More than 50 percent of the world population lives in cities. The majority of the population in cities lacks fundamental living qualities including acceptable housing and clean water. This is the main challenge for architecture and the construction industry for the future.  The initiative seminar turns towards researchers and students from various disciplines and industrial and community players from various sectors. With the help of initiated insights from international guests with various backgrounds and perspectives we look forward to active and engaged participation in an important debate which will be part of our work on urban futures. The goal of the seminar is to frame a platform for research within a number of prioritized areas and define strategies for collaboration within Samhällsbyggnadsnoden – a meeting place for learning, research, innovation and debate.

Programme for Day 1:
Moderator: Alexandra Pascalidou

• Welcome, by Hans Lindgren and Carl-Eric Hagentoft, John Holmberg, vice president – Chalmers Initiative
• Cities in climate change , Marco Keiner, ETH
• Design and concepts for habitability in extreme environments, particularly on Moon and Mars, Larry Toups, NASA
• Sustainable development – the importance of city planning, architecture and construction, Ulla-Britt Fräjdin-Hellqvist, board member in public and private companies (Castellum, Kongsberg Automative, Tällberg advisors)
• Sustainable business: how busenesses are reacting to the requests of a sustainable agenda – a global perspective, Roger Flanagan, University of Reading
• Urban futures for the next generation – sixth grade student competition on urban futures, produced by Bengt Nilsson & Dan Jåma, shows how children have been working on the theme Future cities
• Summary, Alexandra Pascalidou

Welcome, by Hans Lindgren and Carl-Eric Hagentoft,
John Holmberg, vice president – Chalmers Initiative

“Cities in climate change”, by Marco Keiner

“Design and concepts for habitability in extreme environments,
particularly on Moon and Mars”, by Larry Toups

“Sustainable development – the importance of city planning,
architecture and construction” by Ulla-Britt Fräjdin-Hellqvist

“Sustainable business: how businesses are reacting to the
requests of a sustainable agenda – a global perspective”, by Roger Flanagan

“My view on sustainability” by Gert Windgårdh

“Urban Futures for the next generation”,
6th grade student competition,
Five Views on Urban Futures 2008, AGS Chalmers

Summary, by Alexandra Pascalidou