The Boston University Initiative on Cities (IOC) Early Stage Urban Research Awards is accepting project proposals for the 2026 cycle from Boston University faculty members and graduate students.
This year, we invite research proposals that explore pressing challenges and solutions facing cities—past, present, and future. Projects may focus on urban places and populations at the local, national, or international level.
Boston University faculty members are eligible to apply for up to $10,000 in funding. Adjunct faculty are not eligible to apply as lead PIs on projects. Boston University graduate students, with faculty oversight, are eligible to apply for funding up to $5,000.
New Survey Examines Mayors’ Views on Housing, Policy Solutions, and Political Constraints Mayors Increasingly Back Housing Supply, But Back Away From Policies That Would Enable It Democratic Mayors More Supportive of Supply-Focused Reforms Than Republicans April 1, 2026 — A new report from the Menino Survey of Mayors, based at Boston University’s Initiative on Cities, […]
When: Wednesday, April 1, 2026 | 12:00 – 1:00 PM ET Where: Initiative on Cities, 75 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215 Join the Boston University Initiative on Cities and the City Planning & Urban Affairs Program for a discussion with BU Urbanist and Lecturer at the Boston University City Planning & Urban Affairs Program, […]
By Angelina Baicu | Photos by Ting Wei Li On Thursday, March 19th, the Boston University Initiative on Cities, alongside the Institute for Global Sustainability and the Department of Earth & Environment, welcomed author, professor, and urban planner Dr. Jesse M. Keenan to a discussion of his recent book “North: The Future of Post Climate […]
My experience with the Menino Fellowship during my final year at Boston University was incredibly rewarding and meaningful. It not only prepared me for life after graduation but also equipped me with valuable skills in research, writing, collaboration, and interviewing. I first heard about the fellowship through the BU Newbury Center’s newsletter and applied because […]
By Sasa Ramos | Photos by Onjoli Palmer On Thursday, March 5, the Boston University Initiative on Cities, City Planning & Urban Affairs Program, and the Urban Planning Association hosted a student-focused fireside chat featuring Phil Eng, General Manager of the MBTA and interim Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation. A career civil engineer with decades of […]
By Sasa Ramos | Photos by Caitlin Lee and Ting Wei Li On Wednesday, February 4, the Initiative on Cities launched the Gentrification & Urban Displacement Lab (GUDL) – a new hub bringing together faculty, students, practitioners, and community partners committed to understanding urban change, culture, and inequality. At the center of this launch was […]
The Boston University Initiative on Cities (IOC) Early Stage Urban Research Awards is accepting project proposals for the 2026 cycle from Boston University faculty members and graduate students. This year, we invite research proposals that explore pressing challenges and solutions facing cities—past, present, and future. Projects may focus on urban places and populations at the […]
When: Thursday, March 19, 2026 | 4:00–5:30 PM ET (reception until 6pm) Where: Kenmore Room, 9th Floor, 1 Silber Way, Boston, MA 02215 The Boston University Initiative on Cities, Institute for Global Sustainability, and the Department of Earth & Environment are excited to welcome Dr. Jesse M. Keenan, Favrot Associate Professor of Sustainable Real Estate […]
Housing. Heat. Health.
The Initiative's new tripartite research agenda seeks to connect and engage practitioners, policymakers, governments, and communities to pursue evidence-based and practical solutions.
