12 May, 2022
Welcome Elide Nicotra
08 April, 2022
Welcome Chris Reiter!

19 March, 2022
Call for Papers: Special Issue "Urban Science and the Future of Sustainable Urban Systems"
Summary of issue:
Humanity’s success in addressing the related challenges of climate change, sustainability, poverty alleviation and shared prosperity will be largely determined by what happens in cities. “Urban science” is now a well-defined field that is examining a shared set of phenomena across many disciplines, developing common theoretical ideas and analytical methods, treating cities and urbanization in a unified way across the globe and history. Urban areas are multifaceted entities, involving biological, social, economic, infrastructural, and cultural aspects. Individual cities, furthermore, are part of regional, national and international cities’ and regions’ systems comprising interdependent urban and rural areas and every community category between urban and rural.
This special issue aims at advancing the integration of insights long accumulated from research on cities and urban phenomena by various academic fields, and those being generated by the new field of urban science, in order to highlight current explanatory strengths and identify needed new research to better understand urbanization and sustainable urban development.
“Urban science” seeks to understand the fundamental processes that drive, shape and sustain cities and urbanization. It is a multi/transdisciplinary approach involving concepts, methods and research from the social, natural, engineering and computational sciences, along with the humanities.[1] Urban science goes further than simply stating that cities are “complex", explaining in what they are complex, by questioning the interactions between different levels of factors and why in some places they interact differently than in others. The complexity approach enlightens the different levels of forces that can explain the uneven diffusion speeds, reactions and consequences in different cities. These interactions are “universal” but take forms that are fitting to the local conditions affecting spatial and temporal scales and levels.
[1] https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3526940
If “Urban science” aims at a fundamental understanding of the processes that shape and sustain cities, the ultimate applied objective of this body of knowledge must be to help create global urban sustainable systems. The website of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America describes sustainability science as “. . .an emerging field of research dealing with the interactions between natural and social systems, and with how those interactions affect the challenge of sustainability: meeting the needs of present and future generations while substantially reducing poverty and conserving the planet’s life support systems.” Nowhere are these interactions more intense, stark, concentrated and consequential than in urban areas. “Urban sustainability” at the moment remains more a collection of methods and aspirations than a science (Waldrop, 2019). The ecological, energetic, physical, biological and social aspects of cities need to be integrated into a consistent theory, but one that grounds the treatment of cities as social systems embedded in physical and biological networks. We echo the call made in 2018 by the National Science Foundation of the USA for the development of a field of urban sustainability science that seeks to study the various opportunities and challenges that cities, urbanization and urban systems pose for the transition to sustainable and equitable socioeconomic development.[2]
[2] https://www.nsf.gov/ere/ereweb/ac-ere/sustainable-urban-systems.pdf
Technological and social developments have combined (intentionally but also as unintended consequences) to generate unprecedented amounts of data concerning what people (individuals and organizations) do when they agglomerate in cities. To some, this “big data” revolution, seemed to hold the promise of more effective urban management. But experience has reminded us, once again, that data — even enormous amounts — without associated theory to interrogate and make sense of it, does not generate predictive insights. At the same time that “urban big data” was capturing the imagination of urbanists and city managers, another intellectual movement that we refer to as “Urban science” was taking shape. A number of streams came together in this new approach to a long-standing area of inquiry: the increasing availability of diverse urban data; the realization that the city should be treated as its own unit of study (Romer); a revival of Jacobs’ view of the city as a “complex system”; the flowering of work on network science; and the growing importance of multi-disciplinarity.
By this special issue, we seek to advance the capacity of “Urban Science” to contribute to the development of urban sustainability science, and even ask whether the two emerging fields of research are in effect the same. We propose to examine a shared set of phenomena across many disciplines, developing common theoretical ideas and analytical methods, addressing cities urbanization in unified ways (but adapted on local situations) across the globe, across history, and working towards a common set of goals. A common starting point for the varied efforts that are now bundled up as “Urban Science” is the recognition, well-articulated by Paul Romer, that the city deserves, and can be treated, as its own unit of analysis. As cities and urban communities will bear the brunt of the effects of climate change and adapting to climate change, how can urban science and urban sustainability science help cities adapt to climate change?
We welcome submissions exemplifying interdisciplinary frameworks and utilizing a variety of methods such as the spatial statistics, network models, comparative historical analyses, information theory, dynamical systems, multi-agent models and econometric analyses. Authors are encouraged to address questions about the drivers and consequences of urbanization throughout history, the role of technology in urbanization, the diminished importance of transportation costs and the effect on urban occupations of the rise of digital communications, the relationship between urban development and inequality, and the relationship between urban sustainability, adaptivity and resilience. The papers are expected to formulate hypotheses and pose ambitious questions — but also to engage with why many of the questions posed by “Urban Science” are difficult to answer. Contributions to the special issue should also address the potential and urgency in researchers collaborating with varied stakeholders (including organizations representing the urban poor) in order to co-produce knowledge which is both scientifically rigorous and capable of informing decisions and policymaking.
Keywords: Urban science, Urban Sustainability Science, Cities, Systems of cities, Urbanization, Complex systems, Resilience
CONTACT: celine.rozenblat@unil.ch and/or jose.lobo@asu.edu
07 March, 2022
How to help people in Ukraine now - II
In addition, the European Migration Network Luxembourg has published information for arrivals to Luxembourg and residents of Luxembourg who want to help. These concern legal issues, protection status, medical assistance -- the pandemic, "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over" (Das Coronavirus Update, DE) -- and how to host arrivals or assist in transportation.
"All Luxembourg residents who have offered or are offering to host Ukrainian nationals in their homes are invited to contact the Hotline managed by Caritas and the Red Cross with the support of the Ministry of Family, Integration and the Greater Region on +352 621 796 780 or by email at Ukraine@zesummeliewen.lu.
For consular questions for people trying to leave Ukraine or in transit from Ukraine, it is recommended to send an email to the address of the consular assistance of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs: assistance.consulaire@mae.etat.lu, or to call +352 2478 2386.
In view of the numerous private initiatives to organise transport to pick up Ukrainian nationals at Ukraine’s borders, the Ministry urges anyone planning such transport to send all information to the following address: transport.ukraine@mae.etat.lu.
The Ministry strongly recommends that information be obtained before organising such private transport as reception, accommodation and medical measures must be provided in order to receive these people, in many cases traumatised, in the best possible conditions."
04 March, 2022
Wiederholungsfall: Zweiter Termin Bürgerinformation „mobilitéitsplang.vdl.lu“
Befunde und Problemkreise
Mobilität und Verkehr als Funktionssystem
Von friedlicher Ko-Existenz und heroic engineering
Zu welchem Ende partizipativ?
03 March, 2022
How to help people in Ukraine now
The Deanery of our Faculty for Humanities, Education and Social Sciences (FHES) provided a list of websites and bank account informations for helping people in Ukraine and neighbour countries now. Kudos to our colleagues, particularly Robert Harmsen and Josip Glaurdic from the Dept of Social Sciences.
This list is about to be expanded further. Please help, solidarity needed.
In Luxembourg:
Bank account: IBAN LU52 1111 0000 1111 0000 (reference: “Urgence Ukraine”)
2) Caritas Luxembourg
Bank account IBAN LU34 1111 0000 2020 0000 (reference: "Crise en Ukraine")
Online at: https://www.caritas.lu/en/make-donation
3) LUkraine asbl (Ukrainian Community in Luxembourg)
Online at: https://help.ukrainians.lu/
4) Médecins sans frontières: Luxembourg Emergency fund for Ukraine & Neighbors
Bank account: BGL BNP PARIBAS LU480030339600421000 BIC : BGLLLULL
Online: https://msf.lu/en/news/press-releases/msf-mobilises-response-in-ukraine-and-nearby-countries
International:
6) UNICEF
Online at: https://unicef.org
7) CARE
Online at: https://my.care.org/
8) Ukraine Red Cross
Online at: https://redcross.org.ua/en/donate/
9) International Medical Corps
Online at: https://give.internationalmedicalcorps.org/
10) SOS Villages d’Enfants Monde
Bank account: IBAN LU65 1111 0050 0053 0000 (reference: “Urgence Ukraine 2022”)
Online at: www.sosve.lu
11) Nova Ukraine
Online at: https://novaukraine.org/
12) Scholars at Risk
Online at: https://www.scholarsatrisk.org/get-involved-individuals/
27 February, 2022
STATEMENT BY the IFL-Leibniz institute For regionaL geography, Leipzig, Germany, ON THE RUSSIAN ATTACK ON UKRAINE
We are appalled by the Russian attack on Ukraine and strongly condemn the Russian government's actions, which violate international law.
At the IfL, we have been working for decades in close, trusting cooperation with scientists from all the states of Eastern Europe. We do this not only out of scientific curiosity, but also always in the conviction that the joint development of knowledge about each other, guided by mutual respect and recognition, and also the personal contacts between each other, contribute to international understanding and peace. This is one of the reasons why we have established the Leibniz Science Campus Eastern Europe – Global Area here in Central Germany together with eight other partners. The Campus supports young researchers from all over the world in developing new scientific perspectives on a globally embedded and interconnected Eastern Europe in an open exchange. It remains a basic principle priority for us to maintain close academic exchange with colleagues from Ukraine, Russia and all other successor states of the Soviet Union.
We are deeply concerned for our colleagues and friends in Ukraine. To them and their families we assure our full solidarity and our support for a self-determined life in peace and freedom.
Under these circumstances, it is out of the question for the director of the IfL, Prof Dr Sebastian Lentz, to accept the Semyonov Gold Medal of the Russian Geographical Society.
For all employees of the IfL,
Sebastian Lentz, Director
Declaration by the International Geographical Union (IGU-UGI) on the Ukraine crisis
Declaration by the International Geographical Union on the Ukraine crisis
The International Geographical Union notes with dismay the alarming situation in Ukraine and finds the invasion of a sovereign democratic nation by Russian forces senseless and unacceptable. These actions are undermining global security and stability and have led to deplorable human suffering and loss of life.
In the interests of peace and stability in international relations, we call for an end to the hostilities and for a resolution that respects the sovereignty of Ukraine and all its people.
The International Geographical Union stands in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and its community of geographers, along with those in Russia who are courageously manifesting their rejection of war. We wish the citizens of Ukraine great strength in resisting and overcoming this shocking crisis.
We note that scientists and scientific journalists in Russia have issued the following open letter on the situation:
En Francais:
L’Union géographique internationale observe avec consternation la situation alarmante en Ukraine et juge insensé et inacceptable l’invasion d’une nation démocratique souveraine par les forces russes. Ces actions portent atteinte à la sécurité et à la stabilité mondiales et entraînent des souffrances humaines et des pertes de vies déplorables.
Dans l’intérêt de la paix et de la stabilité des relations internationales, nous appelons à la fin des hostilités et à une résolution qui respecte la souveraineté de l’Ukraine et de tout son peuple.
L’Union géographique internationale est solidaire du peuple ukrainien et de sa communauté de géographes, ainsi que de ceux qui, en Russie, manifestent courageusement leur rejet de la guerre. Nous souhaitons aux citoyens de l’Ukraine beaucoup de détermination pour résister et surmonter cette crise bouleversante.
Nous notons que des scientifiques et des journalistes scientifiques en Russie ont publié la lettre ouverte suivante sur la situation:
The American Association of Geographers (AAG) has published a petition on its website that can be supported HERE.
Petition
on Declaration by the International Geographical Union on the Ukraine crisis
03 February, 2022
Save the date - INURA conference in Luxembourg this June
Organized in cooperation with the ETH's Department of Architecture (D-ARCH) and the INURA Common Office in Zurich, the Urban Group at the Department of Geography and Spatial Planning, University of Luxembourg, is pleased to announce that, the 30th annual conference of the International Network of Urban Research and Action (INURA) will be taking place in Luxembourg, June 25-29, 2022
The conference website is currently under construction. Information will be posted there shortly.
Feel free to contact the organizing committee at luxembourg2022@inura.org
29 January, 2022
New research project FINCITY
European Financial Centres in Transition
On the other hand, COVID-19 acts as a centrifugal force, with strong evidence suggesting that the cumulative impacts of telecommuting, firm restructuring, long-distance commuting, and firm decentralisation are likely to cause de-agglomeration. Within Europe, a recent EU report found that while only 15% of employees had teleworked before the pandemic, 25% of jobs were ‘teleworkable’ (Fana et al., 2020). Of the EU member states, Luxembourg has the highest proportion of jobs fit for telework (Fana et al., 2020). Similar patterns have emerged in the United States, where cities such as Austin, Texas, and Boise, Idaho, have absorbed a large number of Silicon Valley firms and workers, many of whom may never re-turn to the office. In Europe, further decentralisation is possible if banks’ back-office staff are permanently dislocated from central offices.
Our research programme
The nature of commercial property has changed considerably with a pivot to teleworking, larger floorplates (allowing for distancing) and the requirements of global firms whose foot-print extends far beyond the walls of their offices. Residential property has also been brought into sharper relief, with a greater preference for working from home, meaning that proximity to urban centres is potentially less important than space. This may affect small-but-global financial centres more significantly than global metropolises.
Based on a combination of empirical data, extensive stake-holder interviews and focus group meetings, we interrogate which changes may play out in each market’s property sector, and how these relate to both global and industry trends. Finally, given the importance of regulation, the project concludes by investigating how policymakers and urban planners have responded to these multiple crises and their significance for urban policies and planning.
Job-opportunities
28 January, 2022
New Publication in Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space
by Desmond Bast, Constance Carr, Karinne Madron, Ahmad Mafaz Syrus
This is the first publication resulting from Carr's FNR funded project entitled, “Digital urban development - How large digital corporations shape the field of urban governance, (DIGI-GOV),” (C20/SC/14691212/DIGI-GOV).