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:
- identify the key challenges megapolitan regions and their adjacent communities and natural spaces face as urbanization continues,
- explore the myriad approaches used in megapolitan regions to address these challenges, and
- 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
Building Resilience and Equity into Growing Megalopolitan Regions by Greening the Urban Human-Natural System
The end products from this conference, to be shared widely across our networks, include:
- a white paper to NSF,
- a peer-reviewed synthesis journal article
- a “Green Print” for working managers and practitioners to help them transition material from the conference into their daily work, and
- a scope of work for informing future education and outreach products.
This workshop is funded by a National Science Foundation Sustainable Urban Systems conference grant awarded to Washington State University.
Grant Team:
- Metropolitan Center for Applied Research and Extension: Brad Gaolach, Julie Padowski, Anand Jayakaran, Patricia Townsend
- Reed College: Aaron Ramirez
- City of Eugene, OR: Scott Altenhoff
Planning Team:
- Metropolitan Center for Applied Research and Extension: Brad Gaolach (Chair), Julie Padowski, Anand Jayakaran, Patricia Townsend (Co-Chair), Kevan Moffett, Martha Aitken, Maggie Anderson Fasy
- Reed College: Aaron Ramirez
- City of Eugene, OR: Scott Altenhoff
- Urbanova: Kim Zentz
- University of Washington: Thaisa Way
- The Nature Conservancy: Jessie Isreal
SUS Convening Final Products
SUS Education & Outreach Scope of Work (updated 10/31/19)
SUS White Paper (updated 10/31/19)
SUS Greenprint (updated 10/31/19)
SUS Convening Participant Agenda
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.
2019 Sustainable Urban Systems Conference and Workshop Awards
Next Urban Giants NSF Award Abstract
Contact Us
Brad Gaolach
Gaolach@wsu.edu
425-405-1734
WSU Everett
915 N. Broadway
Everett, WA 98201 (MAP)