Cincinnati Magazine: UC’s School of Planning makes the case for cities
A nine-month series of virtual conversations invites the public to help design better cities
According to Cincinnati Magazine, major U.S. cities have been flash points in the spread of COVID-19 and in protests against racial injustice, leading some politicians and TV commentators to blast them as dangerous places losing tons of jobs and residents. Thanks to the negative drumbeat of news, urban planners fear that two decades of urban renaissance could possibly come undone in the span of less than a year.
The University of Cincinnati’s School of Planning is stepping up to remind us that cities aren’t the source of America’s current predicaments, but instead can be the ultimate solution to a healthier, more sustainable and more equitable society. UC's College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning is hosting a free online conversation series called "The Case for Cities." The monthly conversations will be broadcast from the Mercantile Library and feature national and local experts speaking virtually with DAAP professors.
'The Case for Cities' schedule of events
Oct. 28: 'The public city.'
DAAP professor Vikas Mehta hosts urban designer Ken Greenberg and University of Washington landscape architecture professor Jeff Hou to discuss public spaces and social and political places.
Nov. 18: 'The healthy city.'
A conversation on creating healthy neighborhoods, supporting healthy people, hosted by DAAP professor Christopher Auffrey.
Dec. 9: 'The entrepreneurial city.'
Julie Wagner, president of the Global Institute on Innovation Districts, and Allen Woods, co-founder of the Over-the-Rhine-based MORTAR accelerator program, talk innovation and growth to lift all boats.
Jan. 27: 'The moving city.'
A city that’s walkable, bikable and well-connected by transit provides efficiency and equity while also bringing diverse groups together in a shared space of mobility. Mehta hosts with guest Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, distinguished professor of urban planning, UCLA.
Feb. 24: 'The living city.'
A discussion of housing growth and equity featuring Liz Blume, director of the Community Building Institute at Xavier University, hosted by Auffrey.
March 24: 'The well-fed city.'
A discussion of how our unique food and drink culture has placed Cincinnati on the national map and how we can ensure that all residents benefit from it, hosted by DAAP Assistant Professor Conrad Kickert
April 14: 'The green city.'
Balancing nature and justice, hosted by Danilo Palazzo, director of UC’s School of Planning.
May 5: 'Justice, urbanism and anti-urbanism.'
The series concludes with a conversation about planning, designing and advocating for cities that are places of choice and of justice. Guests include Miami University history professor Steven Conn and Tufts University urban policy and planning professor Julian Agyeman.
Related Stories
Sugar overload killing hearts
November 10, 2025
Two in five people will be told they have diabetes during their lifetime. And people who have diabetes are twice as likely to develop heart disease. One of the deadliest dangers? Diabetic cardiomyopathy. But groundbreaking University of Cincinnati research hopes to stop and even reverse the damage before it’s too late.
Is going nuclear the solution to Ohio’s energy costs?
November 10, 2025
The Ohio Capital Journal recently reported that as energy prices continue to climb, economists are weighing the benefits of going nuclear to curb costs. The publication dove into a Scioto Analysis survey of 18 economists to weigh the pros and cons of nuclear energy. One economist featured was Iryna Topolyan, PhD, professor of economics at the Carl H. Lindner College of Business.
App turns smartwatch into detector of structural heart disease
November 10, 2025
An app that uses an AI model to read a single-lead ECG from a smartwatch can detect structural heart disease, researchers reported at the 2025 Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association. Although the technology requires further validation, researchers said it could help improve the identification of patients with heart failure, valvular conditions and left ventricular hypertrophy before they become symptomatic, which could improve the prognosis for people with these conditions.