mini-MOOC
MODULE 1: URBAN SYSTEMS AND NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS: GRIDS, FLOWS AND INFRASTRUCTURAL FUTURES
There is an urgent need to rethink how urban flows are organised, managed, and potentially transformed through integrated, hybrid approaches. The dynamic interplay between urban systems and Nature-based Solutions (NbS), focusing on how infrastructures can shape the metabolism of cities.
We will explore the conceptual frameworks of grids and flows as a means to understand how urban
systems function. Crucially, we examine how these systems can be made
more resilient, equitable, and regenerative through the strategic implementation of NbS.
iUE Module 01
MODULE 2: BIO-BASED MATERIALS
This module explores based materials, a term encompassing bio-based, abundant, sustainable, ethical, and durable materials. Through the lens of circularity principles and urban sustainability. Students will examine the fundamental properties, production pathways, and life cycle of such materials, and critically assess their role in transforming conventional urban development and industrial systems.
iUE Module 02
MODULE 3: MYCELIUM
This module provides an in-depth exploration of mycelium as a transformative biological material in sustainable design, construction, and systems thinking. Mycelium has emerged as a regenerative material with vast potential across multiple industries due to its biodegradability, self-healing properties, and capacity for low-impact cultivation.
iUE Module 03
This course aims to introduce city-makers to the foundational concepts of nature-based solutions (NbS) and material circularity, focusing on the potential of a bio-sourced material: mycelium, as a sustainable, regenerative building resource. Through 3 modules mixing theoretical framing and applied cases, the course aims to build competencies in material literacy, circular design, and critical evaluation of the environmental impact and aesthetic of new design in the built environment. The training will be in a video lecture format, supported by a handbook for inclusion in the NEBA digital platform. Expected outcomes include an increased capacity among built environment professionals to co-create NbS and integrate circularity principles in their design projects, in line with the NEB values.
Please evaluate your experience at the end of this course. What were the main benefits and challenges, and how did the collaboration contribute to your organisation’s goals?
Learning Objectives
- Understand urban systems and NbS: Grasp the systemic role of nature-based solutions in urban environments, including their benefits for resilience, climate adaptation, and quality of life.
- Build material literacy: Identify the characteristics, potential, and limitations of bio-based and circular materials, with a specific focus on mycelium.
- Apply circular design principles: Integrate circular thinking into design processes, from concept to construction, considering environmental, social, and aesthetic impacts.
Effort
1-2 hours Fixed Effort
Format
Video lecture content, adapted into 3 modules alongside a downloadable handbook.
For whom?
City-makers from any discipline interested in NbS and bio-based materials
Provider
Institute of Urban Excellence
Topic
Bio-based materials, and the nature-based solutions they represent, as an important aspect of the NEB’s approach to improving the sustainability of the built environment.
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iUE_mini_MOOC_Handbook new | 700.24 KB | 8 | 4 days ago | Download |