Newcastle University

The Global Urban Research Unit (GURU) at Newcastle University is pleased to be part of the publication of UN Habitat's Global Report on Human Settlements 2009, which this year has the theme of Planning Sustainable Cities. The report has been produced collectively by researchers from across the globe including a team from GURU (Professor Simin Davoudi, Professor Patsy Healey, Dr Geoff Vigar and Dr Mike Majale).

GURU was central to the report's production having hosted a meeting and workshop to discuss it in Newcastle on 24-26th September 2008, which was followed by Newcastle City Council's Lord Mayor reception for the delegates. Professor Davoudi is one of the main speakers at the launch of the Reportwhich will also mark World Planning Day on 8th November and the launch of 'Planning for Climate Change', co-edited by Professor Davoudi. The UN report was recently launched in the US by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Jimmy Carter.

Dr Geoff Vigar, Director of GURU, said: "The UN Global Report highlights a major societal issue every 2 years. In 2009 the issue is urban planning, highlighting the significance of this topic now that the majority of the World's population live in cities."

GURU's involvement in the authorship of the Report, membership of the Advisory Board, hosting meeting and participation in the launch is indicative of its commitment to the global planning agenda for sustainable cities and to Newcastle University's regional and international engagement mission.