2nd SUMRICA School in Urgench 28.10.-01.11.2019

The school was the concluding stage of the second research round in which the results of the research stays were presented and discussed. The school focused on the topic: Accessibility and Sustainable Urban Mobility

The School consisted of an official part in the hosting Urgench state University, presentations of the guest researchers and experts as well as local stakeholders. Organizers of the project from the TU-Berlin alongside local academics participated in the school, as well as two German students.

After an intensive brainstorming in a “World Cafe” format, in which local academics and stakeholders took an active part, field trips took place. The scholars and the organizers were taken in a bus to the Urgench central station as well as to the local trolleybus depot.

While Urgench is currently not implementing sustainable policies, the city has tremendous potential to become a local vibrant hub in a sustainable manner. With the addition of priority lanes for buses, safe walking paths and bicycle lanes urban mobility can reverse its current car-oriented course.

In the final presentation of the working groups, project suggestions were made and the foundation for future cooperation in implementation projects was laid.

The school ended in a celebratory dinner in a local restaurant. The last day of the school consisted of a visit to the historic town of Khiva which offers not only a glance into the history as far back as medieval times but also to a unique and sustainable way of urban planning which can still teach modern architects and city planners a thing or two.

Further Information and Program

Urgench SUMRICA School - Impressions