SMU Urban Institute Launches Global Alliance on Sustainable Urban Societies
We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Global Alliance on Sustainable Urban Societies—a pioneering partnership between five leading academic institutions, united by a shared commitment to centering people in urban research, policy, and practice.
Founding members of the Alliance include:
🔹 SMU Urban Institute, Singapore Management University
🔹 Boston University Initiative on Cities, Boston University
🔹 Department of Geography and Environment, The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
🔹 Melbourne Centre for Cities, University of Melbourne
🔹 School of Cities, University of Toronto
📍 The Alliance was officially launched at the SMU City Dialogues in Vienna, a partner event of the World Cities Summit Mayors Forum 2025. The Dialogues brought together urban scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to explore how cities can build resilience amidst global shocks—ranging from climate change to economic disruptions.
In today’s rapidly transforming digital landscape, the Alliance aims to fuse critical social science with data science to generate meaningful, actionable insights for urban communities.
“By recognising people as sensors, enablers, and actuators, the collaboration acknowledges the vital, multi-faceted role of residents in shaping sustainable urban societies.”
Signing representatives at the launch included:
🔸 Prof Orlando Woods, Director, SMU Urban Institute
🔸 Prof Loretta Lees (MAE, FAcSS, FRSA), Director, Boston University Initiative on Cities
🔸 Prof Hyun Bang Shin, Head, Department of Geography and Environment, LSE
🔸 Assoc Prof Cathy Oke, Director, Melbourne Centre for Cities
🔸 Prof Karen Chapple, Director, School of Cities, University of Toronto
Through this Alliance, we aim to:
✅ Launch collaborative research and joint publications
✅ Co-host global conferences and thematic workshops
✅ Facilitate student and faculty exchanges
✅ Share data ethically and responsibly
One area under early discussion: a transnational study on how extreme heat impacts the mental health of city dwellers—an urgent issue in today’s climate-challenged world.
📢 This is just the beginning. The Alliance welcomes engagement from other institutions committed to building inclusive, resilient, and people-centered cities.
Explore more reflections and images from the SMU City Dialogues in Vienna:
Special thanks to the SMU team for their support in making the signing and reporting a success:
Weiyang Cheong | Christopher Chew | Rena Tan | Peiling Huang | Joh Ting Koh | Lee Yeung | Leonard Tan | Jenny Tang
🔗 Read more in The Straits Times, SMU News and Linkedin.
📸 Photo credits: SMU and the Alliance signatories
