This three-day forum on the future of global cities is bringing civic, business, cultural and academic leaders from London, Beijing, Paris, Dubai, Singapore and beyond to Chicago May 27 to 29 for a series of discussions about what drives global cities and how they in turn drive the world.
“We’re living in an age of urbanization, and global cities are helping shape our ideas, culture, economics and politics,” said Lionel Barber, editor of the Financial Times. “With that in mind, we think it’s critical to launch a discussion across private industry, arts, academic and public disciplines about what this means for our collective future.”
Some 2,500 members of the public and 600 forum delegates, representing 25 countries, are attending the three-day forum. The forum takes place in venues across Chicago, including public opening and closing programs at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park and Navy Pier, as well as plenaries at the world-renown Art Institute of Chicago and panels at the Spertus Institute, Murphy Auditorium, University of Chicago and Chicago Cultural Center. Delegates also will visit Pullman Historic District, Lurie Children’s Hospital, the Museum of Science and Industry, and the Jardine Water Purification Plant.
“Chicago is a natural backdrop for this discussion,” said Ambassador Ivo H. Daalder, president of The Chicago Council on Global Affairs. “It’s home to top businesses and is a mecca of innovation featuring some of the world’s best universities, cultural institutions and architecture. At the same time, Chicago faces many of the challenges all global cities face. We hope these discussions help all of us develop solutions to these challenges and to harness the power of global cities for positive change.”
All forum panels will be livestreamed at ChicagoForum.org. Specific programs and panels include:
* Defining the Global City
* Global Cities Driving the Global Economy
* Conversation on Aviation with The Boeing Company and United Airlines
* Smart Cities: Data, Innovation and Social Apps
* Designing Environmentally Sustainable Cities
* Emerging Economy Cities and Boom Towns
* Inclusive Cities: Poverty, Youth and Immigration
* Reimagining Urban Infrastructure
* University of Chicago Urban Labs
* Scarcity of Resources: A Growing Demand for Food, Water, and Energy
* Providing Health Care
* Safer Cities: Security and Vulnerability
* Arts and Culture in Global Cities
* Educating for the Knowledge Economy
* The Foreign Policy of Cities
Participants can join the conversation online by following @ChicagoForum and by using the forum social media kit and hashtag #GlobalCities2015. During the opening program, Global Cities Driving the Global Economy, moderators will take questions from Twitter using tweets with #GlobalCities2015.
Sponsorship for the Chicago Forum on Global Cities is being provided by AbbVie, Aon, The Boeing Company, Hyatt Hotels Foundation, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Motorola Solutions, Northern Trust, UL, United Airlines and Walgreens Boots Alliance. Foundation support is provided by the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
