CitiesLab

LabCiutats is an interdisciplinary laboratory of urban studies dedicated to the research, analysis, dissemination and transfer of knowledge about contemporary cities. Our mission is to understand and explore responses to the challenges and opportunities that cities face in the 21st century, from a critical, reflective and integrative perspective, covering social, economic, environmental, cultural and political aspects. We encourage interdisciplinary research between the different disciplines that connect us with the city (urban planning, law, sociology, psychology, anthropology, etc.) and from this collaborative work, as well as the dialogue with other social actors, such as citizens, civil society organizations, the public sector and the private sector, we aim to build a comprehensive perspective and a shared vision of contemporary cities and their global problems to respond to them, generating processes of transformation and social transfer. This networking allows us to generate rigorous and relevant knowledge that contributes to informed decision-making and the formulation of effective public policies for sustainable urban development and the improvement of the quality of life in cities. All this, creating synergies with the University Master's in City and Urbanism, founded just 25 years ago, to enhance the research-teaching ecosystem and promote the expansion of the University's social impact. Therefore, the main objectives of our research activity are the following: - Research: produce innovative and rigorous scientific knowledge about contemporary cities. - Analyse: interpret and understand urban phenomena and problems from an interdisciplinary perspective. - Disseminate: share the knowledge generated in our research activity with the academic community and society in general. - Collaborate: establish alliances with other social actors and institutions to build a shared vision of the city and its processes. - Train: contribute to the training of researchers and professionals in urban studies and enable them to address the complex and changing challenges of cities with a critical, creative and committed perspective. - Transfer: Foster collaboration between the university and the community through applied research, service learning and other forms of collaboration that amplify the social impact of the University.