{"id":24988,"date":"2026-06-08T10:49:57","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T14:49:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ioc\/?p=24988"},"modified":"2026-06-09T14:59:52","modified_gmt":"2026-06-09T18:59:52","slug":"2025-2026-metrobridge-recap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ioc\/2026\/06\/08\/2025-2026-metrobridge-recap\/","title":{"rendered":"2025-2026 MetroBridge Recap"},"content":{"rendered":"

MetroBridge<\/a>, the experiential learning program of the Boston University Initiative on Cities, collaborated with 19 municipal and community partners<\/strong> on 20 projects<\/strong> over the 2025-2026 academic year. During the fall and spring semesters, 410 students<\/strong> worked on applied learning projects, gaining real-world experience addressing urban challenges.<\/p>\n

Municipal and community partners interested in partnering with MetroBridge during the 2026-2027 academic year can learn more here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Scroll through below this year’s MetroBridge projects with a brief recap!<\/p>\nLearn more about MetroBridge<\/a>\n

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Fall 2025<\/h2>\n

CAS EC 367: Economics of the Public Sector \u2014 MBTA Advisory Board<\/h3>
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Photo by Ting Wei Li<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

Faculty:<\/strong> Bahar Erbas<\/a><\/p>\n

Students conducted comparative fiscal studies of select transit agencies in the United States, examining their financial outlook and measures to address fiscal constraints to provide greater insight to the MBTA Advisory Board.<\/p>\n

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CAS EE 512: Urban Climate \u2014 City of Boston Office of Climate Resilience<\/h3>
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Photo by Hao Liu<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

Faculty:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>Dan Li<\/a><\/p>\n

Students conducted research on urban shade to support the City of Boston\u2019s efforts to develop a more formal, intentional strategy for implementing shade in a four-season climate. In addition to quantifying urban shade and evaluating costs, students analyzed case studies of other cities\u2019 use of shade and conducted geospatial analyses of shade in Boston\u2019s Chinatown and Dorchester neighborhoods.<\/p>\n

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CAS PO 519: Inequality and American Politics \u2014 City of Boston Planning Advisory Council and Housing Innovation Lab<\/h3>
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Photo by Ting Wei Li<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

Faculty:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>Katherine Levine Einstein<\/a><\/p>\n

Students researched the barriers to accessing safe and affordable housing among four sub-populations in the City of Boston: 1) Cost-burdened senior renters, 2) Homeless seniors, 3) Families at risk of homelessness, and 4) Cost-burdened college students. Students analyzed housing supply, policy landscape, administrative burdens, and best practices.<\/p>\n

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CAS PO 524: Local Policy Analysis Lab \u2014 City of Boston Office of Nightlife Economy<\/h3>
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Photo by Hao Liu<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

Faculty:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>David Glick<\/a><\/p>\n

Students examined the current state of Nubian Square\u2019s nightlife economy and provided potential recommendations and paths forward for the City of Boston to improve nightlife. Students\u2019 analysis focused on four broad groups: young adults, small businesses, 35-50-year-olds, and families.<\/p>\n

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CAS SO 280: Global Urban Studies \u2014 Chinese Historical Society of New England (CHSNE)<\/h3>
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Photo by Hao Liu<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

Faculty:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>Loretta Lees<\/a><\/p>\n

Students explored the history of Boston\u2019s Chinatown through oral history interviews with current and former residents. This work supports the Chinese Historical Society of New England\u2019s efforts to document the lives of Chinatown residents during continuing urban change in the neighborhood.<\/p>\n

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CAS SO 483\/883: Gentrification Studies \u2014 West End Museum<\/h3>
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Photo by Hao Liu<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

Faculty:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>Shannon Whittaker<\/a><\/p>\n

Students explored the role of transportation in urban change, gentrification, and displacement to help inform a future exhibit at the West End Museum.<\/p>\n

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CAS SO 490\/890: Seminar: Global Health: Politics, Institutions, and Ideology \u2014 Partners in Health<\/h3>
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Photo by Ting Wei Li<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

Faculty:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>Joseph Harris<\/a><\/p>\n

To support the policy efforts of Partners in Health, students conducted a comprehensive 50-state scan of Community Health Worker (CHW) definitions, certification structures, reimbursement mechanisms, and governance approaches across the United States, drawing on academic literature, legislation, and stakeholder interviews.<\/p>\n

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MET UA 589: Research and Evaluation \u2014 Town of Easton<\/h3>
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Photo by Hao Liu<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

Faculty: <\/strong>Ye\u015fim Sungu-Eryilmaz<\/a><\/p>\n

Students developed data-collection tools for the Town of Easton to gather input from community members on existing parks and recreation assets, including accessibility, safety, and usage.<\/p>\n

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QST BA 223 (Sections A1, B1, C1): Business Modeling with Spreadsheets \u2014 Town of Brookline Department of Public Works Transportation Division<\/h3>
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Photo by Ting Wei Li<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

Faculty:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>Megan Macgarvie<\/a><\/p>\n

Students analyzed data to inform Brookline’s efforts to identify the best locations to expand the Town’s Bluebikes network.<\/p>\n

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WEDAP 635: Public Policy and Research \u2014 Chelsea School Committee (Members Jonny Gomez-Pereira and Dr. Sarah Neville)<\/h3>
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Photo by Ting Wei Li<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

Faculty:<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>Ariel Tichnor-Wagner<\/a><\/p>\n

Students analyzed data privacy laws regarding minors in select states, with an emphasis on data sharing related to interactions with law enforcement. This informs the efforts of Chelsea School Committee Members Dr. Sarah Neville and Jonny Gomez-Pereira, who will determine a path forward to better protect students in Chelsea schools.<\/p>\n

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Spring 2026<\/h2>\n

CAS EN 509: Playwriting 2: Writing the Social\/Political Play \u2014 West End Museum<\/h3>
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Photo by Caitlin Lee<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

Faculty:\u00a0<\/strong>Nathan Davis<\/a><\/p>\n

Students created monologues based on the museum\u2019s archival materials, bringing to life the experiences of West End residents affected by urban renewal and displacement. The West End Museum plans to stage performances of the monologues at a future event.<\/p>\n

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CAS HI 528: Engineering Boston \u2014 West End Museum & the Little Syria Project<\/h3>
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West End Museum Curator Bob Potenza with archival materials for students to explore; Photo by Ting Wei Li<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

Faculty:\u00a0<\/strong>Betty Anderson<\/a><\/p>\n

Students examined and analyzed the West End Museum’s archival materials to better understand the history of the West End and the lives of displaced residents.<\/p>\n

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CAS SO 244: Urban Sociology \u2014 City of Boston Mayor\u2019s Office of New Urban Mechanics<\/h3>
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Photo by Onjoli Palmer<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

Faculty: <\/strong>Steven Schmidt<\/a><\/p>\n

Through general research and interviews with municipal staff, students produced memos on pay-as-you-throw programs in select municipalities across the United States to help inform the City of Boston\u2019s broader understanding of how such programs operate.<\/p>\n

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CAS SO 372\/772: Psychological Anthropology \u2014 CultureHouse<\/h3>
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Photo by Caitlin Lee<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

Faculty:\u00a0<\/strong>Merav Shohet<\/a><\/p>\n

Students examined third spaces in Cambridge, MA, to inform CultureHouse\u2019s efforts to activate the Cambridge KiOSK as a reimagined third space for public use, replacing the now-closed Out of Town News.<\/p>\n

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CDS DS 488\/688: Spark! UX Design X-Lab Practicum \u2014 Urban Land Institute<\/h3>
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Photo by Hao Liu<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

Faculty:\u00a0<\/strong>Morgan Curran<\/a><\/p>\n

The Urban Land Institute (ULI) had previously developed an interactive board game called “Homeward.” Homeward is an educational tool for municipal-level government officials, students, real estate professionals, and others interested in zoning and development. However, the game’s scoring instrument needed significant improvement. Students developed a revised scoring instrument through a web application that enables smoother gameplay, easier scoring, and improved navigation.<\/p>\n

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LAW JD 786: Legislative Policy and Drafting Clinic \u2014 City of Boston Mayor\u2019s Office of New Urban Mechanics and Inspectional Services Department<\/h3>
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Photo by Hao Liu<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

Faculty:\u00a0<\/strong>Sean Kealy<\/a><\/p>\n

A student researched and drafted revised zoning language regarding the legal status of new basement construction while mitigating the risk of future flood events.<\/p>\n

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MET UA 505: Urban Management \u2014 Town of Shrewsbury<\/h3>
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Photo by Ting Wei Li<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

Faculty:\u00a0<\/strong>Rob DiAdamo<\/a><\/p>\n

Students developed KPIs to help town departments track and improve day-to-day performance and progress toward Shrewsbury\u2019s 2030 strategic plan.<\/p>\n

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Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 (Two-Semester Course Projects)<\/h2>\n

ENG ME 460\/461: Senior Design (Projects 208 and 209) \u2014 City of Boston Property Management Department<\/h3>
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Photo by Ting Wei Li<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n

Faculty:<\/strong> Enrique Gutierrez-Wing<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Two groups of students worked on distinct projects for the City of Boston’s Property Management Department:<\/p>\n