Climate Lessons for Our Cities: Global Perspectives on Climate Change on Urban Environments | Spring 2024 

Following the hottest year on record in 2023, there is more urgency than ever to address the ongoing, and expanding, consequences of climate change. Residents in urban areas are increasingly susceptible to issues such as flooding, extreme heat, health hazards, and severe weather events. What does the latest research tell us about the most significant threats to our cities? What practices from around the world can help us mitigate these impacts and adapt to a changing climate? This spring, CURA and the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center will host a series of presentations from international scholars and practitioners who are experts in climate related topics and their impacts on urban areas. 

Maps from the Past: The Impact of Historical Urban Maps on the Past and Present | Summer 2024 

From Leonardo da Vinci’s Imola Plan to the 1792 Plan of the City of Washington, urban maps have long provided researchers with a window into the past by revealing how groups of people organized and perceived their cities. However, in addition to historical insights, maps from the past have the potential to help us better understand issues facing our cities today. This summer, CURA and the Research Commons will host a series of presentations featuring scholars engaged in research with historical maps to illuminate the links between urban challenges and impacts old and new.

Responding to the Housing Crisis | Fall 2024

There are few issues of greater importance in Central Ohio - and the nation - than the housing crisis. Eviction filings in Franklin County hit a 20-year high in 2023, the region continues to attract jobs and investment from companies such as Intel, and the region’s population is expected to reach over 3 million people by 2050. What factors of this crisis are most important to understand? What potential solutions might exist? This fall, CURA and MORPC will host a series of presentations and a panel discussion featuring national and local leaders to dive into topics related to housing and its impacts.