Envisioning Urban Futures

The Cities of Tomorrow

We can only plan for the future we want if we imagine that future in the first place. We asked scientists, artists, engineers, writers and other experts from across the disciplines to join us in thinking about better urban futures, considering beauty, sustainability and livability, among other urban elements.

The first Envisioning Urban Futures event took place on October 18, 2023, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. in the Duke Energy Hall in Hunt Library, on NC State’s Centennial Campus. It featured a series of short, TED-style talks, as well as poster presentations, demonstrations, future food and drink, music and artistic interpretations of envisioned urban futures.

Keynote Speakers

• Kofi Boone – Joseph D. Moore Distinguished Professor of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning, North Carolina State University (View his talk here.)
• Christopher Galik – Professor of Public Administration, Director of Sustainable Futures Initiative, North Carolina State University (View his talk here.)
• Clint Penick – Asst. Professor of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University (View his talk here.)
• Georgina Sanchez – Research Scholar, Center for Geospatial Analytics, North Carolina State University (View her talk here.)
• Julie White – Deputy Secretary for Multimodal Transportation, North Carolina Department of Transportation (View her talk here.)

About the Symposium

This symposium was jointly organized and sponsored by NC State University’s Office of University Interdisciplinary Programs, NC State University’s Initiative for Community Growth and Development, the NC State University Libraries and Arts NC State.

The symposium coordinators were:

• Jory Weintraub, Director of Science Engagement, Office of University Interdisciplinary Programs, North Carolina State University
• Rob Dunn, Senior Vice Provost, University Interdisciplinary Programs, North Carolina State University
• Adam Walters, Associate Director, Initiative for Community Growth and Development, College of Design, North Carolina State University
• Charles Flink, Director, Initiative for Community Growth and Development, College of Design, North Carolina State University
• Karen Ciccone, Lead Librarian for Public Science, NC State University Libraries
• Amy Sawyers-Williams, Manager of Arts Outreach and Engagement, Arts NC State

More Information

For more information on this event, or to be added to an interest list, please reach out to Dr. Jory Weintraub, Director of Science Engagement (weintraub@ncsu.edu).

Save the date for our next Envisioning Urban Futures event on November 12, 2024.

This event was certified as a “Sustainable Events Champion” by NC State University Sustainability Office.