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 Mayor-in-Residence Karl Dean to speak at Boston Society of Architects

    March 28, 2016
    Join the Initiative on Cities and the Boston Society of Architects (BSA) for an evening discussion with former Mayor of Nashville Karl Dean, currently serving as the IOC’s first Mayor in Residence. This event will take place on Tuesday, March 29th, from 6pm-8pm at the BSA Space, 290 Congress Street, Boston. Click here to find […]

  • IOC Meets with Mayor of Rome Ignazio Marino

    June 18, 2014
    On Saturday May 31, the Initiative on Cities was honored to host Mayor Ignazio Marino of Rome, Italy, Consul General Giuseppe Pastorelli, and their staff for breakfast and a conversation about the challenges facing cities like Rome and Boston. An ancient city flush with historic archaeological sites and ruins dating back thousands of years, Rome […]
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    IOC Names First Faculty Advisory Board

    September 2, 2015
    With the beginning of the 2015-2016 Academic Year, the Initiative on Cities (IOC) has named its first IOC Faculty Advisory Board, a team of 13 faculty members from across Boston University (BU). Representing the diverse range of expertise at BU, Faculty Advisory Board members bring a rich perspective to the IOC mission of advancing urban […]
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    IOC Open House – Thursday, September 24, 2015

    August 21, 2015
    The Initiative on Cities (IOC) welcomes Boston University students, faculty, and staff back to campus with an Open House reception on Thursday, September 24th from 5:00pm - 7:00pm. Join us at the IOC (75 Bay State Rd.) for drinks, food, and a chance to meet scholars and practitioners interested in cities and urban issues. Learn […]
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    IOC Partners with Questrom and Arup for Executive Program

    November 13, 2017
    The Boston University Initiative on Cities partnered with the Questrom School of Business and Arup to develop and host a six-month experiential program for urban executives. Arup is an independent firm of designers, planners, engineers, consultants and technical specialists, working across every aspect of today’s built environment. Twenty-five students from major global cities convened in […]
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    IOC Publishes White Paper: Engaging Youth in Local Government

    October 21, 2016
    There is widespread consensus that young people have a right to be directly involved in decisions that affect them, and an understanding that adults are the ones who must create formal pathways of engagement. Yet there remains limited empirical information about the best ways to do so. The latest IOC white paper, Engaging Youth in […]
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    IOC Releases 2015 Menino Survey of Mayors

    January 20, 2016
    In January 2016, the Boston University Initiative on Cities released the 2015 Menino Survey of Mayors. The Survey, now in its second year, delves into mayoral needs and priorities, policy views, and relationships with their key partners, including other levels of government. Based on interviews with 89 sitting American mayors from cities of all sizes, […]

  • IOC Releases 2022 Annual Report

    September 13, 2022
    The Boston University Initiative on Cities (IOC) is proud to release our 2022 Annual Report. It reflects on the research, learning, events, and people that have empowered the next generation of civic leaders at Boston University and advanced inclusive urban transformation. “2022 has been a year of growth, as well as one marked by transitions. Last […]
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    IOC Releases 2023 Annual Report

    September 5, 2023
    The Boston University Initiative on Cities (IOC) is proud to release our 2023 Annual Report. While it has been an exciting year of change and transition, our pillars of Research, Learning, and Practice continue to guide our activities towards sustainable, just, and inclusive urban transformation. Over the past year, the IOC: Continued to lead the […]

  • IOC Releases 2025 Annual Report

    August 29, 2025
    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, and globally. Together, these efforts […]