SMU Urban Institute Shines at World Cities Summit 2024
The Singapore Management University (SMU) Urban Institute made a significant impact at the 2025 World Cities Summit (WCS), which concluded yesterday. Throughout the event, faculty members shared their expertise on urban resilience, smart cities, and sustainable urban development, fostering meaningful discussions and collaborations.
Day 1: Young Leaders Symposium
On the first day, Prof Orlando Woods, Director of the SMU Urban Institute, and Prof Aidan W. (Urban Fellow, Urban Life) played pivotal roles as they moderated a panel and led a workshop at the Young Leaders Symposium. Their dynamic leadership infused the event with deep insights on urban development and leadership, inspiring the next generation of city planners and thinkers.
Day 2: Resilient & Regenerative Cities Plenary
The focus shifted to urban regeneration on Day 2, where Prof Winston Chow, Pillar Lead of Urban Infrastructure, spoke at the Resilient & Regenerative Cities Plenary 2 on the theme, “How do cities accelerate towards urban regeneration in harmony with nature?” Prof Chow highlighted the cooling effect of Bishan Park in Singapore, where temperatures are 1.5°C lower than surrounding areas due to its naturalized stream, once a man-made canal. He also discussed the park’s role as a "sponge city," which not only enhances flood resilience but has also led to a rise in property values.
Day 3: Smart Cities Plenary
On the final day, Prof Orlando Woods returned to moderate the Smart Cities Plenary I on “How do we create human-centric smart cities?” Prof Woods provided insights into the importance of visioning a smart city, particularly in the context of Singapore’s Smart Nation initiative. He emphasized the need to engage the public in these visions, while also addressing the balance of scaling up to gain traction and scaling down to meet the specific needs of different user groups. Topics such as building trust in smart city solutions were also explored during the panel discussion.
International Presence and Collaborations
The Urban Institute’s presence was further bolstered by the attendance of international scholars, including Prof Loretta Lees and Prof Luca Mora, who engaged in valuable exchanges with SMU faculty. They were joined by Barnabas Mah (Research Assistant), Emma Goh (Summer Intern), and Lee Yeung (Senior Manager) of the Urban Institute, further enhancing the institute’s global connections.
Key Milestone: MOU Signing
A major milestone for the SMU Urban Institute was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) and the SMU College of Integrative Studies. This partnership will see SMU leveraging SLA's geospatial data to address urban heat challenges, specifically through projects like Cooling Singapore 2.0. The collaboration aligns with the SG Green Plan 2030 and aims to cultivate a new generation of geospatial experts through joint research initiatives and opportunities for undergraduate and postgraduate involvement.
Catch Up on SMU Urban Institute Research
If you missed the SMU booth at WCS, don’t worry. You can still explore the innovative research showcased by SMU’s Urban Fellows:
- Urban Life:
- Urban Infrastructure:
- Prof Winston Chow: “Cooling Singapore 2.0: Understanding Urban Heat” Link
Alvin Tan, Singapore's Minister of State for Trade & Industry and Culture, Community & Youth, Board Member of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC, shares his post on WCS 2024 here.
The event marked a successful showcase of SMU’s leadership in addressing key urban challenges, positioning the university at the forefront of global urban development discussions.
