How is the Initiative on Cities Making a Difference in Urban Scholarship?

We catalyze early-stage research that deepens understanding of cities and urban populations. Today, with over half the world’s population living in urban areas, it is more crucial than ever for scholars and practitioners to address the complex challenges facing 21st-century cities – and to shape the policies and practices that will shape their future. If you are a member of the BU community and interested in submitting a proposal, we encourage you to review our annual requests for proposals, which typically open in December or January.  
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724 result(s) found.

  • Initiative on Cities Releases New Report on City Networks

    May 14, 2018
    On April 23, 2018 in New York City, the Boston University Initiative on Cities, with support from Citi Community Development and The Rockefeller Foundation,  released “Cities Joining Ranks—Policy Networks on the Rise”. This newest report, which draws on data from the 2017 Menino Survey of Mayors as well as new research, offers the first systematic […]

  • Integrated Process for Landfill and Leachate Management: Experimentally Informed Design of Waste-to-Energy Conversation for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Mitigation

    September 2, 2015
    Principal Investigator Co-Principal Investigator With her project, Research Assistant Professor Jillian Goldfarb searches for a scheme to reduce the energy required to manage MSW and leachate landfills and develop new ways and materials to reduce waste and slow the spread of contaminants. Goldfarb will address municipal solid waste (MSW) management in urban areas by using […]

  • Interview with Michael Capuano, IOC’s Senior Urban Leadership Fellow

    April 5, 2019
    By: Doruntina Zeneli A twenty-year member of Congress and former Mayor of Somerville, Representative Michael Capuano has begun his post as a senior urban leadership fellow at the Initiative on Cities. In this interview, he shares how his previous experiences are transferable to his current role at the IOC, the impact he plans to have on the MetroBridge program, and other involvements.  Where […]
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    Introducing Our 2017 Summer Interns & Fellows

    March 30, 2017
    The Boston University (BU) Initiative on Cities is proud to share the 2017 class of Summer Fellows. Chosen from a group of competitive BU graduate and undergraduate students, the 2017 Summer Fellows will work closely with local governments on projects that demonstrate a commitment to urban leadership. Omolara "Lara" Adekeye - Mayor's Office of Resilience […]
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    Introducing Our 2023 External Advisory Board

    February 2, 2023
    The Initiative on Cities is proud to announce our 2023 External Advisory Board. Our board of urban scholars, policymakers, and experts was established to give counsel to the Initiative on Cities and ensure that the latest policies, practices, and research findings lead our work and priorities. Julian Agyeman, Professor of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning, Tufts University Isabelle Anguelovski, […]

  • Introducing Our 2024 Early Stage Urban Research Award Recipients

    May 8, 2024
    The Boston University Initiative on Cities (IOC) is pleased to announce the 2024 recipients of our 10th request for proposals for the Early Stage Urban Research Awards. These seed grants support early-stage academic research endeavors focused on urban challenges and urban populations, both domestic and global. This year’s seed grant cycle is the second to […]
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    Introducing the 2024–2025 Initiative on Cities Menino Fellow: Kathya Correa Almanza

    October 16, 2024
    We are excited to announce Kathya Correa Almanza (CAS’25) as the 2024–2025 Boston University Initiative on Cities Menino Fellow in partnership with the National League of Cities (NLC). During the fall semester, Kathya will conduct a directed study under the supervision of IOC Director Loretta Lees, evaluating the Boston Public School system and its policies related […]

  • Introducing the 2025–2026 Initiative on Cities Menino Fellow: Isabella Alvarado

    September 24, 2025
      We are excited to announce Isabella Alvarado (CAS’27) as the 2025–2026 Boston University Initiative on Cities Menino Fellow in partnership with the National League of Cities (NLC). Isabella is a junior at Boston University studying Political Science with minors in Public Policy Analysis and Urban Studies. Originally from San Antonio, Texas, she is passionate about creating […]

  • Introducing the Initiative on Cities 2025 Public Impact Scholars Cohort

    February 28, 2025
    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 across the university, sharing a […]

  • Introducing the New IOC Associate Director, Stacy Fox

    November 20, 2017
    We're so excited to introduce Stacy Fox as our new Associate Director. Prior to joining the Initiative, Stacy was a Planner with the Cambridge Housing Authority, where she managed the rehabilitation and capital improvement plans for several multifamily developments in Cambridge Housing’s portfolio. Stacy also served as an Associate with the Technical Assistance Collaborative, a […]