IOC Releases 2025 Annual Report
The Boston University Initiative on Cities (IOC) is proud to share our 2025 Annual Report, marking 11 years of impact. This past year, we deepened our role as an interdisciplinary hub for urbanists — bridging research and practice, leading place-based experiential learning programs, and expanding connections with partners locally, nationally, More
The Initiative on Cities Joins Leading Global Institutions in Launching Alliance to Advance Human-Centric Urban Research
By Singapore Management University July 2, 2025 (Vienna, Austria) – Five globally respected academic institutions have come together to launch the Global Alliance on Sustainable Urban Societies – a pioneering initiative that places people at the heart of urban research and policymaking. The partnership was announced today at the Singapore... More
2024–2025 MetroBridge Recap
MetroBridge, the experiential learning program of the Boston University Initiative on Cities, collaborated with 14 municipal and community partners on 17 projects over the 2024-2025 academic year. During the fall and spring semesters, 293 students worked on applied learning projects, gaining real-world experience addressing urban challenges. Municipal and community partners interested... More
Meet Campbell Taylor, 2025 City of Boston Planning Advisory Council Intern
The Boston University Initiative on Cities (IOC) is proud to announce that Campbell Taylor (CAS/Pardee/KHC '28) is the 2025 City of Boston’s Planning Advisory Council (PAC) Intern. Campbell will work under the Executive Director of PAC Katharine Lusk, who is also the former Co-Director of the IOC. This is the first... More
Meet Levi Chen, 2025 City of Boston Office of Climate Resilience Intern
The Boston University Initiative on Cities is happy to announce that Levi Chen (CAS '27) is this year’s City of Boston Office of Climate Resilience Intern. The Office of Climate Resilience is a newly designated office of the Environment, Energy, and Open Space (EEOS) Cabinet. Its work focuses on enhancing the... More
Meet Nayeli Quiles, 2025 City of Boston’s Equity & Inclusion Cabinet Summer Intern
The Boston University Initiative on Cities and the Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground are happy to announce that Nayeli Quiles (CAS ’26) has been selected as this year’s summer intern with the City of Boston’s Equity & Inclusion Cabinet. Nayeli will work directly with the Senior Advisor on Racial Justice, Ms. Lori... More
Meet Corryn Barter, 2025 Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics Fellow
The Boston University Initiative on Cities (IOC) is happy to announce Corryn Barter (SPH '25) has been selected as this year’s City of Boston Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics (MONUM) Fellow. This fellow will have the opportunity to explore an interest in public service and civic innovation while positively impacting... More
Announcing Our 2025 Early Stage Urban Research Award Recipients
The Boston University Initiative on Cities (IOC) is pleased to announce the 2025 recipients of our 11th request for proposals for the Early Stage Urban Research Awards. These seed grants support early-stage academic research focused on urban challenges and urban populations across various disciplines and scopes. These projects also serve... More
IOC External Advisory Board Member Dominic Moulden Receives Honorary Degree at Boston University’s 2025 Commencement
The Initiative on Cities proudly celebrates our External Advisory Board member, Dominic Moulden, for receiving an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters at Boston University’s 2025 Commencement. IOC Director Loretta Lees speaks of Moulden’s exceptional character and achievements, stating: “Dominic is a thinker, but he is also a doer; he is a... More
Matt Lutkins (CAS ’25) Awarded the 2025 Initiative on Cities Student Prize
The Initiative on Cities (IOC) is elated to announce that Matt Lutkins (CAS ’25) has been awarded the IOC Student Prize for the 2025 school year. The $1,000 prize is presented annually to one BU senior graduating with a minor in Urban Studies. We asked Matt to introduce himself and describe his... More
#BUandBoston: What Birds Can Tell Us About Building Healthier Cities for our Communities
This post is part of our #BUandBoston series, highlighting the work and research of BU students, faculty, and staff throughout the City of Boston and the Greater Boston region. Interested in having your Boston-related work featured? Tag us on Instagram or Twitter (@BUonCities) using the #BUandBoston or send us an email at ioc@bu.edu. By: Jaclyn Berman... More
Apply to be the 2025–2026 IOC Menino Fellow with the National League of Cities!
Applications for the Initiative on Cities (IOC) 2025–2026 Menino Fellowship with the National League of Cities (NLC) are now open and due May 19, 2025. The Menino Fellowship provides one Boston University undergraduate student with the opportunity to explore an interest in public service, city-level programs and policies, and municipal leadership... More
Tammy Dong: Reflecting on my 2023–2024 NLC Menino Fellowship
The Menino Fellowship has been an amazing experience and widened my perspective on the work done by municipal leaders across the country. During the 2023-2024 school year, I was a senior finishing my degree in International Relations. I hadn’t taken any classes in urban policy before, so the research that... More
“Poverty & Power” Film Screening & Discussion
When: April 24, 2025 | 4:30 - 6:30 PM ET Where: 610 Commonwealth Avenue, Room 101 (Eichenbaum Colloquium Room) Join the Boston University Initiative on Cities, Children's HealthWatch, and End Poverty in California (EPIC) for a special film screening of Poverty & Power, followed by a panel discussion, Q&A, and a reception. About... More
#BUandBoston: Tackling Urban Heat – Why Accurate Data is Key
This post is part of our #BUandBoston series, highlighting the work and research of BU students, faculty, and staff throughout the City of Boston and the Greater Boston region. Interested in having your Boston-related work featured? Tag us on Instagram or Twitter (@BUonCities) using the #BUandBoston or email us at... More
IOC Affiliates Published and Presented Research on Housing and Eviction Protections
Recently, Boston University Initiative on Cities affiliates Dr. Molly Richard, a Postdoctoral Scholar at Boston University’s Center for Innovation in Social Science (CISS), and Dr. Kenton Card, an IOC Visiting Urban Scholar and current Postdoctoral Research Associate at the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) at the University of... More
#BUandBoston: Planning Healthy Cities
This post is part of our #BUandBoston series, highlighting the work and research of BU students, faculty, and staff throughout the City of Boston and the Greater Boston region. Interested in having your Boston-related work featured? Tag us on Instagram or Twitter (@BUonCities) using the #BUandBoston or email us at ioc@bu.edu. By: Sean Waddington March... More
Introducing the Initiative on Cities 2025 Public Impact Scholars Cohort
We're thrilled to announce the Initiative on Cities 2025 Public Impact Scholars cohort! This year, 21 BU researchers will take part in a multi-day workshop to equip them with skills to translate their research into meaningful policy and societal impact. This group of researchers represents six colleges and 13 departments... More
Meet Our New Visiting Scholar: Pinar Çobanyilmaz
We're excited to announce Pinar Çobanyilmaz as the Initiative on Cities Visiting Postdoctoral Scholar. She is a Turkish urban scholar who is currently researching urban and rural climate resiliency measures and management after forest fires. Her academic research areas include climate change and urban resilience, the right to the city, More
IOC Director Loretta Lees to Receive 2025 Urban Affairs Association “Contribution to the Field of Urban Affairs Award”
The Boston University Initiative on Cities is excited to announce that Director Loretta Lees will receive the 2025 Contribution to the Field of Urban Affairs Award from the Urban Affairs Association (UAA). Director Lees will formally accept this award at the upcoming International Conference on Urban Affairs in Vancouver, BC, More