The abstracts of the two selected projects, COOLSCHOOLS and CARIN-PT are below.
COOLSCHOOLS – Realizing potentials of nature-based climate shelters in school environments for urban transformation
COOLSCHOOLS is a transdisciplinary applied urban research project that examines the transformative potential of nature-based solutions (NBS) to support the creation of climate shelters in European school environments. We assess how nature-based climate shelters can drive social-ecological transformations towards urban sustainability, climate resilience, social justice, and quality education at multiple urban scales (from schools to metropolitan region) and translate them into practical building capacity for school communities and beyond. Building on pioneering pilot NBS projects of school transformation in Barcelona, Brussels, Paris, and Rotterdam, COOLSCHOOLS unravels the specificities of each context and finds common patterns related to climate shelters transformation capacities, focusing on marginalized groups. Through participatory and co-creation methodologies, we propose an interdisciplinary approach that combines natural, bio-medical, social, and education sciences. To further promote a holistic approach to school climate shelters transformation capacities, we will actively disseminate the pilots’ best practice and key learnings among city governments, urban planners, companies, school communities and other relevant stakeholders. The consortium’s cross-sectoral composition ensures active multi-stakeholder involvement through an urban living lab and other co-engagement actions, that are planned to boost reflection and learning, and the wider use of COOLSCHOOLS outputs.
For further information on the project, contact Francesc Baró (francesc.baro@vub.be), or stay tuned on twitter: @francesc_baro
Project coordinator: Fundació per a la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (ES)
Project partners: Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) (BE), University of Twente (NL), University of Antwerp (BE), Hasselt University (BE), National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) (FR), EUN Partnership AISBL (European Schoolnet / EUN) (BE), Brussels Environment (BE), Paris City Hall (FR), Barcelona City Council (ES), El Globus Vermell (ES), City of Rotterdam (NL), Stichting Springzaad (NL), IVN Natuureducatie (NL), UN-HABITAT (ES), Center for the Promotion of Science (CPN) (RS)
CARIN-PT – Capacities for Resilient and Inclusive Urban Public Transport Infrastructure and Built Environment
Public transport (PT) is an essential urban infrastructure. Attempts to accelerate PT uptake are based on accruing environmental benefits and enhancing economic viability. It remains unclear how socially just these attempts and their outcomes are in terms of who benefits (distribution), whose needs are considered (recognition), who decides and how (participation). The close relationship between the built environment and uptake of PT is poorly understood. The proposed research will advance capacity building and inclusive transitions on the urban scale through a dual perspective on PT and built environment. It will examine inequalities in terms of needs, capabilities, decision-making and accessibility. It will also analyse how and to what extent PT and built environment policies take distribution, participation and recognition dimensions into account. It will co-produce understandings on how urban planning goals regarding resilience can be strengthened through inclusive processes. In close collaboration with policy-makers and service providers, the project will consider micromobility, fare structures, flexible on-demand PT and transit-oriented development (TOD) in the urban regions of Tallinn (Estonia), the Flemish cities (Belgium), Stockholm (Sweden) and Oslo (Norway). The project aims to bring about a shift in how mobility policies and services are developed, implemented and delivered so that urban built environments and PT become integrated and inclusive.
For further information on the project, contact Kobe Boussauw (kobe.boussauw@vub.be) ,or stay tuned on Twitter: @KBoussauw
Project coordinator; Tallinn University (EE)
Project partners: TYRENS AB (SE), VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSEL (BE), Institute of Transport Economics (TØI) (NO), Polis Network – PROMOTION OF OPERATIONAL LINKS WITH INTEGRATED SERVICES, ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONALE (BE), Flemish association of cities and municipalities vzw (de Vereniging van Vlaamse Steden en Gemeenten, VVSG) (BE), The City of Tallinn (EE), Saue municipality (EE), The Swedish knowledge centre for public transport, K2 (SE), Region Stockholm (SE), Voi Technology Norway AS (NO), Lime Norway AS (NO), The Flemish Department of Mobility and Public Works (MOW) (BE), Swedish national cycling advocacy organisation (Cykelfrämjandet) (SE), Bolt Services NO AS (NO), Tier Mobility Sweden AB (SE), Lunds Universitet (SE), Resenärsforum (SE), Huddinge Municipality (SE), Vlaamse Vervoersmaatschappij De Lijn (BE).
Read more about the announcement here!