One-day workshop leading to a holistic interdisciplinary discussion on urban vulnerable territories in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), with the aim of building a regional vision and advocating for systemic change. By analyzing common challenges in the LAC region—migration, climate, and urban inequality—we will examine specific cases and recent programs, such as the urbanization program of informal neighborhoods in Buenos Aires, Argentina; the Blocks of Care in Bogotá, Colombia; the Utopías in Iztapalapa, Mexico; and the National Urban Upgrading Program in Mexico.

This workshop seeks to bridge academia, think tanks, and practical applications, ultimately inspiring new utopian visions for the LAC region.

This event is open to the public and welcomes individuals with an interest in urban and environmental topics or a curiosity about the challenges faced by the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region. We extend the invitation to MIT students, alumni, faculty, as well as communities from other universities, and members of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and its network.

This workshop is the result of the collaboration between the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy; the Special Program for Urban and Regional Studies at DUSP, MIT; fellows (former and current) from the LOEB Fellowship at Harvard Graduate School of Design; and faculty members from The City College of New York, Columbia University and University of Texas.

To register: https://forms.gle/cwwb8MTaQaHhkugv7 

Organzied by the 11-6 (Urban Science and Planning with Computer Science) program, this workshop builds on the urban-related 6.100B problem sets (network routing, recursion and Monte Carlo simulation) but focuses on real-world contexts and decision-making cases. You will look into why these problems matter and who make the decisions - from the access and control of local roads, to mandatory insurance policy for coastal development, to locating essential public services, and hone your innovative problem-solving ability by designing and testing alternative problem formulations and exercising Python programming skills.

11.s188 | 1-1-1 Units for registered students. Audits welcomed.

Schedule (All sessions from 10AM-12PM and will be held in 9-255):

• Tuesday, January 9 (Socio-technical Perspectives on Path Optimization Problems)
• Thursday, January 11 (Stakeholders’ Interests and Risks in Public Policy Making)
• Thursday, January 18 (Polling Places Locations, Closures and Where to Provide Essential Public Services)

Organzied by the 11-6 (Urban Science and Planning with Computer Science) program, this workshop builds on the urban-related 6.100B problem sets (network routing, recursion and Monte Carlo simulation) but focuses on real-world contexts and decision-making cases. You will look into why these problems matter and who make the decisions - from the access and control of local roads, to mandatory insurance policy for coastal development, to locating essential public services, and hone your innovative problem-solving ability by designing and testing alternative problem formulations and exercising Python programming skills.

11.s188 | 1-1-1 Units for registered students. Audits welcomed.

Schedule (All sessions from 10AM-12PM and will be held in 9-255):

• Tuesday, January 9 (Socio-technical Perspectives on Path Optimization Problems)
• Thursday, January 11 (Stakeholders’ Interests and Risks in Public Policy Making)
• Thursday, January 18 (Polling Places Locations, Closures and Where to Provide Essential Public Services)

Can DALL-E Save Our Main Streets?

In a world where rapid technological changes risk threatening the survival of our main streets, can the ingenuity of generative AI help reimagine these quintessential spaces at the heart of our towns and cities?

Embark on a thought-provoking three-part journey that invites you to delve into the essence of main streets with DALL-E. Through the sharing of personal stories, a visit to a local main street, collaborative brainstorming, and innovative use of DALL-E prompts, we’ll bring to life a digital tapestry of what main streets have been, are, and what they could become.

Session 1: Reflecting on the Past (Tuesday, January 9, 2024 - 2 to 4 pm)

Harness DALL-E to awaken the spirit of our collective lived experiences of main streets in vivid digital form. 

Session 2: Observing the Present (Tuesday, January 16, 2024 - 2 to 5 pm)

Immerse yourself with a local visit to a present-day main street and aim to capture its essence through DALL-E prompts.

Session 3: Envisioning the Future (Tuesday, January 23, 2024 - 2 to 4 pm)

Participate in a collective visioning exercise where your ideas and DALL-E’s creativity will merge to design futures of transformed and thriving main streets.

Fueled by coffee and delightful pastries, the culmination of our creative sessions will form part of a unique digital collage to be shared with the MIT community, representing the collective visions of our main streets' past, present, and--most importantly--their future.

Limited to 12 participants, register by December 20 to secure your spot. Open to all, with a strong preference for those who can attend and fully engage in the three sessions.

Registration link here: https://forms.gle/7icaG28QJq2jSecj7

Facilitated by Fadi G. Haddad, Fulbright Canada Visiting Researcher at MIT’s Senseable City Lab investigating how big data can shed light on the dynamics and resilience of main streets. Email fhaddad@mit.edu for any questions.

Global Agencies and Urban Challenges – keeping an eye on the World Bank

January 29, 10:00 to 12:00
De-mystifying the evaluation of World Bank financed urban projects. How is it done and what do they mean? – really! 

The World Bank carries out a self-evaluation of each project it finances, and these evaluations are validated by the Independent Evaluations Group of the World Bank.  There is a systematic approach to assess the relevance, efficacy, and effectiveness of the operations resulting in project ratings.  The session will examine the evaluation process using several cases to exemplify the strengths and weakness of the approach.  These evaluations are in the public domain and are a rich source of information, data, and knowledge.

January 30, 10:00 to 12:00
Is the World Bank doing the right thing and is it doing it right? Urban Growth, Urban Resilience and Urban Waste Management

The session will discuss the findings and recommendations of three major Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) evaluations:  (i)  Managing Urban Spatial Growth: World Bank Support to Land Administration, Planning and Development; (ii) Building Urban Resilience: An Evaluation of the World Bank’s evolving approach, and (iii)  and Transitioning to a Circular Economy: An Evaluation of the World Bank Group Support for Municipal Solid Waste Management  (2010-2020).

Techniques such as meditation, rooted in ancient contemplative practices, have emerged as powerful tools that may be able to support well-being, focus, memory, among other benefits.  Research suggests that regular meditation practice may also contribute to improvements in emotional processing.  Numerous studies have explored the neurobiological effects of meditation, revealing changes in brain structure and function associated with increased attention, emotional regulation, and stress resilience.

This class, Introduction to Meditation, uses the simplicity and mindfulness approach of Zen meditation, or "Zazen," as a springboard for meditation practice. This practice invites students to sit in stillness, focusing on breath to cultivate awareness of the present moment. 

Unlike some forms of meditation, Zen emphasizes direct experience and experimenting over an intellectual approach. Through disciplined sitting and guided meditation, individuals are encouraged inward, to explore the innate clarity and tranquility that resides within.

On Fridays we will be joined in person by Nancy Hathaway, a Senior Dharma teacher in the Zen tradition who will lead talks and answer questions.

In addition, an optional silent 1/2 day retreat at the Cambridge Zen Center in Central Square will be offered on a date to be determined.

Sign up: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd1NX4zqIqOFwxH4yAaNlatZZWJF0SAyXqyhXX-P7ltTDypZw/viewform?usp=pp_url

Come for a day-long visit to learn about planning issues and efforts in the Forest City with the former Planning & Urban Development Director for Portland. We will travel by transit to experience how an innovative transit system works in a small city, and meet with city planning officials working on economic, housing, climate resilience and transportation issues.

Well known for its great architecture and food, Portland is rapidly becoming a place where climate migrants, affluent retirees, and those seeking urban amenities at a smaller scale are relocating. As a result, housing prices are up – as is homelessness. How does a Small City make sure any success is equitable? How do you make transit and walkability work in a place with relatively little traffic congestion? We will learn about how this small city by the ocean is trying to guide growth and change sustainably and justly. We will close out the day with a visit to a redevelopment district and one of the many tasting rooms in town, before taking the Downeaster train back to Boston.

This session will use this visit to learn about an emerging trend in urban development – the rise of the Small City. More than previous generations, Millennials are choosing to locate in these second- and third-tier cities as a way of balancing quality of life, employment opportunities, and the benefits of city amenities. The pandemic and increases in working “wherever” appear to be driving this trend even more quickly. How do we make sure current residents can stay when new residents inevitably drive up the cost of housing and create competition for employment? What about social services and the opportunity faced by New Americans, who are also living in Small Cities?

Be prepared for a long but interesting day, starting around 7 am. and returning to the Boston area around 8 pm. You should plan to dress for a Maine winter, including proper footwear, warm socks, and layers, as we will be walking outdoors for parts of the day.

Enrollment is limited to 12. Please send a short email of interest to Jeff Levine at jrlevine@mit.edu before 12/15/23.  Given limited spots and likely strong interest, admitted students must commit to attending, except in case of illnesses or other serious issues. Preference given to DUSP students.

The completion of Interstate Highways 93, 95 and 90 in Boston - known as the Central; Artery/Tunnel Project or the “Big Dig” - is a multi-faceted story of urban transportation policy and planning, citizen activism and its impacts on how transportation systems were built in the last decades of the 20th century through the present day, the resolution of extraordinary design and engineering complexities, and the politics of paying for such a massive infrastructure intervention. It is also a story about urban renewal - not in the classic mid-1950s sense but in a more modern sense of knitting communities together following the neglectful planning of mid-century America.

This IAP offering requires participants to listen to each of the 9 episodes of the recently released WGBH news podcast, “The Big Dig.”  Each 90 minute session will require participants to offer reaction, reflection and insights from the podcast, and provide an opportunity to I ask questions of two MIT lecturers and former state transportation secretaries: the architect of the Big Dig, Fred Salvucci, and the architect of the Metropolitan Highway System operating and funding legislation, Jim Aloisi.  Fred and Jim will facilitate the conversation and attempt to link lessons learned from the Big Dig to the planning and policy context that informs our thinking today.

Open to MIT community only (students, staff, faculty, DUSP alums).  To resister, email Jim Aloisi (jaloisi@mit.edu).

The presentation will showcase an interactive house model, with a series of features and measuring technologies (thermal imaging, temperature, humidity, due point, indoor air quality measurement).

The model is operated (with regulating it's temperature, moisture, indoor air quality, air movement) to show in an interactive way how existing homes' performance can be understood, measured and and with weatherization/home improvement programs.  

The context in which the presenters work are lower-income existing homes in Latin America which when weatherized improve their energy efficiency, reduce emisions and energy poverty, and also improve health, safety and quality of life of families.

Signup: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1E3W5sm30J2cwUYMjNvMMUJclmFLzRa3RgmsR-vyinlo/edit?usp=sharing

For IAP, the MIT Urban Planning Film Series will bring three special films to the screen, preceded by brief introductions, followed by short Q&A/discussions:

• Monday, Jan 8: Street Scene (Vidor, 1931)
• Thursday, Jan 18: The Lower Depths (Kurosawa, 1957)
• Monday, Jan 22: Hester Street (Silver, 1975)

All shows begin at 6pm, MIT room 3-133.  MIT community only.

See you at the movies...!

For IAP, the MIT Urban Planning Film Series will bring three special films to the screen, preceded by brief introductions, followed by short Q&A/discussions:

• Monday, Jan 8: Street Scene (Vidor, 1931)
• Thursday, Jan 18: The Lower Depths (Kurosawa, 1957)
• Monday, Jan 22: Hester Street (Silver, 1975)

All shows begin at 6pm, MIT room 3-133.  MIT community only.

See you at the movies...!

Organzied by the 11-6 (Urban Science and Planning with Computer Science) program, this workshop builds on the urban-related 6.100B problem sets (network routing, recursion and Monte Carlo simulation) but focuses on real-world contexts and decision-making cases. You will look into why these problems matter and who make the decisions - from the access and control of local roads, to mandatory insurance policy for coastal development, to locating essential public services, and hone your innovative problem-solving ability by designing and testing alternative problem formulations and exercising Python programming skills.

11.s188 | 1-1-1 Units for registered students. Audits welcomed.

Schedule (All sessions from 10AM-12PM and will be held in 9-255):

• Tuesday, January 9 (Socio-technical Perspectives on Path Optimization Problems)
• Thursday, January 11 (Stakeholders’ Interests and Risks in Public Policy Making)
• Thursday, January 18 (Polling Places Locations, Closures and Where to Provide Essential Public Services)

Can DALL-E Save Our Main Streets?

In a world where rapid technological changes risk threatening the survival of our main streets, can the ingenuity of generative AI help reimagine these quintessential spaces at the heart of our towns and cities?

Embark on a thought-provoking three-part journey that invites you to delve into the essence of main streets with DALL-E. Through the sharing of personal stories, a visit to a local main street, collaborative brainstorming, and innovative use of DALL-E prompts, we’ll bring to life a digital tapestry of what main streets have been, are, and what they could become.

Session 1: Reflecting on the Past (Tuesday, January 9, 2024 - 2 to 4 pm)

Harness DALL-E to awaken the spirit of our collective lived experiences of main streets in vivid digital form. 

Session 2: Observing the Present (Tuesday, January 16, 2024 - 2 to 5 pm)

Immerse yourself with a local visit to a present-day main street and aim to capture its essence through DALL-E prompts.

Session 3: Envisioning the Future (Tuesday, January 23, 2024 - 2 to 4 pm)

Participate in a collective visioning exercise where your ideas and DALL-E’s creativity will merge to design futures of transformed and thriving main streets.

Fueled by coffee and delightful pastries, the culmination of our creative sessions will form part of a unique digital collage to be shared with the MIT community, representing the collective visions of our main streets' past, present, and--most importantly--their future.

Limited to 12 participants, register by December 20 to secure your spot. Open to all, with a strong preference for those who can attend and fully engage in the three sessions.

Registration link here: https://forms.gle/7icaG28QJq2jSecj7

Facilitated by Fadi G. Haddad, Fulbright Canada Visiting Researcher at MIT’s Senseable City Lab investigating how big data can shed light on the dynamics and resilience of main streets. Email fhaddad@mit.edu for any questions.

Techniques such as meditation, rooted in ancient contemplative practices, have emerged as powerful tools that may be able to support well-being, focus, memory, among other benefits.  Research suggests that regular meditation practice may also contribute to improvements in emotional processing.  Numerous studies have explored the neurobiological effects of meditation, revealing changes in brain structure and function associated with increased attention, emotional regulation, and stress resilience.

This class, Introduction to Meditation, uses the simplicity and mindfulness approach of Zen meditation, or "Zazen," as a springboard for meditation practice. This practice invites students to sit in stillness, focusing on breath to cultivate awareness of the present moment. 

Unlike some forms of meditation, Zen emphasizes direct experience and experimenting over an intellectual approach. Through disciplined sitting and guided meditation, individuals are encouraged inward, to explore the innate clarity and tranquility that resides within.

On Fridays we will be joined in person by Nancy Hathaway, a Senior Dharma teacher in the Zen tradition who will lead talks and answer questions.

In addition, an optional silent 1/2 day retreat at the Cambridge Zen Center in Central Square will be offered on a date to be determined.

Sign up: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd1NX4zqIqOFwxH4yAaNlatZZWJF0SAyXqyhXX-P7ltTDypZw/viewform?usp=pp_url

Organzied by the 11-6 (Urban Science and Planning with Computer Science) program, this workshop builds on the urban-related 6.100B problem sets (network routing, recursion and Monte Carlo simulation) but focuses on real-world contexts and decision-making cases. You will look into why these problems matter and who make the decisions - from the access and control of local roads, to mandatory insurance policy for coastal development, to locating essential public services, and hone your innovative problem-solving ability by designing and testing alternative problem formulations and exercising Python programming skills.

11.s188 | 1-1-1 Units for registered students. Audits welcomed.

Schedule (All sessions from 10AM-12PM and will be held in 9-255):

• Tuesday, January 9 (Socio-technical Perspectives on Path Optimization Problems)
• Thursday, January 11 (Stakeholders’ Interests and Risks in Public Policy Making)
• Thursday, January 18 (Polling Places Locations, Closures and Where to Provide Essential Public Services)

The completion of Interstate Highways 93, 95 and 90 in Boston - known as the Central; Artery/Tunnel Project or the “Big Dig” - is a multi-faceted story of urban transportation policy and planning, citizen activism and its impacts on how transportation systems were built in the last decades of the 20th century through the present day, the resolution of extraordinary design and engineering complexities, and the politics of paying for such a massive infrastructure intervention. It is also a story about urban renewal - not in the classic mid-1950s sense but in a more modern sense of knitting communities together following the neglectful planning of mid-century America.

This IAP offering requires participants to listen to each of the 9 episodes of the recently released WGBH news podcast, “The Big Dig.”  Each 90 minute session will require participants to offer reaction, reflection and insights from the podcast, and provide an opportunity to I ask questions of two MIT lecturers and former state transportation secretaries: the architect of the Big Dig, Fred Salvucci, and the architect of the Metropolitan Highway System operating and funding legislation, Jim Aloisi.  Fred and Jim will facilitate the conversation and attempt to link lessons learned from the Big Dig to the planning and policy context that informs our thinking today.

Open to MIT community only (students, staff, faculty, DUSP alums).  To resister, email Jim Aloisi (jaloisi@mit.edu).

Come for a day-long visit to learn about planning issues and efforts in the Forest City with the former Planning & Urban Development Director for Portland. We will travel by transit to experience how an innovative transit system works in a small city, and meet with city planning officials working on economic, housing, climate resilience and transportation issues.

Well known for its great architecture and food, Portland is rapidly becoming a place where climate migrants, affluent retirees, and those seeking urban amenities at a smaller scale are relocating. As a result, housing prices are up – as is homelessness. How does a Small City make sure any success is equitable? How do you make transit and walkability work in a place with relatively little traffic congestion? We will learn about how this small city by the ocean is trying to guide growth and change sustainably and justly. We will close out the day with a visit to a redevelopment district and one of the many tasting rooms in town, before taking the Downeaster train back to Boston.

This session will use this visit to learn about an emerging trend in urban development – the rise of the Small City. More than previous generations, Millennials are choosing to locate in these second- and third-tier cities as a way of balancing quality of life, employment opportunities, and the benefits of city amenities. The pandemic and increases in working “wherever” appear to be driving this trend even more quickly. How do we make sure current residents can stay when new residents inevitably drive up the cost of housing and create competition for employment? What about social services and the opportunity faced by New Americans, who are also living in Small Cities?

Be prepared for a long but interesting day, starting around 7 am. and returning to the Boston area around 8 pm. You should plan to dress for a Maine winter, including proper footwear, warm socks, and layers, as we will be walking outdoors for parts of the day.

Enrollment is limited to 12. Please send a short email of interest to Jeff Levine at jrlevine@mit.edu before 12/15/23.  Given limited spots and likely strong interest, admitted students must commit to attending, except in case of illnesses or other serious issues. Preference given to DUSP students.

One-day workshop leading to a holistic interdisciplinary discussion on urban vulnerable territories in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), with the aim of building a regional vision and advocating for systemic change. By analyzing common challenges in the LAC region—migration, climate, and urban inequality—we will examine specific cases and recent programs, such as the urbanization program of informal neighborhoods in Buenos Aires, Argentina; the Blocks of Care in Bogotá, Colombia; the Utopías in Iztapalapa, Mexico; and the National Urban Upgrading Program in Mexico.

This workshop seeks to bridge academia, think tanks, and practical applications, ultimately inspiring new utopian visions for the LAC region.

This event is open to the public and welcomes individuals with an interest in urban and environmental topics or a curiosity about the challenges faced by the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region. We extend the invitation to MIT students, alumni, faculty, as well as communities from other universities, and members of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy and its network.

This workshop is the result of the collaboration between the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy; the Special Program for Urban and Regional Studies at DUSP, MIT; fellows (former and current) from the LOEB Fellowship at Harvard Graduate School of Design; and faculty members from The City College of New York, Columbia University and University of Texas.

To register: https://forms.gle/cwwb8MTaQaHhkugv7 

Global Agencies and Urban Challenges – keeping an eye on the World Bank

January 29, 10:00 to 12:00
De-mystifying the evaluation of World Bank financed urban projects. How is it done and what do they mean? – really! 

The World Bank carries out a self-evaluation of each project it finances, and these evaluations are validated by the Independent Evaluations Group of the World Bank.  There is a systematic approach to assess the relevance, efficacy, and effectiveness of the operations resulting in project ratings.  The session will examine the evaluation process using several cases to exemplify the strengths and weakness of the approach.  These evaluations are in the public domain and are a rich source of information, data, and knowledge.

January 30, 10:00 to 12:00
Is the World Bank doing the right thing and is it doing it right? Urban Growth, Urban Resilience and Urban Waste Management

The session will discuss the findings and recommendations of three major Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) evaluations:  (i)  Managing Urban Spatial Growth: World Bank Support to Land Administration, Planning and Development; (ii) Building Urban Resilience: An Evaluation of the World Bank’s evolving approach, and (iii)  and Transitioning to a Circular Economy: An Evaluation of the World Bank Group Support for Municipal Solid Waste Management  (2010-2020).

The presentation will showcase an interactive house model, with a series of features and measuring technologies (thermal imaging, temperature, humidity, due point, indoor air quality measurement).

The model is operated (with regulating it's temperature, moisture, indoor air quality, air movement) to show in an interactive way how existing homes' performance can be understood, measured and and with weatherization/home improvement programs.  

The context in which the presenters work are lower-income existing homes in Latin America which when weatherized improve their energy efficiency, reduce emisions and energy poverty, and also improve health, safety and quality of life of families.

Signup: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1E3W5sm30J2cwUYMjNvMMUJclmFLzRa3RgmsR-vyinlo/edit?usp=sharing