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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    IOC Co-Hosts UK-International Metro Mayors’ Summit in London

    December 18, 2017
    From December 4th to 6th, the Boston University Initiative on Cities co-hosted the first-ever UK-International Metro Mayors’ Summit with the Centre for Cities, a UK think tank, and Citi, the global founding partner. Five mayors from the United States and six metro mayors from the UK met in small round-table groups to share practical advice […]

  • IOC Cohosts Symposium on the Latin American Urban Experience

    May 23, 2014
    On April 9th, the Initiative on Cities co-hosted a mini-conference, together with the Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer Range Future, on “The Latin American Urban Experience: Crisis, Creativity, and Renewal.” The symposium featured two panels, including BU Faculty and students, discussing major issues and everyday life in Latin American Cities. IoC Co-Director Tom […]
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    IOC Director Graham Wilson Announces 2015 Menino Survey of Mayors

    July 8, 2015
    On Friday, June 19th, at the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) Annual Meeting in San Francisco, Initiative on Cities (IOC) Director Graham Wilson took the stage in front of over 250 American Mayors and their staff to officially kick off  the 2015 Menino Survey of Mayors. First conceived under the late IOC Co-Founder and […]
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    IOC Director Graham Wilson Speaks on Brexit

    August 16, 2016
    Earlier this summer, voters in the United Kingdom elected to leave the European Union in a decision that reverberated throughout the world. What does "Brexit" mean for the future of the UK, the European Union, the United States, and the greater global environment? What is the purpose of the European Union? Why was the referendum […]

  • IOC Director Loretta Lees Awarded Royal Geographical Society’s 2026 Patron’s Gold Medal

    May 12, 2026
    We are delighted to announce that Loretta Lees, Director of the Initiative on Cities and Professor of Sociology at Boston University, has been awarded the prestigious 2026 Patron's Medal by the Royal Geographical Society. Recognition of Groundbreaking Scholarship The Patron's Medal, one of the Society's two highest honours and requiring approval by His Majesty, King […]

  • IOC Director Loretta Lees featured on Urbanistica Podcast

    January 23, 2024
    IOC Director Loretta Lees was recently featured on Urbanistica Podcast Episode 417: Women Reclaiming the City book. On this episode, Director Lees joined fellow scholars who contributed to Women Reclaiming the City: International Research on Urbanism, Architecture, and Planning to discuss their work in the field of urban studies as female scholars. Listen to the […]

  • IOC Director Loretta Lees to Receive 2025 Urban Affairs Association “Contribution to the Field of Urban Affairs Award”

    February 19, 2025
    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, Canada. In addition to her […]

  • IOC Doctoral Research Fellow Luisa Godinez Puig Selected as Equity Scholar at Urban Institute

    September 22, 2021
    Congratulations to Luisa Godinez Puig (GRS ‘21) for being selected as an Equity Scholar at the Urban Institute! In this role, she will work with the Urban Institute’s Office of Race and Equity Research and Racial Equity Analytics Lab to produce policy-oriented research on structural racism and share her insight with decision makers. Luisa was […]
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    IOC Executive Director Helps Shape the Women Mayors’ Network

    October 14, 2017
    Katharine Lusk, Executive Director of the Initiative on Cities, traveled to New York last week to help shape the upcoming Women Mayors’ Network, founded by the National Democratic Institute (NDI). The Women Mayors’ Network, or WoMN, focuses on highlighting women’s’ perspective in mayoral positions in cities around the globe. The network brings international collaboration and […]

  • IOC Executive Director Katharine Lusk Participates in White House Summit

    June 24, 2014
    On June 23rd, IOC Executive Director Katharine Lusk participated in the White House Summit on Working Families. The one-day summit was designed to highlight policy interventions that provide better support to working women and families and innovative remedies cities and states have deployed in the absence of federal action. Speakers and workshops emphasized expanding access […]