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The inaugural Urban Climate Future Lab Days session brings together members of our international advisory board to examine the important connections between social justice, urban transformation, and climate change. The event features a keynote lecture by Prof. Philippa Tumubweinee (University of Cape Town, African Centre for Cities), whose work addresses the challenges and possibilities of designing climate-resilient, inclusive cities.
In her keynote, Prof. Tumubweinee will examine emerging models of urban adaptation, innovative governance approaches, and the central role of communities in shaping resilient urban futures. Her interdisciplinary insights, grounded in both research and real-world practice, aim to reframe how we understand climate vulnerability and agency in the urban context.
Following the keynote, members of the UCFL International Advisory Board will offer thought-provoking reflections on the themes presented. Their perspectives, drawn from diverse disciplinary and geographic backgrounds, will engage critically with the keynote, highlighting tensions, alternative frameworks, and future directions for urban climate resilience. This conversation will spark a dynamic, cross-sectoral exchange on the complexity of urban futures in a changing climate.
The session will include an interactive Q&A, where attendees can pose questions. This format invites public engagement and fosters a rich, inclusive dialogue across perspectives, disciplines, and regions.
To conclude, Prof. Vanessa Carlow will offer closing reflections, synthesizing the key takeaways and highlighting the importance of continued collaboration across sectors and scales.
This session is designed not only to inform but to challenge assumptions and catalyze new thinking, offering participants an opportunity to shape more just, sustainable, and climate-ready urban futures.
16.10.2025
17:00–19:00
Opening Event
Studierendenhaus
Pockelsstraße 1, 38106 Braunschweig
Key Note:
● Prof. Dr. Philippa Tumubweinee
University of Cape Town
Moderation:
● Prof. Dr. Vanessa Carlow
TU Braunschweig
The Urban Climate Future Lab Days keynote session offers a unique opportunity to engage with cutting-edge insights on urban climate resilience. The session begins with a thought-provoking keynote lecture by Prof. Philippa Tumubweinee, from the African Centre for Cities at the University of Cape Town. Prof. Tumubweinee will share her extensive research on the challenges and innovative solutions surrounding sustainable urban development in the context of climate change, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions.
Philippa Tumubweinee
IAB | Associate Professor
African Centre for Cities
University of Cape Town
https://ebe.uct.ac.za/school-apg/contacts/philippa-tumubweinee
Philippa Nyakato Tumubweinee was awarded her PhD from the School of Higher Education Studies at the University of the Free State in 2019. She is a co-founder and director of IZUBA INafrica Architects and is currently a senior lecturer at the School of Architecture Planning & Geomatics at the University of Cape Town.
Dr Tumubweinee’s commitment to the profession and architectural education has developed in various ways: firstly, she has experience as a course convenor at several architectural learning sites (ALS) in varied Design, Technology/Construction and Representation studios across South Africa. Secondly, she has engaged with ALS across South Africa and abroad as an external examiner. Lastly, her focus on alternate and mainstream materials and technology(ies) in building construction has grounded both her design and technology studios that explore four questions: (1) how students acquire knowledge; (2) how students interpret knowledge; (3) how students represent knowledge to show their understanding and (4) how students transform existing knowledge systems.
Prof. Dr. Vanessa Miriam Carlow
URB | Speaker UCFL
ISU - Institute for Sustainable Urbanism
Technische Universität Braunschweig
www.spacelab-isu.org
Prof. Dr. Vanessa Miriam Carlow became Professor at Technische Universität Braunschweig in 2012, where she leads the Institute for Sustainable Urbanism (ISU) and the Spatial Analytics and Cross-disciplinary Experimentation Lab (SPACE LAB). Co-speaker of FUTURE CITY since 2015, her work advances tools for sustainable urban development. She co-founded COBE Copenhagen (2005) and COBE Berlin (2012–2020) and since 2021 heads Vanessa Carlow Urbanism Research Architecture. Carlow studied Architecture and Urban Design at TU Berlin and TU Delft, holds an MA and a PhD in strategic planning from the Royal Danish Academy. Her projects have won Golden Lion and a MIPIM Award.
16.10.2025
19:30–21:00
Networking Event
Architekturpavillon
Pockelsstraße 4, 38106 Braunschweig
Following the keynote session, participants are invited to an exclusive networking event bringing together key project stakeholders and members of the UCFL International Advisory Board. This private gathering provides a first glimpse into the current status of the UCFL project, setting the stage for the in-depth discussions planned for the following day’s advisory board meeting. It is an opportunity to connect with leading experts, exchange ideas, and strengthen collaborations that will shape the project’s next steps.
17.10.2025
The second day of UCFL Days 2025 brings together project partners, PhD students, and members of the International Advisory Board for a full day of exchange and collaboration. Members of the International Advisory Board will explore UCFL’s progress and vision in the poster session, engage with current research during the session, and benefit from the strategic insights of the advisory board. The day concludes with shared reflections and a clear view of the next steps for advancing urban climate mitigation and adaptation in Lower Saxony.
● 08:00 – 08:30 | Arrival
Participants are welcomed to SpACE LAB.
● 08:30 – 08:45 | Opening Session
A short welcome from the UCFL team to set the tone for the day and outline the key objectives.
● 08:45 – 10:00 | This is UCFL!
A short introduction to the Urban Climate Future Lab. The session highlights the vision and key achievements of the project so far, offering participants a comprehensive understanding of UCFL’s purpose and trajectory.
● 10:15 – 12:00 | Poster Session
Explore the posters presenting UCFL research, working packages projects, and approaches to urban climate mitigation and adaptation. This interactive session encourages dialogue and peer exchange.
● 12:00 – 12:45 | Lunch
A networking lunch to continue discussions and discuss possible new collaborations.
● 12:45 – 13:45 | Closed Session of the IAB
A dedicated session for members of the International Advisory Board to review project progress in depth and discuss strategic recommendations for the UCFL team.
● 13:45 – 15:00 | IAB Feedback
The International Advisory Board shares their reflections, recommendations, and strategic guidance with all participants.
● 15:00 – 15:10 | Final Reflections & Closing Remarks
The UCFL team concludes the day with key takeaways and next steps, marking the formal close of UCFL Days 2025.
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Urban
Climate
Future
Lab
SpACE Lab at ISU – Institute for Sustainable Urbanism
Technische Universität Braunschweig
Mühlenpfordtstraße 23
38106 Braunschweig, Germany
urbanclimatefuturelab@tu-braunschweig.de