University of Guadalajara and UN-Habitat host urban innovation sessions

The University of Guadalajara and UN-Habitat have launched initiatives to bridge the gap between scientific research and urban public policy. During the City Science Lab (CSLab) session held ahead of Hábitat LATAM 2026, experts, students, and mayors gathered to discuss collaborative solutions for urban challenges.

Karla Planter Pérez, Rector General of the University of Guadalajara, highlighted the difficulty of translating academic rigor into effective public policy due to budgetary constraints and complex political interests. Sergio Roldán Gutiérrez, director of the City Science Lab Guadalajara, noted that the goal is to create prototypes and solutions that can be implemented across Latin American cities.

In conjunction with these efforts, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) presented the Kent Larson Chair. Discussions focused on how artificial intelligence and rapid technological advancements are disrupting urban environments, specifically impacting employment, mobility, and education. Experts warned that the speed of technological development is outpacing traditional urban planning and institutional innovation.