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Sustainable Urban Systems

Posted by msanderson | June 27, 2019

Overview

July 30-August 1, 2019 – Talaris Conference Center in Seattle, WA.

Funded by the National Science Foundation, this by-invitation only workshop brought together a select group of 40 experts across an array of disciplines, sectors, and locations to:

  1. identify the key challenges megapolitan regions and their adjacent communities and natural spaces face as urbanization continues,
  2. explore the myriad approaches used in megapolitan regions to address these challenges, and
  3. synthesize this information to identify priority research areas that a research network could promote for improving urban systems sustainability.

Group perspective, knowledge, experience, connections, and collaborative and big-thinking mindset were the greatest asset to this convening.

This was a working conference – attendees not just attended, but rolled up their sleeves and focused on the most critical megapolitan challenges and opportunities. Together, with fellow attendees from academia, industry, government, and non-profits we hope to build new collaborative partnerships and outputs.

SUS Drawing Gallery

Agenda

SUSRN – Advancing Conference

The Next Urban Giants:  Building Resilience and Equity into Growing Megapolitan Regions by Greening the Urban Human-Natural System

July 30-Aug 1, 2019

Talaris  Conference Center – 4000 NE 41st St, Seattle, WA 98105


Day 1- Plenary Session and Breakout Group Discussion

7:30 AM – 8:30 AM: Registration and Coffee

 

8:30 AM – 9:00 AM: Welcome and Opening Remarks 

Dr. Brad Gaolach, WSU Metropolitan Center

Ben Bakkenta, Director for Regional Planning, Puget Sound Regional Council

Dr. Kelvin Frank, Eastern Washington University (Land Acknowledgment & Welcome)

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Morning Keynote Presentations

  • 9:00-9:30: Dr. Marina Alberti, University of Washington, Urban Sustainability from an Eco-Evolutionary Perspective 
  • 9:35-10:10: Gordon Feller, Meeting of the Minds: Next Generation Solutions: The role industry can play, and is already playing, to help regions and cities
  • 10:10-10:40 break
  • 10:40-11:15: Kim Zentz, Urbanova: Urbanova – Re-thinking Urban Challenges for Mid-sized Cities 
  • 11:20-12:00 Sudha Nanadagopal, Environmental Justice Advocate / Social Venture Partners International: Community Centered Solutions: Creating social cohesion and stronger communities

 

12:00 PM – 12:30 PM: Expectations Wall Activity 

Participants share their thoughts on what “Challenges”, “Needs”, “Questions”, and “Opportunities” should be addressed by a Sustainable Urban Research Center.

 

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM: Lunch Buffet 

 

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM: Breakout Group Discussions- identify key megapolitan characteristics that promote sustainability (~8 people per group). 

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the key characteristics of a megapolitan region that control its ability to be connected, renewable, equitable, and adaptable?
  2. How do urban system characteristics influence megapolitan resilience to different kinds of hazards and shocks (e.g., earthquake, fire, labor strike, flood, drought, human migration, etc.)?

 

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM: Breakout Groups Report Out

 

3:00 PM – 3:30 PM: Coffee Break

 

3:30 PM – 4:45 PM: Breakout Group Discussions- identify key megapolitan challenges or opportunities for promoting urban sustainability (~8 people per group). 

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are roadblocks or opportunities for building, governing, and fostering urban sustainability? 
  2. How do the challenges faced differ when considering the nested scales of urban systems (e.g., urban-rural gradient, short vs. long-term impacts, local vs. regional scale, sharing lessons learned)?  

 

4:45 PM – 5:00 PM: Breakout Groups Report Out

 

6:00 PM:  Reception with cash bar, dinner, and Adaptation Game Night

 

Day 2- Breakout Group Discussion and Manuscript Development

 

7:30-8:30 AM: Contenental Breakfast

 

8:30 AM – 10:00 AM: Panel SessionA group of 4 panelists from four different metropolitan regions will discuss (1) key challenges and (2) promising opportunities and actions for moving towards a sustainable megapolitan system. 

Panel Members:

  • Albuquerque, NM: John Barney,  Parks and Recreation Planning Manager, Bernalillo County NM 
  • Boston, MA: Dr. Anne Short Gianotti, Associate Professor, Boston University
  • Los Angeles, CA: Janet Hartin, Area Environmental Horticulture Advisor and County Co-Director, Cooperative Extension San Bernardino County
  • Sacramento, CA: Dr. Gail Feenstra, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Director, University of California – Davis

 

10:00-10:30 Coffee Break

 

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Breakout Group Discussion- Led by Dr. Julie Padowski participants will identify key research and action pathways forward (~ 8 people per group).

 

Discussion Questions:

    1. What are the most compelling basic research questions (“intellectual merit”) and pressing societal needs (“broader impacts”) that need to be addressed to enable a resilient and sustainable megapolitan region?
    2. What are the major knowledge and implementation gaps? What types of research approaches or expertise are necessary?
    3. What is the most important low-hanging fruit? 
    4. What would be the ideal way for a center to be structured to address these questions, gaps and opportunities?

 

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch Buffet

 

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Breakout Group Summary– breakout groups summarize morning discussion with one powerpoint slide or poster board and present to all participants.

 

2:00 PM – 4:30 PM: Product Scoping/Development – Participants divide into subgroups and start scoping/drafting one of three different products. All drafting will take place in a shared Google Docs http://bit.do/SUSPNW)

 

  1. White paper and Manuscript Led by Julie Padowski develop two documents that summarize 1) key challenges and opportunities cities face 2) how cities can build resilience and equity through green solutions 3) critical research areas that need to be addressed, 4) an interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral strategy for advancing research that supports sustainable urban development
  2. Solution “Green Print”Led by Scott Altenhoff — a reference guide that can be widely shared by participants that clearly summarizes the meeting’s key issues and lessons, as they pertain to on-the-ground decisions. At a minimum, this “Green Print” will articulate: (1) the nature and scale of the problems facing megapolitan areas, (2) ideas for what novel solutions to these problems might look like, and (3) a list of “success stories” or case studies for solving problems at the megapolitan scale.
  3. Education & Outreach Scope of WorkLed by Dr. Ani Jayakarandevelopment of a “scope of work” (SOW) for future education and outreach products targeted at the general public, especially underserved communities. These potential products will be wide ranging in approach and target audiences. The SOW may include things like adaptation games, citizen science projects, or ad campaigns, as well as plans to establish strategic partnerships and secure future funding for development and rollout of these products.

 

4:30 PM: Adjourn

 

Dinner on your own – groups meet up

 

Day 3- Product Development & Discussion

 

7:30-8:30 AM: Contenental Breakfast

 

8:30 AM – 10:30 PM: Products Draft Review- Participants in the three groups will collectively review the first drafts of the products to share progress and discuss questions about content and future directions. 

 

10:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Product Draft Summary Report Out — Groups provide a brief overview of their draft documents to the full group.  Participants will indicate their desired level of future participation finalizing conference products in manuscript finalization.

 

11:00 AM – Box Lunches available

 

11:00 AM – 11:45 AM: Establish Core Writing Team- Writing teams will be organized and will develop specific manuscript development tasks and product deadlines. 

 

11:45 AM – 12:00 PM:  Closing Remarks

 

Participants

 

First  Last  Organization Title City State
Martha Aitken WSU Metropolitan Center Assistant Director Seattle WA
Marina Alberti University of Washington Professor Seattle WA
Scott Altenhoff City of Eugene Urban Forestry Management Analyst Eugene OR
Molly Baer Kramer Emerald Corridor Collaboratory Project Manager Portland OR
Ben Bakkenta Puget Sound Regional Council Director of Regional Planning Seattle WA
Debolina Banerjee Puget Sound Sage Climate Justice Policy Analyst Seattle WA
John Barney Bernalillo County, NM (Parks Recreation & Open Space) Planning Manager Albuquqerque NM
Todd Beyreuther Katerra Sr. Director Advanced Building Materials Spokane WA
Sara Breslow University of Washington EarthLab Social Science Lead Seattle WA
Colleen Burgess Ramboll Principal Consultant Phoenix AZ
Aaron Clark Stewardship Partners Director of Strategic Partnerships Seattle WA
Chad Cramer City of Eugene Urban Designer Eugene OR
Jennifer Davison Urban@UW, University of Washington Program Director Seattle WA
Susan Day University of British Columbia Professor Vancouver BC
Steve Dubiel EarthCorps Executive Director Seattle WA
Pam Emerson Seattle Public Utilities Green Infrastructure Planner / Change Coach Seattle WA
Maggie Fasy WSU Metropolitan Center Project Coordinator Seattle WA
Gail Feenstra UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program Deputy Director Davis CA
Gordon Feller Meeting of the Minds Founder San Francisco CA
Kelvin Frank None Private Consultant Moclips WA
Brad Gaolach WSU Metropolitan Center Director Everett WA
Kathryn Gardow Gardow Consulting President Seattle WA
Bruce Hamilton NSF Program Director Alexandria VA
Mami Hara City of Seattle – Seattle Public Utilities General Manager/CEO Seattle WA
Erika Harris Puget Sound Regional Council Senior Planner Seattle WA
Janet Hartin University of Calfiornia Cooperative Extension Environmental Horticulturist San Bernardino CA
Chris Hilton The Nature Conservancy Urban Partnerships Director Seattle WA
Christine Horne WSU Sociology Department Professor Pullman WA
Ani Jayakaran Washington State University Associate Professor and LID Extension Specialist Puyallup WA
Ed Kolodziej UW (Tacoma/Seattle); Center for Urban Waters Associate Professor Tacoma WA
Tiernan Martin Futurewise Livable Communities Program Manager Seattle WA
Taylor McHolm University of Oregon Program Director, Student Sustainability Center Eugene OR
Kevan Moffett Washington State University Asst. Professor Vancouver WA
Sudha Nandagopal Social Venture Partners CEO Seattle WA
Erin Nobler National Renewable Energy Lab Project Manager Golden CO
Julie Padowski Washington State University Clinical Asst. Professor, WA Water Research Center and Center for Environmental Research Pullman WA
Charles Patton Puget Sound Regional Council Equity Manager Seattle WA
Aaron Ramirez Reed College Assistant Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies Portland OR
Yolimar Rivera Vazquez Ecotrust Seattle Food & Farms Coordinator Mukilteo WA
Christopher Schell University of Washington, Tacoma Assistant Professor of Urban Ecology Tacoma WA
Anne Short Gianotti Boston University Associate Professor Boston MA
Dale Silha McKinstry Vice President Spokane WA
Matt Springer Northwest Youth Corps Programs Director Eugene OR
Tracy Stanton The Emerald Alliance for People, Nature and Community Executive Director Seattle WA
Trevor Taylor Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Stewardship Section Manager Salem OR
Kahreen Tebeau Seattle Public Utilities Senior Policy Advisor Seattle WA
Patricia Townsend Washington State University Regional Extension Specialist/Assistant Professor Lake Forest Park WA
Heather Trim Zero Waste Washington Executive Director Seattle WA
Matias Valenzuela King County Director, Office of Equity and Social Justice Seattle WA
Sean Watts SM Watts Consulting, LLC Owner Seattle WA
Raymond Williams Black Farmers Collective Farm Manager Seattle WA
Roger Woodworth Urbanova Board Chair Colbert WA
Kim Zentz Urbanova Chief Executive Officer Spokane WA
Featured Speakers

DAY ONE:

Welcome and Opening Remarks 

Dr. Brad Gaolach, WSU Metropolitan Center

Ben Bakkenta, Director for Regional Planning, Puget Sound Regional Council

Dr. Kelvin Frank, Eastern Washington University (Land Acknowledgment & Welcome)

Morning Keynote Presentations

  •  Dr. Marina Alberti, University of Washington, Urban Sustainability from an Eco-Evolutionary Perspective 
  •  Gordon Feller, Meeting of the Minds: Next Generation Solutions: The role industry can play, and is already playing, to help regions and cities
  • Kim Zentz, Urbanova: Urbanova – Re-thinking Urban Challenges for Mid-sized Cities 
  •  Sudha Nanadagopal, Environmental Justice Advocate / Social Venture Partners International: Community Centered Solutions: Creating social cohesion and stronger communities

DAY TWO:

  • Albuquerque, NM: John Barney,  Parks and Recreation Planning Manager, Bernalillo County NM 
  • Boston, MA: Dr. Anne Short Gianotti, Associate Professor, Boston University
  • Los Angeles, CA: Janet Hartin, Area Environmental Horticulture Advisor and County Co-Director, Cooperative Extension San Bernardino County
  • Sacramento, CA: Dr. Gail Feenstra, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Director, University of California – Davis
Planning Team

Grant Team:

Planning Team:

Convening Products

Products

SUS Education & Outreach Scope of Work

SUS White Paper (updated 10/31/19)

SUS Greenprint (updated 10/31/19)

Next Urban Giants Binder (combined documents)

The National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. The NSF issued this award for workshops and conferences that explore concepts for advancing Sustainable Urban Systems Research Networks.

Meet Past Green Infrastructure Deep Dive Fellow, Patricia Townsend