Press Release (2010)

Environmental experts plan sustainable cities at Abertay

http://www.millionplus.ac.uk/activities/environmental-experts-plan-sustainable-cities-at-abertay

A group of internationally respected environmental experts are meeting at the University of Abertay Dundee today to discuss the creation of sustainable cities.

The ISSUES (Integrating Sciences to Sustain Urban Ecosystem Services) event brings together urban water and environmental planning experts from Abertay University, as well as representatives of the Scottish Government, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, Dundee City Council and local environmental artists.

“With climate change risks and increased flooding in recent years, we know the decisions we make now about our cities are vital,” says Dr Rebecca Wade, joint organiser and Abertay University Lecturer in Environmental Science.

“This event is focussed on sustainability, urban drainage, urban nature and city planning – all of which are key research areas at the Urban Water Technology Centre at Abertay University. We’re looking to bring together experts in different disciplines to find solutions to real, serious problems.”

The delegates will also visit Abertay University’s 3D computing suite, the Human Interactive Virtual Environment (HIVE), to see a demonstration of innovative city modelling software being developed at Abertay.

Sessions include discussions on city planning, empowering local authorities to make sustainable decisions, and effective water management. The seminar is being held on Monday 8th and Tuesday 9th March, and is jointly organised by Abertay University and Middlesex University.

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Notes to editors

For media information, please contact Chris Wilson on 01382 308 296 or chris.wilson@abertay.ac.uk

The seminars are jointly funded by three research councils – the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the National Environment Research Council (NERC) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

The event at Abertay University is the final seminar in the series, after five previous seminars were held across the UK, and in Berlin, Germany.

Abertay University is the leading Scottish modern university in environmental science research (RAE 2008). A key part of this is the Urban Water Technology Centre, a specialised research centre focussed on environmental and water management.

Press Release (2008)

Three of the uk's leading research councils are jointly funding the University of Abertay Dundee to run an international debate on urban sustainability and the quality of city life in the future.

Abertay will use the grant from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the Natural and Environmental Research Council (NERC) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to host a series of seminars bringing together social scientists, environmental scientists and other practioners from a variety of areas to identify and discuss key research and practitioner needs.

Six seminars on the theme of Integrating Sciences to Sustain Urban Ecosystem Services (ISSUES) will take place over two years at a number of venues including Abertay, Middlesex University and at EXPO International 2008 in Zaragoza, Spain.

The seminar's theme was jointly developed by Dr Rebecca Wade from Abertay's Urban Water Technology Centre and Dr Lian Scholes from the Urban Pollution Centre at Middlesex University.

Speaking after she learned about the award Dr Wade said "It is highly unusual for three separate bodies to offer a joint grant and we are delighted this money has been awarded to Abertay, it will support our on-going research and practice in this area.

"Protecting urban environments is highly topical and these seminars will provide an ideal arena for scientists and professionals with a broad spectrum of experience to jointly debate urban sustainability from a variety of perspectives.

"We'll be looking at a range of topics relating to the urban environment including climate change and flooding.

"In recent months we've all seen the devastating effect that flood water can have on towns and cities and these seminars offer the ideal opportunity to tackle these issues head on.