For millennia, cities have been the heart of the economic and cultural activity that defines our world. Of course, the architecture of a modern glass-and-steel metropolis bears little resemblance to the cities of the ancient world. In the same way, how we design the shape and structure of cities has evolved dramatically over human history.  

Kent Larson, director of the City Science Group at the MIT Media Lab, focused his career on understanding how we can best shape cities that maximize the well-being of residents and society. Today, urban centers handle 90 percent of wealth creation. They are also responsible for 70 percent of global emissions. By designing smarter cities, we can improve quality of life for residents, strengthen communities and the economy, and tackle some of the most pressing issues of our era, including climate change and social inequality. 

During this discussion, Larson will explore how modern tools developed at MIT can help urban planners and city governments make informed and improved decisions about where and how we live and work—and how we can create a future we all want to live in.