School of Cities
The future is urban: U of T’s School of Cities celebrates its fifth anniversary
Five years ago, UofT established the School of Cities, a multidisciplinary hub tasked with creating solutions for more efficient and equitable cities in an increasingly urbanized world. The project makes enormous sense. In a world where 4.5 billion people live in cities and more move to cities every day, there is no question that the future is urban.
Toronto mayoral candidates debate at U of T’s School of Cities
On June 12, the six frontrunners of the Toronto mayoral byelection participated in a debate at U of T’s Innis Town Hall, hosted by the School of Cities. The debate was themed around housing affordability, and candidates took questions from student leaders and community advocates.
Sustainable Future – Challenge Accepted! Equitable Communities Ep. 5
This instalment explores the intersection between equity, the environment and the economy. Karen Chapple, director of U of T’s School of Cities, says students and researchers are coming up with new ways to address the challenges of affordable housing and energy efficiency – and the next step is to put those ideas into practice.
Brave new tech: Experts say AI tools like ChatGPT – and the ethical questions they raise – are here to stay
In recent months, news headlines have outlined the issues relating to generative AI tools and content. Illustrators, graphic designers, photographers, musicians and writers have expressed concerns about losing income to generative AI and having their creations used as source material without permission or compensation.
On the academic front, instructors are having to cope with students submitting work written by ChatGPT and are re-evaluating how best to teach and assess courses as a result. Institutions such as U of T are examining the ramifications of this technology and providing guidelines for students and instructors.
From mapping stars to helping youth escape poverty, student researchers break new ground
Learn more about the work of student researchers supported by the DSI, the BRN and School of Cities.
School of Cities
The School of Cities convenes interdisciplinary urban-focused researchers, educators, students, practitioners, institutions and the general public to explore and address complex urban challenges, with the aim of making cities, urban regions and communities more equitable, sustainable, prosperous and just. Today, more than half of the world’s population lives in cities. Why do cities matter? What makes a […]
School of Cities releases plan to boost mixed-use development in Toronto
Family shelters below upscale condos, student housing above a rec centre and affordable housing built on top of community spaces offering social services. These are a few local examples of mixed-use development, a kind of urban planning not often found in Toronto that blends residential, commercial and other uses. Amid pandemic-related economic pressures and skyrocketing […]
Can a ‘problem’ be a solution? U of T’s School of Cities rethinks Toronto’s aging apartment towers
“Towers in the Park: A Prospective for Equitable Resilience,” led by Fadi Masoud, aims to evaluate the social and environmental value of public and private open-space assets as they relate to the city’s overall resilience goals. It will also explore the potential for integrating adaptation and mitigation strategies in the tower neighbourhoods. It is just one of the innovative interdisciplinary research projects supported by U of T’s School of Cities.