, as well as technology, in fostering visions of a sustainable future that promotes justice, community, and the well being of residents.
Opening remarks by GSD Dean Mohsen Mostafavi and Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino and comments by Harvard University President Drew Faust on the second day of the conference provided context for the discussions within the wider communities of Boston and the University which are committed to agendas for sustainable futures.
Text and photographs courtesy of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design communications staff.
