You are more than welcome to attend the 11-th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF11),

The World Urban Forum

The World Urban Forum (WUF) is a prestigious international conference, organized by UN–Habitat for urban growth and human settlements. This is the most important global event concerning municipal policies, transformation and development. It is held every two years and hosts over 20 thousand participants representing governments, regions, cities, non– governmental organizations and financial institutions. Last – tenth – edition of the Forum took place in 2020, in Abu Dhabi – the capital of the United Arab Emirates. The previous two meetings were convened in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and in Quito, Ecuador. In November 2018 Katowice was selected as the Polish candidate for the host of the conference scheduled for the year 2022. On 20 May 2019 the UN–Habitat informed that Katowice would hold the status of the host of the eleventh edition.

Science Zone 

WUF–11 Science Zone is one of 11 thematic zones through which WUF communicates with the city hosting the event, allowing citizens to join in discussions, and delegates to witness Katowice's remarkable post–industrial transformation. By taking WUF beyond the plenary room and into the city, WUF has the opportunity to forge new partnerships, collaborations, and leave a long–lasting impact on Katowice. The Science Zone will include various thematic sub-zones, including ones devoted to: workshops, showcases, lectures, family, science stops, etc. All will be accompanied by an appropriate audio setting, with a stage on the Rawa River providing mini–concerts and performances.

Representing the University of Economics in Katowice, the Science Zone will feature the following:

• June 27 th , from 18:00 to 19:30 Anna Adamus-Matuszyńska, Prof. UE., Sc.D. (Department of Market and Marketing Research, University of Economics in Katowice) and Piotr Dzik, MA (Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Katowice); workshop: "Modern Visual Identification System as a tool for communication between the city and its surroundings".

Workshop devoted to the development, implementation and evaluation of Visual Identity Systems (VIS) of cities, based on the experience of Polish and European cities. The workshop includes:

• A bit of theory - introduction to the subject: what is territorial marketing, place branding, visual identity and their importance in the development of the city and its inhabitants (15 minutes)
• Examples of good national and international practices in the field of Visual Identification Systems of city self–governments – discussion through a competition for participants
• Site specifications (place identity) as a basis of the Visual Identification System – a jigsaw game for the participants
• Practical advice – how, from whom, and for how much can you order the creation of a VIS – a case study Case studies discussed during the workshop come from the workshop leaders' own research and consulting practice.

• June 28–th, from 17:50 to 18:50 Adam Polko, Sc.D. (Department of Spatial Economics, University of Economics in Katowice), Małgorzata Czornik, Sc.D., Prof. UE (Department of Strategic and Regional Studies, University of Economics in Katowice), Artur Ochojski, Sc.D (Department of Strategic and Regional Studies, University of Economics in Katowice); lecture: "City as a common good".

What are the urban common goods and what inspired their study? Who are the "commoners"? How to effectively co-create and share urban common goods? How can local authorities support the development of urban common goods?

• June 28 th , from 18:00 to 18:45 Klaudia Plac, MA (Department of Strategic and Regional Studies, University of Economics in Katowice); lecture: "Why cities need a climate scientist?".

Specific phenomena that occur only in the cities: tropical nights, cooler weekends, sudden urban floods and urban desert, disturbed energy and water balance, limited evaporation, heavier precipitation, frequent and intense pressure changes, acoustic climate, concentration of natural and anthropogenic dust, physical and chemical characteristics of the materials used in the city – these are just some of the factors determining the city’s micro– and mesoclimate. How to adapt urban planning in accordance to the climate crisis and the life of residents during different seasons? What kinds of climate science-driven mistakes or good practices are utilized in cities? What issues should the local community pay attention to and how to voice their concerns? What kinds of low- and no-cost measures can we implement, and why should the city's Climate Officer be also a climate scientist?

Additionally:

• June 27 th , Marcin Baron, Sc.D (Department of Strategic and Regional Studies, University of Economics in Katowice) was the moderator of the session "From Cities to Metropolises - does the metropolisation process have borders?" within the framework of Metrolab.
• Adam Drobniak, Sc.D., Prof. UE (University of Economics in Katowice) will take part in the plenary session "Voices of Cities", prepared by the City of Katowice.

Candidate Zone

We also invite you to visit our Univerity’s stand. Candidate Zone will be open on June 28 th , from 10:00 to 18:00, at Chełkowskiego Street. Participants will be able to:

• learn about our University’s offer,
• play Monopoly,
• take part in quizzes.

Other activities

• Marcin Baron Sc.D. (Department of Strategic and Regional Studies, University of Economics in Katowice) will be the moderator of the panel within the seminar "Digital reality of the future" – an event associated with WUF in Rzeszów, June 30–th.
• Adam Drobniak, prof. UE, Sc.D. (University of Economics in Katowice), prepared an article for the Ministry of Funds and Regional Development an essay for the Ministerstwo Funduszy i Rozwoju Regionalnego (Ministry of Funds and Regional Development) referring to the issues of urban resilience and took part in a film promoting this issue at WUF11. Additionally, on behalf of the ministry, Professor Drobniak participates in the analysis of: "Building Resilience for Sustainable Urban Futures" debate and "The city we need now" session, and, what is more, the work on the summary documents concluding the Forum, in particular in the area of transformation of cities and post-industrial regions.
• During the WUF11, our students from the Urban Economy and Real Estate Department will present their work conducted jointly with the students of the Faculty of Architecture of the Silesian University of Technology, concerning the competition "Time for Szopienice" within the session Affordable Housing (supervised by: Adam Drobniak, Prof. UE, Sc.D. (University of Economics in Katowice), Klaudia Plac, MA, Michał Stangel, Prof. UŚ, Sc.D. (University of Silesia in Katowice).

Registration

Registration for the event and detailed information on the 11–th session of the World Urban Forum can be found at: wuf11.katowice.eu