Cities that soak up water like sponges are more climate-resilient

Written By Peter Allan

Usman Khan gives a talk about the UN's sustainable development goals at the Lassonde Undergraduate Research Conference. Photo submitted by Lassonde School of Engineering.

 

By Patricia Lane & Usman Khan

These in-their-own-words pieces are told to Patricia Lane and co-edited with input from the interviewee for the purpose of brevity.

Usman Khan wants spongier cities. This associate professor at the Lassonde School of Engineering at York University works with communities to design and build urban landscapes to make them more resilient to flooding, cooler in summer and healthier for our minds and bodies.

Tell us about spongier cities.

I love city life and most people live in urban areas. As frequent flooding and global heating threaten our well-being, we have wonderful opportunities to rethink urban infrastructure to improve city life, especially in lower-income communities.

READ MORE

 
Peter Allan
Previous

Save the last dance for the trees
Next

Artist finds beauty in broken pieces