Title of Event:

Date and time of the session:

The Moon, the Lake and the "Leapfrog": A "Making Discipline" Approach for Designing Urban Development

Chalmers University of Technology, Lund University and University of Nairobi

Thursday 22 nd of June 2006, 16.30 - 18.30 MR13

Key Highlights :

- The official launch of co-operation between UN-HABITAT and Partner Universities; Chalmers University of Technology and Helsinki University of Technology. The event was honoured by the presence of Executive Director Mrs. Anna Tibaijuka.

- Space Architect Larry Toups from NASA, present from Houston by video connection, made a presentation on space design, "to do more with less".

- Student presentations of projects on systems design carried out in cooperation with the citizens of Kisumu, Kenya.

1. Estimated no of participants: 60
2. Stakeholder group representation at the event: UN-HABITAT, universities, governmental and local authorities, NGOs, students.
3. What were the expected objectives: To explore how experiences from space can be reflected in the Lake Victoria region by design of "leapfrogging" mechanisms and in connection to this, to highlight the need for extended networking between cities, universities and industry. Furthermore, the objective was to present and discuss the potential benefits of educational projects carried out in the real-world context.
4. What did the networking event achieve: The event focused on the need for a new mode of "knowledge production" in relation to process design, i.e. the necessity to consider peoples' actual needs rather than focusing on predefined design processes. In relation to this, emphasis was put on the importance of students working in the real-world context and the benefits of extended cooperation between stakeholders.

2. What were the core issues identified in your event as they relate to the theme and sub-themes of WUF III?

The network event was divided into three sections: Urban challenges for the future, Space and terra design research and Networking. The network event focused on the need for innovative inclusive design processes for sustainable urban development, systems design with the aim of bringing about resource and cost efficient, safe and locally viable solutions for provision of services for urban poor. Thus, the event somehow touches upon all the sub-themes of WUF III.

3. What were the main points raised by panellists and participants in relation to these different issues? What new ideas have been generated as a result of the discussion?

The event highlighted the crucial need for re-thinking urban development and, thus, the processes of knowledge production and management by using systems design. The resemblance between systems design in space research and design of processes for sustainable urban development was stressed, two areas which both require closed loops and resource scarcity. Furthermore, the event focused on the urge for urban development processes taking its points of departure in everyday lives of people and that enterprises should be designed and facilitated to promote the integration of scientific knowledge with experience-based and traditional knowledge. Finally the need for enhanced stakeholder networking was discussed.

Some participants shared their experiences on students' projects and there seemed to be a consensus about students constituting an important group for capacity building and data collection, idea generation and communication with citizens, local experts and laymen. It was stressed that the students' projects should never be carried out "isolated" from the people living in the study area and that the citizens should be clearly informed about the objectives. Participants in the event agreed on the importance to learn from each other's student projects and a lively discussion on possible future connections took place.

4. What process steps have been identified in your event that could help turn ideas into operational reality?

The co-operation between UN-HABITAT and the partner universities Chalmers University of Technology and Helsinki University of Technology will result in increased knowledge exchange such as student projects and extended research cooperation.