Our Emerging Leaders Program is designed to educate and support young scholars and professionals working in the emerging field of Urban Artificial Intelligence. This program also aims to bring together a multidisciplinary group of participants and foster collaborations between different fields to propose a new approach to urban technologies.
Emerging Leaders Program Structure
I Lectures (March - June)
The first part of the Emerging Leaders Program is a series of Lectures with renowned scientists, entrepreneurs, and decisions makers. This part aims to provide an overview of Urban AI applications around the world and to explore their sustainable uses. It is also an invitation to consider ethical issues raised by AI systems and to discover new approaches to urban technologies.
Lecturers :

Saskia Sassen
(Robert S. Lynd Professor of Sociology at Columbia University), about Urbanized Technologies

Carlo Ratti
(Director of MIT Seanseable City Lab), about Senseable City

Alex Sandy Pentland
(Director of MIT Connection Science), about Social Physics

Parag Khanna
(Managing Partner at FutureMap), about Climate Migration

Dan Hill
(Director of Melbourne School of Design), about Urban Interfaces

Nadina Galle
(Ecological Engineer), about Internet of Nature

Philippe Chiambarreta
(Founder and Director of PCA-STREAM, about Urban Metabolism

Hélène Chartier
(Head of Zero Carbon Development at C40), about Low Carbon Cities

Abdinassir Sagar
(Associate Program Management Officer - Innovation & Digital at UN-Habitat), about AI for sustainable cities

Eric Gordon
(Director of the Engagement Lab), about Meaningful Inefficiencies and Institutional listening

Tamara Streefland
(Senior Sustainability Consultant Metabolic), about Circular Cities

Stephen Malpezzi
(Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin), about Urban Economics and Climate Change

Nikola Milojevic-Dupont
(Co-founder of Climate Change AI), about Climate Change and AI

Lynn Kaack
(Co-Founder of Climate Change AI), about Climate Change and AI
II Team Project (July - August)
During the second part of the Program, Emerging Leaders will have to propose Urban AI solutions to help partner cities tackle climate change. For this project, Emerging Leaders will need to collaborate in a multidisciplinary and multicultural group. They will also have to apply knowledge and methodologies learned during the Lectures.
Each team will work in cooperation with cities partners to develop their Urban AI project. They will also be supported by Mentors to specify and realize their Urban AI project.
III Mentorship (March-August)
During the whole program, each Emerging Leader will be mentored by an Advisor from the Urban AI Community. The goal of this mentorship is to accompany and help the Emerging Leaders during the different steps of the program. This program also aims to support Emerging Leaders in their academic or professional journey by introducing them to inspiring Mentors.
Skills and Outcome
Skills learned during the program
• Have a systemic view and multidisciplinary approach of Urban AI
• Use Urban AI to develop solutions to city challenges
• Collaborate with institutional organizations and among teammates with complementary expertise
Outcome
The final outcome of the program is a hardcopy book co-authored with the Emerging Leaders, Lecturers, and Mentors. In addition to gathering the results of the Team Projects, the book will synthesize insights from the Lectures. It is also a space of expression where Emerging Leaders will have the opportunity to share analysis, opinions, and reflections regarding Urban AI and the future of cities.
Call for Participation
We welcome applications from under 30 years old students, researchers, professionals, and practitioners in the public and private sectors who are interested in the emerging field of Urban Artificial Intelligence.
Our Emerging Leaders Program is free to attend. Applicants who are accepted will be asked to confirm their attendance for the entire duration of the program.
Applications are due by: March 18th, 2022 23:59 AOE (Anywhere on Earth, UTC-12). To apply, please submit your application through this form: https://urbanai.fr/emerging-leaders-program/application
Applications that are missing required information such as a CV at the application deadline will not be considered.
Organizers
Patron of the Program: Saskia Sassen (Columbia University)
Co-organizers: Abdinassir Sagar (UN-Habitat) and Hubert Beroche (Urban AI)