Urban Futures

Both locally and globally, Urban Futures is focused on partnering to overcome barriers and apply innovative, scalable, sustainable solutions to the challenges that urbanization poses. UC researchers are working with external partners to accelerate economic growth and socio-economic mobility to create a better future for all.

• Create an environment for team-based research focused on problems that matter.
• Enhance UC's research and scholarly activities that address sustainable urbanization.
  
• Advance UC's role in regional economic development and social innovation.

Digital Futures: Provide transdisciplinary space in the new 180,000 sq ft Digital Futures building to bring together University of Cincinnati experts for collaboration in use-inspired basic research and applied research. The goal of UC researchers: Capture new knowledge, create original technologies and find fresh approaches to the digital challenges in our world. Bold ideas are being tested by teams of UC researchers working across disciplines in five core competencies: Software (cyber, AI), Hardware (sensors, devices), Data (analytics, informatics), Human factors (education, simulation and policy) and Digital expression (creative arts and humanities).

Society and Culture: Broaden UC's impact in non-STEMM research areas by complementing and expanding the work of the Community Change Collaborative (C3). C3 focuses on collaborative change, collective impact, and participatory research aimed at working with and within our community to make Cincinnati a better place to live, work, learn and play.

Biosciences & Bioeconomy: Expand the scale and impact of work in sustainability to identify the infrastructure required to create Centers of Excellence in the Biosciences and Bioeconomy related research domains, in part by utilizing UC's award-winning sustainable campus as a "living laboratory." As a leading public urban university, UC will continue to consider the environmental, social, and ecomonic impacts of its decisions, and to incorporate the concept of sustainability into its academic and research programs; the design, operation, and maintenance of its buildings and lansdscapes; and its organizational structure and management.

UC has a Gold STARS rating (as recognized by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), and is also recognized as a "Green College" by The Princeton Review. UC is designated as a "Bike Friendly University" by the League of American Cyclists, has been awarded a Tree City Designation and we are members of the Cincinnati 2030 District.

Non-Profit Leadership Initiative: Impacting non-profit organizations in the region through board service. UC faculty and staff commit to a nine-week program that drills down into nonprofit governance, finance, fundraising, cultural competency and other topics any new board member should grasp to serve their community on a nonprofit’s board of directors.