Urban Research Day 2023

The NYU Urban Initiative kicked off the month of March with the seventh annual Urban Research Day! NYU’s leading researchers gathered at the Puck Building for a day filled with collaboration and community. The lobby at NYU Wagner rang with excitement from the very start as attendees walked into a gallery filled with data and dissertations. 

The day began with a Ph.D. Poster session where a dozen doctoral students from ten schools and departments displayed their research and presented to attendees as they walked the gallery. This was followed by lunch as NYU faculty, facilitators, and students prepared for opening remarks from Wagner’s Dean Sherry Glied and a keynote presentation by former New York City Mayor and current NYU Wagner Marnold Fellow, Bill de Blasio. 

Addressing the room, de Blasio spoke passionately on the topic of academic and city government collaboration. During his remarks, he shared personal anecdotes of various times during his mayoral tenure when academic research made an impact on his decision-making. Afterward, Dean Glied followed up with an overview of the day, and attendees proceeded to join breakout room discussions centered on topics of their choice. 

Two dozen presentations took place across four conference rooms. Round one featured urban research on Integrated Planning Frameworks, Climate Change, Education & Learning, and Urban Design. This was followed by a coffee and snack break where the PhD Poster sessions resumed as attendees prepared for the second round of breakout room presentations. Round two was centered around discussions on Understanding Changing Cities, Vulnerable Populations, and Labor Markets. 

Urban Research Day continues to serve as an event filled with information and inspiration. Having so many leading researchers in attendance each year truly demonstrates the breadth of scholarly reach, and also enthusiasm for the diversity of urban work taking place here at NYU. We hope to see you next year!

Bill de Blasio URD 2023

Past Presenters