Initiative on Cities
@buoncities.bsky.social
🏙️🚶🚋🚎🚲 Interdisciplinary Center for Urban Research & Learning @bostonu.bsky.social. Work in, on, and with cities locally to globally. Led by Director @lorettaclees.bsky.social.
🔗 https://www.bu.edu/ioc/
🔗 https://www.bu.edu/ioc/
Reposted by Initiative on Cities
Are you researching climate change, human mobility, and housing? If so, join us in Nola (January) for "Multiplied Displacements: The Climate-Housing Nexus" (free registration & some travel funding available) w/ @uoftcities.bsky.social & @buoncities.bsky.social architecture.tulane.edu/events/multi...
October 29, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Are you researching climate change, human mobility, and housing? If so, join us in Nola (January) for "Multiplied Displacements: The Climate-Housing Nexus" (free registration & some travel funding available) w/ @uoftcities.bsky.social & @buoncities.bsky.social architecture.tulane.edu/events/multi...
Join the @buoncities.bsky.social and @busph.bsky.social for a virtual discussion of Urban Health in Africa, co-edited by BU Associate Professor Elaine Nsoesie! The event will feature a panel on case studies on Africa’s urbanization, health, and prosperity.
Register: www.bu.edu/ioc/2025/10/...
Register: www.bu.edu/ioc/2025/10/...
October 28, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Join the @buoncities.bsky.social and @busph.bsky.social for a virtual discussion of Urban Health in Africa, co-edited by BU Associate Professor Elaine Nsoesie! The event will feature a panel on case studies on Africa’s urbanization, health, and prosperity.
Register: www.bu.edu/ioc/2025/10/...
Register: www.bu.edu/ioc/2025/10/...
Reposted by Initiative on Cities
🌳 Big news! My paper “Disruption of the oak tree microbiome with urbanization” is now out in Nature Cities! 🏙️🌿
Cities are full of life we don’t see, including microbes that live in and on trees.
🔗 doi.org/10.1038/s442...
Cities are full of life we don’t see, including microbes that live in and on trees.
🔗 doi.org/10.1038/s442...
Disruption of the oak tree microbiome with urbanization - Nature Cities
Urbanization disrupts oak tree microbiomes by reducing beneficial fungi and increasing plant and human pathogens across leaves, roots and soils, with consequences for tree health, urban climate mitiga...
doi.org
October 14, 2025 at 5:26 PM
🌳 Big news! My paper “Disruption of the oak tree microbiome with urbanization” is now out in Nature Cities! 🏙️🌿
Cities are full of life we don’t see, including microbes that live in and on trees.
🔗 doi.org/10.1038/s442...
Cities are full of life we don’t see, including microbes that live in and on trees.
🔗 doi.org/10.1038/s442...
Reposted by Initiative on Cities
Great talk @buoncities.bsky.social last night by Danny Abrahamson on the architecture of rebuilt city halls
October 16, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Great talk @buoncities.bsky.social last night by Danny Abrahamson on the architecture of rebuilt city halls
Reposted by Initiative on Cities
Contested meaning of symbolic space in East Asian cities sponsored by @buoncities.bsky.social tonight
October 1, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Contested meaning of symbolic space in East Asian cities sponsored by @buoncities.bsky.social tonight
We’re excited to introduce our new Postdoctoral Research Associate, Josh Lown! Building on his work in East Boston, he aims to develop a green gentrification toolkit for activists and advocates to use in creating more green spaces while minimizing displacement.
Q&A🔗 www.bu.edu/ioc/2025/09/...
Q&A🔗 www.bu.edu/ioc/2025/09/...
September 30, 2025 at 9:09 PM
We’re excited to introduce our new Postdoctoral Research Associate, Josh Lown! Building on his work in East Boston, he aims to develop a green gentrification toolkit for activists and advocates to use in creating more green spaces while minimizing displacement.
Q&A🔗 www.bu.edu/ioc/2025/09/...
Q&A🔗 www.bu.edu/ioc/2025/09/...
BU Urbanist POV: Meet Shannon Whittaker, a postdoctoral scholar @buciss.bsky.social and @buoncities.bsky.social affiliate whose research intersects gentrification (and urban renewal), race, and health.
📹 youtube.com/shorts/ND2Px...
📹 youtube.com/shorts/ND2Px...
BU Urbanist POV: Shannon Whittaker #bostonuniversity #urban #gentrification
YouTube video by Boston University Initiative on Cities
youtube.com
September 22, 2025 at 9:01 PM
BU Urbanist POV: Meet Shannon Whittaker, a postdoctoral scholar @buciss.bsky.social and @buoncities.bsky.social affiliate whose research intersects gentrification (and urban renewal), race, and health.
📹 youtube.com/shorts/ND2Px...
📹 youtube.com/shorts/ND2Px...
Reposted by Initiative on Cities
Live now in Boston hosted by @buoncities.bsky.social. It was a pleasure to discuss this talk by Dr Youjeong Oh on "Development, Dispossession, and Desires in Jeju" today, 18 Sep. 2025. Link to the event here: www.bu.edu/ioc/events/e...
September 18, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Live now in Boston hosted by @buoncities.bsky.social. It was a pleasure to discuss this talk by Dr Youjeong Oh on "Development, Dispossession, and Desires in Jeju" today, 18 Sep. 2025. Link to the event here: www.bu.edu/ioc/events/e...
🔖🥳 We’re excited to share our 2025 Annual Report!
We deepened our role as an interdisciplinary hub for urbanists, bridging research and practice and expanding connections with partners locally, nationally, and globally.
Read the report: drive.google.com/file/d/1Ok_8...
We deepened our role as an interdisciplinary hub for urbanists, bridging research and practice and expanding connections with partners locally, nationally, and globally.
Read the report: drive.google.com/file/d/1Ok_8...
September 10, 2025 at 5:34 PM
🔖🥳 We’re excited to share our 2025 Annual Report!
We deepened our role as an interdisciplinary hub for urbanists, bridging research and practice and expanding connections with partners locally, nationally, and globally.
Read the report: drive.google.com/file/d/1Ok_8...
We deepened our role as an interdisciplinary hub for urbanists, bridging research and practice and expanding connections with partners locally, nationally, and globally.
Read the report: drive.google.com/file/d/1Ok_8...
Reposted by Initiative on Cities
Paper by Josh Lown @buoncities.bsky.social new post doc in this issue:
🚨 #UrbanStudies Volume 62, Issue 11 (August 2025) out now!
✍️ Featuring articles on #housing, #gentrification, #resettlement, #urbanmobilityinjustice and #publicspacedesign.
📖 Check it out! buff.ly/UgkyYZo
✍️ Featuring articles on #housing, #gentrification, #resettlement, #urbanmobilityinjustice and #publicspacedesign.
📖 Check it out! buff.ly/UgkyYZo
August 26, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Paper by Josh Lown @buoncities.bsky.social new post doc in this issue:
Reposted by Initiative on Cities
Global Alliance signed: @buoncities.bsky.social w/ SMU Urban Institute, School of Cities Toronto, Melbourne Center for Cities & LSE Geography and Environment
July 1, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Global Alliance signed: @buoncities.bsky.social w/ SMU Urban Institute, School of Cities Toronto, Melbourne Center for Cities & LSE Geography and Environment
We're proud to announce the 2025 recipients of our 11th request for proposals for the Early Stage Urban Research Awards!
These seed grants support early-stage academic research focused on urban challenges and urban populations across various disciplines and scopes.
🔗 www.bu.edu/ioc/2025/05/...
These seed grants support early-stage academic research focused on urban challenges and urban populations across various disciplines and scopes.
🔗 www.bu.edu/ioc/2025/05/...
May 28, 2025 at 8:02 PM
We're proud to announce the 2025 recipients of our 11th request for proposals for the Early Stage Urban Research Awards!
These seed grants support early-stage academic research focused on urban challenges and urban populations across various disciplines and scopes.
🔗 www.bu.edu/ioc/2025/05/...
These seed grants support early-stage academic research focused on urban challenges and urban populations across various disciplines and scopes.
🔗 www.bu.edu/ioc/2025/05/...
Reposted by Initiative on Cities
@buoncities.bsky.social Exec Director in discussion with State Rep Vargas
May 20, 2025 at 3:07 PM
@buoncities.bsky.social Exec Director in discussion with State Rep Vargas
Reposted by Initiative on Cities
A talk not to miss with @lorettaclees.bsky.social (Director of @buoncities.bsky.social and Visiting Professor, LSE Department of Geography and Environment), discussing her latest work on anti-displacement toolkit. On 20-June, 4pm, hybrid. Part of the Urban Salon. Link: www.lse.ac.uk/geography-an...
May 24, 2025 at 9:58 AM
A talk not to miss with @lorettaclees.bsky.social (Director of @buoncities.bsky.social and Visiting Professor, LSE Department of Geography and Environment), discussing her latest work on anti-displacement toolkit. On 20-June, 4pm, hybrid. Part of the Urban Salon. Link: www.lse.ac.uk/geography-an...
Reposted by Initiative on Cities
Day 2 public impact scholars @buoncities.bsky.social
May 20, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Day 2 public impact scholars @buoncities.bsky.social
The Initiative on Cities proudly celebrates our External Advisory Board member, Dominic Moulden, for receiving an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Boston University’s 2025 Commencement!
🔗 www.bu.edu/ioc/2025/05/...
🔗 www.bu.edu/ioc/2025/05/...
May 18, 2025 at 2:40 PM
The Initiative on Cities proudly celebrates our External Advisory Board member, Dominic Moulden, for receiving an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Boston University’s 2025 Commencement!
🔗 www.bu.edu/ioc/2025/05/...
🔗 www.bu.edu/ioc/2025/05/...
We’re thrilled to announce the Initiative on Cities 2025 Public Impact Scholars cohort! This year, 20 BU researchers will take part in a multi-day workshop (happening next week!) to equip them with skills to translate their research into meaningful policy and societal impact.
See scholars below ⬇️
See scholars below ⬇️
May 13, 2025 at 10:09 PM
We’re thrilled to announce the Initiative on Cities 2025 Public Impact Scholars cohort! This year, 20 BU researchers will take part in a multi-day workshop (happening next week!) to equip them with skills to translate their research into meaningful policy and societal impact.
See scholars below ⬇️
See scholars below ⬇️
Reposted by Initiative on Cities
@buoncities.bsky.social end of year trip with our student interns to the Aquarium… so fun
May 6, 2025 at 8:13 PM
@buoncities.bsky.social end of year trip with our student interns to the Aquarium… so fun
Reposted by Initiative on Cities
BU Spark student Team who made @buoncities.bsky.social Anti-Displacement Tool more user friendly, did a great job 👏
May 2, 2025 at 10:38 PM
BU Spark student Team who made @buoncities.bsky.social Anti-Displacement Tool more user friendly, did a great job 👏
Reposted by Initiative on Cities
Very good @bariboston.bsky.social conference yesterday, great anti-displacement session including all sorts awesome work, plus my old colleague Katharine presented on the City’s work
April 12, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Very good @bariboston.bsky.social conference yesterday, great anti-displacement session including all sorts awesome work, plus my old colleague Katharine presented on the City’s work
To friends, BU alumni, students, and supporters of the IOC, make a gift this Giving Day to make a difference for the next generation of civic leaders!
Your gift will help support our summer student interns and fellows' housing up to our goal of $3,200.
Give Today: give.bu.edu/schools/Bost...
Your gift will help support our summer student interns and fellows' housing up to our goal of $3,200.
Give Today: give.bu.edu/schools/Bost...
April 9, 2025 at 3:00 PM
To friends, BU alumni, students, and supporters of the IOC, make a gift this Giving Day to make a difference for the next generation of civic leaders!
Your gift will help support our summer student interns and fellows' housing up to our goal of $3,200.
Give Today: give.bu.edu/schools/Bost...
Your gift will help support our summer student interns and fellows' housing up to our goal of $3,200.
Give Today: give.bu.edu/schools/Bost...
Reposted by Initiative on Cities
In our most recent PSL Demo Day, @lorettaclees.bsky.social, @kentoncard.bsky.social , and Andre Comandon talk about their project creating an open source tool to assess housing displacement risk.
April 8, 2025 at 2:57 AM
In our most recent PSL Demo Day, @lorettaclees.bsky.social, @kentoncard.bsky.social , and Andre Comandon talk about their project creating an open source tool to assess housing displacement risk.
Make a gift today for the civic leaders of tomorrow! Chip in today: give.bu.edu/schools/Bost...
Your gift will help support our summer student interns and fellows' summer housing up to our goal of $3,200.
We're halfway there, and a gift as little as $5 goes a long way in helping students succeed!
Your gift will help support our summer student interns and fellows' summer housing up to our goal of $3,200.
We're halfway there, and a gift as little as $5 goes a long way in helping students succeed!
April 8, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Make a gift today for the civic leaders of tomorrow! Chip in today: give.bu.edu/schools/Bost...
Your gift will help support our summer student interns and fellows' summer housing up to our goal of $3,200.
We're halfway there, and a gift as little as $5 goes a long way in helping students succeed!
Your gift will help support our summer student interns and fellows' summer housing up to our goal of $3,200.
We're halfway there, and a gift as little as $5 goes a long way in helping students succeed!
Reposted by Initiative on Cities
Loved to see the interaction with neighbors and the @buoncities.bsky.social Urban Studies Capstone Class MET UA 85 tonight as they work towards developing a vision plan for the redevelopment of the 30 Acre Procter & Gamble Gillette South Boston site.. #FortPoint
April 8, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Loved to see the interaction with neighbors and the @buoncities.bsky.social Urban Studies Capstone Class MET UA 85 tonight as they work towards developing a vision plan for the redevelopment of the 30 Acre Procter & Gamble Gillette South Boston site.. #FortPoint
An Pham (CAS '24), a recent @bucas.bsky.social econ undergrad, shares his dual experiences with the Initiative as a first-year summer intern at the City of Chelsea working on digital applications in local government and as our 2022-2023 Menino Fellow doing research.
www.youtube.com/shorts/KKPjd...
www.youtube.com/shorts/KKPjd...
Initiative on Cities Student Spotlight: An Pham
YouTube video by Boston University Initiative on Cities
www.youtube.com
April 3, 2025 at 6:40 PM
An Pham (CAS '24), a recent @bucas.bsky.social econ undergrad, shares his dual experiences with the Initiative as a first-year summer intern at the City of Chelsea working on digital applications in local government and as our 2022-2023 Menino Fellow doing research.
www.youtube.com/shorts/KKPjd...
www.youtube.com/shorts/KKPjd...