61st International Making Cities Livable (IMCL)
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
“The Ecology of Place: Learning From Nature, Culture and History”
October 29-November 1, 2024 * Cortona, Italy (NOTE NEW DATES)
​
THEME: As humanity confronts multiple historic challenges, our settlements and their characteristics are set to play a central role – especially so in a time of historic rapid urbanization. Our cities, towns and suburbs are where we interact, move about, consume resources, develop and deploy our technologies, and create most of the impacts we are having on Planet Earth. In that sense, our settlements are major contributors to our challenges – but they also offer an important platform for joining up key issues of emissions and contamination, resource use and depletion, and ecological destruction, as well as opportunities for equitable human development, health, and well-being.
​
Following our highly successful 2023 conference in the UK, the International Making Cities Livable (IMCL) invites you to share your work, meet and discuss with others, and join in this collaborative platform for “learning from nature, culture, and history.” We will gather policy leaders, practitioners, community leaders and top scholars, to share lessons and discuss potential collaborations. We will gather key partners from a number of countries to share their knowledge and collaboration. A major aim of the conference will be to serve as a “springboard” toward new research, new collaborative action, and new ways of communicating and driving the necessary transition ahead.
​
Our venue for the conference is the beautiful city of Cortona, Italy, centrally located between Milan and Rome, and approximately 60 kilometers southeast of Florence. There is excellent rail service from Milan, Rome, Florence or Bologna, with a short bus ride up to the hill town from the station. Cortona offers a splendid case study of contemporary innovations in agriculture, land use, urban regeneration, and sustainable economic development at a range of urban scales, as well as powerful lessons about the continuing relevance of nature, culture and history in our work. There will be ample opportunities for study trips to explore complex (and useful) patterns of urban growth, public space, and place management.
Partners are expected to include our 2023 partners, the Congress for the New Urbanism, UN-Habitat, The Prince's Foundation, INTBAU, The Seaside Institute, and others to be announced.
TOPICS: You may contribute an abstract describing your work (to be presented at the conference, and also developed into a full conference paper if you wish) on any one or a combination of the following topics:
​
• Learning from Nature, Culture, and History for Contemporary Challenges
• The Ecology of Place: Concepts, Metrics, Practices
• Why Public Space Matters for ALL
• The Place of Beauty: Neuroscience, Health and Sustainability
• The Power of Diversity, Equity, and Web Networks
• The Power of Patterns, and Timeless Ways of Building
• The Power of Nature’s Harmony and Symmetry
• The Dangers of Overspecialization: Overcoming Roadblocks to Reform of the “Operating System for Growth”
• Cities (and Regions) on Foot: The Power of Urban Walkability and Public Transportation
• Implementing Ecologies of Place: Technologies, Practices, Finance
• New Approaches to Public Space Creation and Improvement for All
• Rapid Urbanization: Implementing the New Urban Agenda
• Political Organization and “Polycentric Governance”
• Climate Change and Urban Form: Mitigation, Adaptation, Resilience
• Financial Tools and Externality Feedbacks: Making It Pay
• Getting It Built: Sharing Case Lessons in Who, Why and How
• Sustainable Infrastructure: Complete Streets, Regenerative Utilities, and Public Transit
• Access For Everyone: Bringing the Benefits of Livable Cites to ALL
​
DEADLINES:
Abstracts are due June 30, 2024
Notifications will occur by July 15, 2024
Speaker registration is required by September 1, 2024
Papers must be submitted for the e-reader by October 1, 2024
​
REGISTRATION FEES:
Accepted speaker registration is $595.00
Full participant (non-speaker) registration is $745.00
(NOTE: Discounts for non-speakers are available for early registration)
Student (non-speaker) registration is $295.00 (ID required)
​
Submit abstracts HERE!
​
SCHEDULE AT-A-GLANCE
Tuesday, October 29
9AM Optional Tours
5PM Welcome Reception
Wednesday, October 30
8AM Registration
9AM-5PM Conference
7PM Evening Activity
Thursday, October 31
8AM Registration
9AM-5PM Conference
7PM Evening Activity
​
Friday, November 1
8AM Registration
9AM-5PM Conference
7PM Evening Activity
​
Saturday, November 2
9AM Optional Tours
​
ABOUT THE VENUE:
​
The historic hill town of Cortona has a rich history going back to Etruscan times, with splendid and instructive examples of urban space and place. The city and the region offer many lessons about contemporary challenges of health, economic well-being, agriculture, food, climate adaptation, viable small-town and rural life amid rapid urbanization, and new models of economic diversity and resilience. Cortona is approximately 1.5 hours from Florence and 2.5 hours from Rome, accessible by train, bus or car, with an assortment of historic hotels, inns and home rentals. The city is famous as the setting of Frances Mayes' autobiographical 1996 book Under the Tuscan Sun: At Home in Italy. Cortona is the Sister City of our 2021 venue, Carmel, Indiana.
​
