Media

Urban Systems Lab: An Introduction

An introduction to the Urban Systems Lab approach and work around the globe. Video developed by Orfeas Skutelis, Daniel Sauter, Timon McPhearson and Claudia Tomateo.

Harnessing the positive potential of AI for urban climate action

This event brought together senior leaders from across the public, private, and social sectors for an engaging discussion on the potential and challenges of leveraging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) to accelerate climate action. (September 21, 2023)

A Better Climate for All: The University's Environmental Justice Work

A video featuring USL’s work to engage in climate action and restorative work across the NYC. April 2023

Highlights of the International Climate Symposium at Dickinson College

The Science-Based Choices for Climate Action, Insights from the IPCC 6th Assessment Report was an in-person and livestreamed symposium hosted by Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa. on October 24 – 26, 2022.

COP15 / 7th Summit for Subnational Governments & Cities

USL’s Timon McPhearson participates in the panel “The transformative change we want to bring for GBF implementation” at the UN COP15 Conference in Montreal for the 7th Summit for Subnational Governments & Cities organized by ICLEI. (Dec. 12, 2022)

Overlapping Heat and COVID-19 Risk in NYC

Presentation to the COVID-19 Research Commons by USL Visiting Scholar Luis Ortiz (June 2021)

Hope In The Time Of Climate Crisis

In this latest video series, Hope In The Time Of, we turn to New School experts and researchers, those seeking solutions to confront today's most challenging problems, to discuss their work and where they find inspiration. In this episode, Timon McPhearson. April 22, 2022.

The ENABLE project ~ Enabling G&B Infrastructure Potential in Complex Social-Ecological Regions

This animated movie presents the results of the ENABLE project (“Enabling Green and Blue Infrastructure Potential in Complex Social-Ecological Regions: A System Approach for Assessing Local Solutions”).

Dr Zbigniew J Grabowski on Green Infrastructure and Equity

Dr Zbigniew J. Grabowski from the Urban Systems Lab at the New School presents on his research on green infrastructure and equity. (April 2021)

Lower income neighborhoods in NYC more likely to be impacted by dangerous heat

USL Timon McPhearson is featured in this CGTV America segment (Oct 22, 2021).

Resilient Urban Futures Book Launch

This roundtable discussion celebrates the launch of Resilient Urban Futures, a new book exploring the ways in which cities are profoundly impacted by climate change, and strategies for cultivating more resilient futures. Speakers: Zoé A. Hamstead, David M. Iwaniec, Timon McPhearson, Marta Berbés-Blázquez, Elizabeth M. Cook. (Sept. 22, 2021)

Botanizing While Black with Georgia Silvera Seamans

Georgia Silvera Seamans, PhD presents during a Urban Systems Lab meeting on March 4, 2021. Georgia is trained as an urban and community forester in New Haven, CT and Boston, MA. She is also an independent researcher and freelance writer.

Who Does Mapping Serve? GIS in Environmental Justice and Climate Change Research

What role can mapping play, especially in times of crisis? Who does it serve, and how can researchers, organizers and designers leverage mapping to advocate for equity and justice? This workshop brought together members of the USL to share insights into past and ongoing work, and to help contextualize issues related to GIS and urban ecology through a presentation of case studies, breakout sessions and collaborative discussion. (Sept. 22, 2020) Click here to see additional resources.

NAture-Based Solutions IN AND FOR CITIES

USL Director Timon McPhearson was part of the Financing Nature-based Solutions panel for the University of Oxford’s Nature-Based Solutions Digital Dialogues. (July 7-9, 2020)

Transforming our cities & neighborhoods in a time of crisis

Timon McPhearson, Associate Professor of Urban Ecology and Director of the Urban Systems Lab discusses the opportunity to respond to our current crisis and ways to envision more equitable, sustainable and resilient cities.

Is Green Infrastructure Fair?

This science conversation features Dr. Steward Pickett, a founder of the field of urban ecology and Distinguished Senior Scientist at Cary, Dr. Timon McPhearson, Director of the Urban Systems Lab at The New School and a Cary Senior Research Fellow, and Ms. Kristin Baja, Climate Resilience Director for the Urban Sustainability Directors Network. WNYC Greene Space, February 2020.

Urban Futures: Transforming Cities for Resilience and Sustainability

USL Director, Timon McPhearson delivers a lecture at Elon College as part of the annual Voices of Discovery series.

Resilient Futures: New Thinking on Climate Change

Panelists Tischa A. Muñoz-Erickson (International Institute of Tropical Forestry), Pablo Mendez-Lazaro (University of Puerto Rico), and Amy Chester (Rebuild by Design, NYC) , discuss long-term visions and new ways of thinking about urban resilience and positive futures in the Anthropocene. Moderated by Timon McPhearson (Urban Systems Lab).

Urban Resilience: Why Ecology Matters

Heat waves, floods, and air quality alerts – cities like New York are already suffering from the impacts of climate change. What does the future hold? And how can ecology improve urban resilience and the lives of city residents? Discover nature-based solutions in a conversation with Cary Institute’s Dr. Steward Pickett, a founder of the field of urban ecology, and Dr. Timon McPhearson, Director of the Urban Systems Lab at The New School and a Cary Research Fellow.

Parks Without Borders: Nature's Benefits - Climate Protection and Inspiration

NYC Parks, the Center for New York City Affairs, Urban Systems Lab, and the Tishman Environment and Design Center at The New School bring together thought leaders from a range of disciplines to explore the future of parks and public space. Featuring USL Director Timon McPhearson.

The URBES Project

An introduction to the BiodivERsA-funded URban Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (URBES) Project.

MAS Summit for NYC: The Nature of Cities

David Maddox Founder & Editor, The Nature of Cities, and Timon McPhearson in conversation. With an eye towards a greener future, what do we want our cities to look like? How should they function? This session discusses engaging communities for the beneficial expression of nature in cities, with examples from New York, Liverpool and Mumbai.

Geo for Good 2023: Climate Risk & Adaptation Presentation Session

Timon McPhearson presents at the Geo for Good Summit on the ClimateIQ project. (October 2023)

Ocellus XR, The New App to Assess Climate Risks

August 2023

The Inequity of Climate Impacts and Access to Nature-Based Solutions in New York City with Dr. Timon McPhearson

(March 31, 2022)

Cities and Climate Change | International Climate Symposium

Panel discussion on the IPCC, Cities and Climate Change at the International Climate Symposium at Dickinson College featuring remarks from Karen Seto, Debra Roberts, and Timon McPhearson (October 2022).

It Will Rain Again: Data Needs and Opportunities in a Post-Ida New York City

This event convened a conversation between researchers and practitioners concerning the challenges, needs, and opportunities presented by novel data sourcing, processing, and visualization techniques to advance urban climate resilience. Panelists include Pablo Herreros Cantis (Urban Systems Lab), Andrea Silverman (NYU Tandon and FloodNet), Katie Graziano (NY Sea Grant / Floodwatch), Maddalena Romano (NYC DOT) and Annie Carforo (WE ACT). (Mar 8, 2022)

Building Equity into US Urban Green Infrastructure Planning

Drs. Timon McPhearson and Zbigniew Grabowski share a synthesis of the study’s findings – including how cities across the US use GI to address a broad range of urban challenges, opportunities for planners to address equity and justice, and how city agencies and nonprofits can align efforts to integrate ecological and infrastructure systems. (JANUARY 27, 2022)

"Interdependent social vulnerability of COVID-19 and weather-related hazards in New York City"

USL Visiting Scholar Luis Ortiz presents at the COVID Information Commons at Columbia. Fall 2021

Ekos: The Path to Resilience

A video interview with Ekos’ designers Ryann Abunawara and Claudia Tomateo. (Sept. 23, 2021)

Future Cities Podcast: Scenario Analysis for Resilient Urban Futurs

Doctors Marta Berbes, Nancy Grimm, Robert Hobbins, and Timon McPhearson join Robert Lloyd to talk about how scenarios of future city transformations are analyzed and turned into products that can be understood and used by city practitioners, and the general public, as well as other researchers. (May 21, 2021) via Future Cities Podcast

Data Science for Co-Producing Resilient Urban Futures

The presentation at the NYU Center for Urban Science and Progress discusses the role of advances in data science including coupling AI and spatial modeling, cloud computing, and data visualization in science coproduction. (December 11, 2020)

Extreme Heat, COVID, & Equity in New York City

A Cary Institute science conversation featuring Christian Braneon, a Remote Sensing Specialist at the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, Emily Nobel Maxwell, Director of The Nature Conservancy’s Cities Program in New York, Annel Hernandez, Associate Director of the NYC Environmental Justice Alliance, and Timon McPhearson, Director of the Urban Systems Lab (The New School) and a Cary Institute Senior Research Fellow. (June 18, 2020)

COVID-19 and Climate: Interdependent and Cascading Risk in Cities?

A presentation from Urban Systems Lab Director, Timon McPhearson exploring how climate change and extreme weather may interact with existing social and health vulnerability, and why examining interdependent risks of multiple hazards is critical for protecting the most vulnerable and developing resilience policy and planning in New York. Developed for the New School Alumni's Think & Drink @ Home series on April 22, 2020.

Pathways to Planetary Health

USL Director Timon McPhearson in conversation with Jonathan F.P Rose of Rose Companies on “Pathways to Planetary Health.”

FROM THE FIELD PODCAST: The Future of Cities Impacted by Climate Change

In this episode of From the Field, guest Timon McPhearson discusses the adverse effects of Climate Change on our cities and how he combats heatwaves with a multifaceted approach.

Urban Ecology at Cary Institute

Learn more about the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies approach to studying urban ecology.

3D Equity in Risk Map: Coastal flooding & Heat impact

A 3D visualization combining multiple sources of social, ecological, and technical infrastructure data for the first time at parcel scale resolution to examine equity in risk and vulnerability to climate driven extreme events such as coastal flooding and heat waves. Developed by Jaskirat Randhawa, Daniel Sauter, and Timon McPhearson.

Reframing Urban Resilience Implementation

Timon McPhearson and Adriana Allen at the 11th International Forum on Urbanism (IFoU) Congress 2018, organized in cooperation with the Urban Resilience Research Net (URNet) and UN-Habitat.

Sustainable Urban Design at the New School

Associate Professor, Timon McPhearson discusses the important role of social-ecological systems within cities, and how student at the New School are working toward a better understanding of green infrastructure, planning and policy.

The Ecology of Cities: Fieldwork at the New School

Associate Professor, Timon McPhearson explores the variety of field-based experiences that environmental studies students engage with at the New School.