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Advancing Urban Sustainability in China and the United States Proceedings of a Workshop (2020) / Chapter Skim
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3 Urban Sustainability Research Activities at the University Level
Pages 15-22

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From page 15...
... Challenges as a result of this growth and urbanization include urban-rural disparity; heavier regional environmental pressure; traffic congestion; land use inefficiency; and higher living cost, particularly impacting socially vulnerable groups. China has also experienced dramatic socioeconomic change during this period.
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From page 16...
... and in population size. Policy attempts to re-orient the focus of demographic growth to the interior have had limited success, given the overwhelming momentum and advantages seen in eastern cities, particularly the three mega urban clusters of the Greater Bay Area, Yangtze River Delta, and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei.
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From page 17...
... Dr. Cai discussed several ongoing research needs that could be driven at the university level, including examining spatial planning; research on urban clusters; big data, including opportunities for data collection through smart cities; socially inclusive community building; precision poverty reduction; and heritage-based tourism, among others.
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From page 18...
... New initiatives, such as Environmental Frontiers, provide University of Chicago students a scientific and practical understanding of urban sustainable development.4 Universities also offer a pipeline of talent for new fields, constantly identifying and promoting the transformation of new ideas, and a network for scholars to engage and develop partnerships globally. In terms of partnerships, universities offer opportunities to engage on policy and practices related to urban sustainability and can serve as laboratories, providing data collection opportunities.
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From page 19...
... Song noted that air quality and other population measures were examined in 152 cities, including cities in China. Examining a number of variables, the researchers found that high density and a strong center are associated with fewer air pollutants, while excessive or even chaotic land use mixture is associated with more air pollutants.
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From page 20...
... SOURCE: Yan Song, Presentation, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, December 16, 2019, Washington, DC. town areas using standard scores (mean values of zero and scores in standard deviation units)
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From page 21...
... Participants also discussed the role of urban sustainability in addressing inequality, noting that almost every city has a sustainability plan in place that mentions this issue. While data exist that can help assess inequities in the United States, one participant commented, this remains a significant challenge for researchers working on urban sustainability.
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Key Terms

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  • urban innovation
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  • air pollutants
  • researchers found

  • change issues
  • inclusive community
  • socially inclusive
  • plan baseline
  • population increments

  • mansueto institute
  • big data
  • jianming cai
  • baseline report
  • travel behavior

  • urban air
  • examining urban
  • assess urban
  • discussed urban
  • sustainable urban


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