Cities
A woody meadow in the heart of the city
A unique research project by the Universities of Melbourne and Sheffield aims to grow urban woody meadows that are as tough as they are beautiful.
How are birds faring in our cities?
We chat with two PhD researchers about their work on the impact of city lights on birds, and learning from our digestive systems to build better detergents.
Designing cities with health in mind
Public health specialist Professor Mark Stevenson from the University of Melbourne on the need to prioritise physical wellbeing in our urban planning.
Growing greener cities
Planting gardens on office buildings will reduce inner-city temperatures and create energy savings – and improve workers’ moods.
Clock on: When weather gets into a routine
New research has identified a weekly cycle in city temperatures around Australia, highlighting the impact of human behaviour on our cities.
Cities for healthier lives
Cities are making us sick but research led by the University of Melbourne and presented to the UN sets out a blueprint for making our cities healthier.
Taking a city’s pulse: Touch-ons, transactions and tweets
Tweets, transactions and transport card ‘touch-ons’ could give urban planners the big data they need to better plan our cities.
Cities for climate change
Most people want cleaner, healthier and quieter cities, particularly given the effects of climate change. So why is it so difficult to achieve?
Why gargoyles and gryphons keep watch over cities
From mythical beasts on churches to skilled stoneworks on rows of terraced houses, the design features of buildings map a city's history.
Superdiversity: Policy challenges in an age of unprecedented migration
Migration researcher Professor Jenny Phillimore on how superdiversity is challenging policy makers to rethink housing and healthcare.