Luis Bettencourt on The Science of Cities

Explore the science of cities in this 50-minute talk by Luis Bettencourt, External Professor at the Santa Fe Institute and Director of the Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation at the University of Chicago. Delve into the complex nature of urban environments, examining their allure, challenges, and potential for innovation. Discover how cities breed ideas, wealth, and opportunity alongside issues like crime, disease, and inequality. Learn about the emerging field of urban science, which connects metropolises to concepts in physics, animal metabolism, ecological diversity, and economics. Gain insights into cultivating the best aspects of cities while minimizing their drawbacks. Understand the ongoing shift in human living patterns and its significance. Explore topics such as urban scaling, connectivity, sustainability, and socioeconomic inequality. Engage with cutting-edge research on urban development, including efforts to eliminate slums and create more equitable urban spaces.