Symposium: Future Cities

Welcome to this symposium on how we can design our future cities to promote health and social and environmental sustainability. During the morning, we will hear about research from New Zealand and the United States, as well as a brief introduction to the challenges facing Uppsala. This will be followed by a panel discussion on how research can contribute to building better and more sustainable cities – designed for people and the climate.

The symposium will be held in English, but questions may also be asked in Swedish.

Program

10.00 Welcome addresses
Anders Hagfeldt, Vice-Chancellor at Uppsala University
Nils Hertting, Head of Department, Institute for Housing and Urban Research (IBF)

10.10 Urban planning for people and climate
Thomas Fisher, Architect and Professor of Urban Design at the University of Minnesota

Thomas Fisher will discuss how cities can be designed to be resilient, inclusive and sustainable in the face of climate change and rapid urban growth. Drawing on examples from community development projects in the United States and international collaborations, he will highlight how urban design can strengthen local communities, reduce environmental risks, and create cities that work better for both people and the planet.

10.40 Building Neighbourhoods for Health, Wellbeing & Belonging: A Community-Grounded Framework and Process for Inclusive Urban Development
Erica Hinckson, Professor at Auckland University of Technology and Leader of the Global Observatory for Healthy and Sustainable Cities

Uppsala’s next phase of growth creates a rare opportunity: to build a new neighbourhood that does not simply accommodate population expansion, but actively supports health, wellbeing, inclusion, and long-term resilience. In a city already committed to sustainable development and ongoing dialogue between inhabitants and planners, the challenge is not whether participation matters, but how to do it in ways that meaningfully shape outcomes.

This presentation shares the Te Hotonga Hapori - Connecting Communities engagement framework and process, developed in Aotearoa New Zealand as an approach to community-driven neighbourhood development.

11.10 What challenges does Uppsala face?
Mattias Öhman. Associate Professor and Researcher in Economics, Institute for Housing and Urban Research

11.30–12.15 Panel discussion: How can research contribute to better cities?

Participants:
Thomas Fisher
Erica Hinckson
Erik Pelling, Chair of Uppsala Municipal Board
Erik Grönqvist, Professor of Health Economics and Director, Centre for Health Economic Research, Uppsala University

Moderator:
Susanna Hedborg, Postdoctor, Institute for Housing and Urban Research (IBF)

12.15–13.00 Networking lunch
Outside Humanistiska teatern

About the symposium

The symposium is organised within the framework of the Urban Lab research programme at the Institute for Housing and Urban Research (IBF) and the Healthy Cities programme at the Centre for Health Economic Research (HEFUU).

Find out more and register