The Transformative Cities lecture series brings together leading scholars from EPICUR partner universities to explore critical urban challenges and innovative responses shaping the future of cities. With an interdisciplinary lens, this series examines the intersections of climate change, urban planning, sustainable development, socio-ecological justice, and post-neoliberal economic models.

Spanning multiple sessions from May to July 2025, the series invites Master students, researchers, and urban practitioners to engage with diverse perspectives on how cities are being reimagined to respond to contemporary crises and transitions. Each lecture delves into a unique aspect of urban transformation—from adaptive climate strategies and sustainable architecture to mobility, water systems, collaborative housing, and new economic imaginaries.

This lecture series aims to:

• Foster interdisciplinary dialogue across urban studies, architecture, geography, environmental science, and political economy.
• Highlight pioneering research and practices from cities across Europe including Freiburg, Zagreb, Amsterdam, Dresden, as well as Thessaloniki and Paris.
• Encourage critical reflection on dominant urban development paradigms and the pursuit of inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban futures.
• Support cross-campus collaboration among EPICUR universities, enriching students’ understanding through transnational and comparative perspectives.

The lecture series will take place at KIT in a hybrid format, with participants from partner universities able to participate online. Zoom link will be provided after registration.

Registration here until 4th May 2025

The lecture series is a cooperation between the KIT Graduate School Cultures of Knowledge and the European University Alliance EPICUR (European Partnership for an Innovative Campus Unifying Regions) and is hosted by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Germany) in cooperation with the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greece), the University of Strasbourg (France), the University of Freiburg (Germany), and the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (Austria).