Cairo: June 11th – 13th, 2019

The University of Alabama (UAB) Sustainable Smart Cities Research Center has secured a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to host the 2nd NSF Sustainable Smart Cities International Workshop in Egypt in June 2019. This event will focus on issues specific to sustainable cities in arid environments and will address thematic areas related to:

• Sustainable infrastructure in arid environments
• The development of livable environments across varying urban ecosystems, specifically new developments, existing urban areas, and informal settlements
• The role of government in promoting sustainable cities

The objective of the 2nd NSF Sustainable Smart Cities International Workshop is to facilitate open discussions and exchange of knowledge related to the challenges of advancing sustainable smart cities and the roles of national and municipal governments in those efforts.

The workshop will be organized on the premise that the exchange of international experiences is beneficial for all parties. A discussion among government stakeholders, researchers, and implementing agencies will compare evidence-based measures, identify best practices, and facilitate capacity-building through the national and international exchange of information

The workshop will clarify the roles of national and local governments in the implementation of sustainable cities, and develop criteria and performance metrics that those governments can use to identify and prioritize projects.

Specific Objectives

The workshop will promote discussions on how to engage government entities and develop integrated policies for promoting and implementing sustainable practices. The workshop will have the following specific aims:

1. Explore how synergistic relationships between government, researchers, and practitioners can help promote sustainable urban development
2. Bring together the decision making, research, and practitioner communities from the U.S. and Egypt to identify and prioritize short term sustainability programs that address regional needs
3. Identify specific objectives, decision criteria, and performance metrics to help decision makers prioritize and evaluate sustainability projects
4. Identify mutually beneficial research and training initiatives
5. Identify lessons learned that can help the U.S. to apply similar practices at home and abroad

Location

The workshop will take place in Cairo in order to facilitate participation by key government decision makers and researchers. This will help to ensure we have appropriate stakeholders present. The workshop will be truly international, inviting participants from the U.S., Egypt, and the MENA region.