EPSRC Urban Futures project

Citation

(2011), "EPSRC Urban Futures project", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 12 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijshe.2011.24912aaf.001

EPSRC Urban Futures project

Article Type: Features From: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Volume 12, Issue 1

The Urban Futures project team, part of the UK’s EPSRC’s Sustainable Urban Environment (SUE) programme of research, selected four future scenarios (policy reform, market forces, fortress world and new sustainability paradigm) from the wide variety of scenarios that are currently available that will enable them to future proof today’s sustainability solutions.

The futures are not built upon probabilities or predictions, but instead bring together a number of factors to create varyingly disparate pictures of the world in 2050. Selecting futures in this way is necessary if the robustness of sustainability solutions is to be fully tested. The team has just finished refining the scenarios to the UK Urban context. This has required defining numerous characteristics of the very different urban properties of each of the scenarios, with input from the complete range of disciplinary backgrounds represented within the project. Work will now focus upon identifying, testing and optimising sustainability solutions to ensure they deliver their intended purpose no matter what the future holds.

The ISSUES project, the team tasked with improving the transfer of knowledge and uptake of SUE research, has produced a report that examines Urban Futures’ pathway to successful impact to date. The report investigates the dissemination and engagement efforts that have yielded significant benefits, both for the researchers and for sustainability practitioners, as well as promoting environmental sustainability throughout the UK and beyond. Further details are available at: www.urbansustainablityexchange.org.uk/ISSUESPublications.htm