This summer school aims to address the sustainable city from an interdisciplinary perspective. Together we explore how we can transform contemporary cities towards sustainability.  

In concrete terms, we focus on specific environmental issues such as water and air quality, energy, circularity and biodiversity, and address them in interdisciplinary seminars and lectures with a.o. sociologists, planners, economists, historians, and ecologists. We learn from practitioners in urban sustainability and visit innovative projects in Antwerp to explore how research informs concrete change in the city.  

We aim to give participants an opportunity to discuss with and learn from speakers and fellow students from different academic and professional backgrounds. In a final group project, participants apply what they have learnt during the summer school to a specific urban sustainability challenge.

Themes

  • ​Environment and social justice
  • Climate and circularity
  • Urban water systems and biodiversity

You can find more details about the topics and speakers in the (preliminary) schedule.

Target group

CityLAB is aimed at Master students (postgraduates), PhD students and professionals in urban studies and related fields that focus on sustainability.

Prerequisites: Participants should hold a Bachelor degree in a relevant field of study and should have demonstrated interest in urban sustainability. 

Campus

This summer school takes place at Stadscampus (Prinsstraat 13, 2000 Antwerp) of the University of Antwerp. This campus is located in the city centre.

Micro-credential and study credits (ECTS)

Successful completion of the summer school can be awarded with 3 credits according the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). Credits will be awarded on the base of:

  • preparatory readings
  • a preparatory reflection paper
  • 100 % (active) participation during the course
  • final presentations

All certificates of completion are issued as a micro-credential. 

Previous themes

  • 2013: CityLAB I: Interdisciplinaire summer school ‘Naar een duurzame Grootstad’
  • 2014: CityLAB II: Suburbanism
  • 2015: CityLAB III: The productive City
  • 2016: CityLAB IV: The City as a Market Place
  • 2017: CityLAB V: The Smart City: An Interdisciplinary Perspective
  • 2018: CityLAB VI: City Aesthetics and Citizenship
  • 2019: CityLAB VII: The Sustainable City
  • 2022: CityLAB VIII: Creating Healthy Cities
  • 2023: CityLAB IX: Cities and States