From 10 to 15 July 2016, the second phase of the PhD Summer School della Climate-KIC 2016 ‘Urban Metabolism and Water System Management’, was held in Bologna after an initial week in Amsterdam.
Twenty doctoral students and several PhDs from 10 different countries in Europe, Asia, and America participated in the 2016 programme on the topic ‘Smart solutions for the Urban Metropole’.
The students’ projects were to particularly address urban metabolism and water management in a sustainable and innovative key, starting from concrete cases in the two cities: the Buiksloterham neighbourhood in the northern zone of Amsterdam and the university district around Via Zamboni in the historical centre of Bologna.
This ambitious challenge consisted in rethinking urban metabolism to improve the quality of life and create a sustainable cultural campus based on the principles of the circular economy.
During the week in Bologna, the students followed an intense programme of lessons, meetings with stakeholders, visits in the field, and working groups, up to the final presentation and awards for the projects.