Themes

Welcome to the USS Summer School!

As urbanization accelerates in a rapidly changing world, cities face growing challenges such as climate change, resource depletion, and social inequality. To ensure sustainable urban development, we must actively seek and implement innovative solutions. Emerging technologies—especially AI, smart infrastructure, and digital governance—offer new opportunities to enhance energy efficiency, optimize transportation, and improve environmental management. While cities worldwide are exploring these advancements, the key lies in translating technological potential into actionable strategies that foster resilient, inclusive, and sustainable urban futures.

To turn these possibilities into tangible progress, the Summer School themed "Urban Science and Sustainability" will be held in Xiamen, China, from July 6th to 15th, 2025. Organized by the Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IUE, CAS), Sustainable Urban Systems Section in the International Society for Industrial Ecology (ISIE-SUS), International Science Council-Urban Health and Wellbeing Programme (ISC-UHWB), and International Society for Spatial Methods (ISSM), the summer school will offer funding for eligible participants. Bringing together leading scholars, experts, and industry professionals, the program will feature specialized lectures, academic seminars, case studies, and field visits. Participants will explore cutting-edge theories and practical solutions for sustainable urban development, collaboratively shaping resilient and future-ready cities.