Penn IUR Announced as New Cities Foundation's Latest Academic Member

Paris, France – March 20, 2013 - The New Cities Foundation announces that the Penn Institute for Urban Research is the latest academic institution to join the Foundation’s efforts in building a positive urban future. 
 
The Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR) is a university-wide research institute based at the University of Pennsylvania. The Institute develops new knowledge vital to charting the course of local, national and global urbanization. 
 
Penn IUR joins a list of prestigious academic members of the New Cities Foundation, strengthening the organization’s mission to create more dynamic, sustainable, just and creative cities around the world through partnership working, information sharing and applied research.
Penn IUR will bring three key areas of expertise to the New Cities Foundation: innovative urban development strategies; building the sustainable and inclusive 21st-century city; and the role of anchor institutions in urban places locally, nationally and globally. 
 
Susan Wachter, Co-Director of the Penn Institute for Urban Research, said: “Penn IUR is honored to become an official partner of the New Cities Foundation. Being a part of their network will greatly enhance the work of the Institute, expanding our access to innovators in the field of global urbanization from private sector actors to NGOs and researchers. “ In turn, we will provide to NCF and its partners access to Penn IUR’s Faculty Fellows – over 80 of Penn’s scholars who are engaged in urban research across the disciplines, including social policy, communications, governance, design, real estate, economics, engineering, law, education, environmental science, history and health.” 
 
Mathieu Lefevre, Executive Director of the New Cities Foundation, said: “We are delighted to welcome Penn IUR as our latest academic member. Like the New Cities Foundation, the Penn Institute for Urban Research believes that cross-disciplinary research and community engagement are vital in creating cities that will thrive and grow in the future. We look forward to working closely with Penn IUR in fulfilling our shared goals – and we hope in particular to welcome representatives from Penn IUR to our annual New Cities Summit, which will take place in São Paulo, Brazil this June.” 
 
Existing academic members of the New Cities Foundation include: NYU Wagner, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Renmin University of China and HEC Paris. For a full list of New Cities Foundation members visit http://www.newcitiesfoundation.org/index.php/members/