University of Waterloo Student Exchange

The SMU Urban Institute is pleased to highlight continued research exchange between The SULTREE Lab at the University of Waterloo and the SMU Urban Institute, strengthening international collaboration in urban climate and sustainability research.

A series of research-sharing sessions led by Professor Winston Chow, Research Pillar Lead (Urban Systems) at the SMU Urban Institute, together with Urban Fellows Dr Sayd Randle (urban water infrastructure) and Dr Clayton Miller (urban analytics), brought together diverse perspectives on urban climate, infrastructure systems, and data-driven approaches to urban sustainability.

These sessions convened undergraduate and graduate students under the guidance of Professor Peter Crank from the University of Waterloo Faculty of Environment and Dr Eryn Stewart from the Future Cities Institute (University of Waterloo), enabling interdisciplinary dialogue on urban climate challenges and sustainability transitions across different geographic contexts.

The programme also marked the return of Professor Crank to ongoing collaborations with Singapore Management University, following his earlier involvement in the Cooling Singapore 2.0 research initiative.

Across the sessions, participants engaged in discussions that bridged geographies, disciplines, and urban contexts. The exchanges highlighted how comparative perspectives can generate new insights into urban systems and sustainability challenges, particularly in relation to climate adaptation, infrastructure resilience, and data-informed planning.

The SMU Urban Institute extends its appreciation to all contributors for fostering a productive and intellectually rich exchange. Such collaborations continue to play an important role in advancing research while also nurturing the next generation of urban scholars and practitioners.