Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
MAKE CITIES AND HUMAN SETTLEMENTS INCLUSIVE, SAFE, RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE
Research
Prof. Lea Wittenberg, head of the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, from the Herta and Paul Amir Faculty of Social Sciences, is involved in several European and local projects addressing the effects of fire (including post-fire management) on the ecosystem, urban hydrology and ecosystem services. She is a member of COMLAND steering committee, the Commission on Land Degradation & Desertification – International Geographic Union.
Re-planning an Edge City: Tysons in the Post-Suburban Era by Prof. Igal Charney, from the Herta and Paul Amir Faculty of Social Sciences, published in Cities, explores how edge cities have lost much of their attractiveness as corporate destinations, and how Tysons’ retrofit aimed to fight against prospective edge-city decline.
Public Engagement
Like many countries around the world, the COVID-19 crisis took a heavy toll on Israel’s elderly population. Together with the Dean of Students, UofH students responded by rolling out a special project called “Keeping in Touch.” The initiative aimed to improve the quality of life of underserved elderly citizens by connecting them with the outside world and helping them feel less isolated.
UofH’s Flagship program encourages social solidarity by bringing student and faculty’s academic knowledge into Haifa’s local communities. In doing so they hope to promote educational access in communities that suffer from socioeconomic exclusion. As part of the program, and in partnership with the UofH Children’s Library, 3rd and 5th grade students attend weekly sessions that encourage reading, searching for knowledge, processing what was learned and presenting the information.
Learning & Students
The Kadas Green Roofs Ecology Research Center recently inaugurated a hydroponic garden atop one of the Haifa Municipality buildings. As part of the project, lab members installed hydroponic systems to encourage citizens to grow fruits and vegetables on their rooftops. Master’s students offer workshops there for community leaders to encourage the establishment of green roofs in their neighborhoods.
University dormitories offer affordable housing options for students – with various types of rooms available at different rental fees. Even the most expensive dormitory on campus is considerably cheaper than renting an average apartment in Haifa. Master’s students offer workshops there for community leaders to encourage the establishment of green roofs in their neighborhoods.
Operations
Situated in the heart of Haifa’s ‘up and coming’ port district, the new Lorry I. Lokey City Campus is set to become a leading 
academic and research hub for the University’s rapidly growing offerings in the emerging fields of digital health, artificial intelligence, robotics and big data visualization and analytics. Our newly developed downtown campus’ easily accessible location reduces the need to use private cars, and encourages the use of public transportation.
The Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences is currently in the process of finding a permanent home along Israel’s northern coastline, which will provide us with improved access to the deep sea and enable the school to expand its critical long-term academic vision.