Department
Urban Studies and Planning
Fifteen MIT faculty honored as “Committed to Caring” for 2021-23
Honor recognizes professors who went the extra mile advising during the pandemic’s disruptions.
How the brain navigates cities
We seem to be wired to calculate not the shortest path but the “pointiest” one, facing us toward our destination as much as possible.
Tool for predicting pedestrian flow expands its reach
Long-term study of Melbourne, Australia, shows how urban development and change affects pedestrians, not just automobiles.
Citizens emerge from the slums
PhD student Ying Gao's research reveals that the urban poor in the developing world are politically engaged and capable of effecting change.
Study: Ending an eviction moratorium increases Covid-19 hazard
Results show infection rates increase across communities; individuals in low-income areas and those in poor health are at highest risk.
A serious plea for playful design
In their new book, “Urban Play,” MIT researchers advance the idea of using technology to make urban life creative and unpredictable.
Climate and sustainability classes expand at MIT
MIT offers over 120 undergraduate classes related to sustainability, a sign of growing student and faculty interest in the environmental impacts of their fields.
Finding common ground in Malden
Using an untapped resource, the Malden River Project is boosting social resilience along with climate mitigation in the gateway city of Malden, Massachusetts.
3 Questions: David Kaiser and Julie Shah on social and ethical responsibilities of computing
Advancing the study and practice of thinking responsibly in computing education, research, and implementation.
Study finds lockdowns effective at reducing travel in Sierra Leone
MIT researchers use cell tower data to show that movement during Covid-19-related lockdowns declined the most in wealthier areas with more people.
3 Questions: James Poterba on making infrastructure pay off
MIT economist sees overlooked value in repairs, upgrades, and user fees to help fund projects.
New directions in real estate practice
Professor Siqi Zheng promotes sustainable urbanization at MIT’s Center for Real Estate.
From NYC zookeeper to aspiring architect
Merging species conservation and architectural design, graduate student James Brice is studying the sustainable development of public spaces.
E-scooters as a new micro-mobility service
SMART researchers explore the potential of e-scooter sharing as a replacement for short-distance transit in Singapore.