Urban Science – Integrated Learning for Smart Cities

Urban Science is delivering a means to teach pupils how science can develop solutions for sustainable cities, motivating them to view the positive benefits of science to the urban environment.

The project aims to meet the needs of an urban Europe, where scientists of the future will need the skills and knowledge to create healthy and sustainable cities. Urban Science focuses on how science can develop solutions to urban issues, so motivating pupils to view the positive benefits of science to the urban environment. Urban Science is supporting teachers with exciting and innovative ways to teach science that has real life meaning for their pupils. It also meets the needs of pupils to be competitive in a rapidly changing world where scientific understanding is vital.

As a result:

• More pupils will be motivated to study science and view it as a career option.
• Greater access to high quality learning resources for teaching science.
• More active participation in society and the desire to support healthy cities.
• Improved levels of skills for employability in science based businesses.
• More schools and teachers will deliver science education that raises the attainment of all learners, especially those at risk.
• Greater opportunities for teacher professional development.

Urban Science partners develop learning modules which promote hands-on inquiry based science engaging learners in everyday issues that have relevance and meaning. We use the urban environment as ‘living laboratories’ where pupils explore how science can help create healthier places to live and work. We focus on mobility, energy, green spaces, water, air, buildings and waste. For example, studies on urban air pollution could lead to discussions on green roofs to absorb carbon, redesigning urban space to reduce the build-up of pollutants and using algorithms to plan more effective journeys to and from work. Rather than focusing on single issues, our approach develops understanding of the city as a series of inter-actions, an urban ecosystem.​

The overall aim of Urban Science is to improve the teaching of scientific inquiry and investigation so that pupils develop the competencies to actively contribute to creating healthy cities, gain scientific skills for employment, and are more motivated to study science.​