About this Wiki
From Urban Earth
Contents |
What is the CUNY Institute for Sustainable Cities?
The CUNY Institute for Sustainable Cities seeks to create awareness and understanding of the connections between the everyday lives of urban citizens and their natural world, leading to the discovery and use of cities like New York as a learning laboratory to create a sustainable future for cities worldwide.
Why is urban sustainability important?
Over half of the world's population now live in urban centers. By the year 2050, that number will rise to 80%. How life is lived in cities, and the decisions made in them, will play an increasingly important role in our ability as humans to thrive on our planet.
Cities are innately places of conservation because the massing of people, markets and industry within a compact locale minimizes infrastructure demands. Yet the propensity for conservation is seldom fully realized because cities are also places where consumption is frequently ill considered.
Paired with our current knowledge of environmental degradation, climate change, and their consequences, urbanites and their infrastructure stand at a crucial moment. The questions we ask, the research we engage in, and the policy we formulate will leave a lasting legacy on the future health of our environment, economy and society.
What is the Urban Earth Wiki?
The Urban Earth Wiki is an on-line community and meeting place for educators, students and sustainability experts to exchange information and inspiration on the topic of urban sustainability. It is a user-driven tool that encourages personal expression, collaborative learning and content creation. It is a place to share data, ideas, papers, poems - there is no real limit on what you can contribute. Since it is quickly and easily editable by all, you can use it to work with others, maybe down the hall or maybe half a world away. The CISC Knowledge Network is a great resource for tapping into the pulse of the urban sustainability community both within CUNY and beyond.
Who is the intended audience of Urban Earth?
We seek to harness the unique capabilities of educators, students, and researchers, policymakers, advocates, and business leaders alike. Anyone who is concerned about the future of cities and our shared environmental resources is welcome to contribute to this community.
What are some of the things I can I do with this Wiki?
- Researchers can use Urban Earth to share and discuss their research findings
- Educators and students can use it to work on collaborative learning projects
- Sustainability advocates can use it to broadcast and coordinate their advocacy efforts
- Everyone can use Urban Earth to express their thoughts and feelings on urban sustainability
How does the creation of Urban Earth support CISC's mission?
In developing the Urban Earth Wiki, CISC seeks to:
- Inform users on urban sustainability issues topical to the NYC metropolitan region and beyond by serving as a data repository for such information
- Connect urban sustainability enthusiasts by creating a new and exciting avenue of communication for user groups who may have been previously isolated by traditional lines of communication
- Focus the disparate and myriad urban sustainability activities and resources found throughout the CUNY system by providing a single gateway to information specific to the needs and activities of the CUNY community
