News

Data that could strengthen homelessness policies across Canada is often fragmented and difficult for decision-makers to navigate. To address this gap, FCI Director Dr. Leia Minaker has received SSHRC funding to advance CivicInquire, Canada's first intersectional, AI-powered platform dedicated to homelessness policy. By combining machine learning, web crawling, and key informant interviews, CivicInquire transforms disparate policy data into an interactive national database and visualization tool. The platform equips municipal leaders, planners, and community advocates with practical, evidence-backed insights to guide local decision-making.

Researchers and network partners connected with the Future Cities Institute have secured new SSHRC funding to advance data-backed climate resilience and municipal policy tools. Spanning municipal net-zero implementation, property-level flood risk intelligence, virtual reality disaster planning, and international cyclone adaptation, these newly funded initiatives demonstrate how academic research turns into usable, real-world tools for city builders.

Future Cities Institute (FCI) member Professor Jennifer Dean was recently invited to present her research on active and sustainable transportation to the Federal Table on Healthy Cities. Professor Dean highlighted the critical challenges associated with developing a strong evidence base to guide decision-making around emerging micro-mobility technologies, such as e-bikes and e-scooters.

New article alert from FCI member Michael Drescher!

How can cities balance urban growth with climate adaptation? Dr. Michael Drescher, from the School of Planning at the University of Waterloo, explores this challenge in his latest journal article: "Nature’s role in residential development: Identifying leverage points for climate change planning in Ontario, Canada."

The Future Cities Institute (FCI) proudly celebrates Robin Mazumder for his recent invited commentary published in Nature Human Behaviour. Mazumder's innovative concept, "neuromimicry," applies structural and dynamical insights from neuroscience to inspire the creation of healthier, more adaptable urban environments.

FCI member in the News!

Jason Thistlethwaite, a member of the Future Cities Institute and a professor at the University of Waterloo’s Climate Risk Research Group, was featured in the Toronto Star discussing winter flood risks as temperatures rise.

His advice? A simple but effective hack: using pantyhose filled with road salt to prevent costly ice damming on roofs. With climate change making weather patterns more erratic, winter flooding is becoming a bigger threat to our communities.

“Flood season used to be in the spring in Canada, but now it just seems like it’s an all-around problem,” Thistlethwaite explains. His insights highlight the need for proactive climate adaptation strategies to protect homes and infrastructure.

Read more in the Toronto Star: https://bit.ly/4kelMxk

Congratulations to Dr. David C. Del Rey Fernández on being named Pratt & Whitney Canada’s new Industry-Sponsored Research Chair in Industrial AI! 🎉 As an Assistant Professor in Applied Mathematics at the University of Waterloo and a valued member of the Future Cities Institute, David's interdisciplinary research will drive innovation at the intersection of AI, computational mathematics, and sustainable aeronautics.

Look, it’s us! The Future Cities Institute is officially making waves in Waterloo News!

We’re here to help local governments (and others!) build better cities by bringing together global thinkers, industry leaders, and researchers to tackle today’s biggest urban challenges, on everything from housing, climate, infrastructure, and beyond. Our goal? Healthy, prosperous cities that are resilient, inclusive, and built for the future.

Read more about us and how we’re shaping tomorrow’s cities in hashtagUWaterloo news: https://bit.ly/4goIfoa