Speaker：Professor Philip Allmendinger, University of Cambridge

Time：Wednesday, July 16, 2025   8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Zoom：

Abstract

With the rapid development of artificial intelligence technology, urban governance is encountering an unprecedented opportunity for transformation. This lecture will focus on how artificial intelligence is quietly reshaping urban life on a global scale. Through concrete case studies, Professor Philip Allmendinger will illustrate practical AI applications in urban governance, such as traffic light systems that dynamically adjust based on real-time flow data, or technological models capable of predicting and preventing crimes, demonstrating how AI injects new momentum into urban management and public services.

This lecture aims to help students understand the current applications and practical challenges of artificial intelligence in contemporary urban governance, broaden their perspectives on the relationship between technology and urban development, and provide forward-looking insights and inspiration for those aspiring to pursue careers in urban planning, policy-making, or public services.

Biography

Professor Philip Allmendinger is a tenured professor in the Department of Land Economy at the University of Cambridge. He has previously served as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Bath and as the Head of School (Dean) of the Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Cambridge. Additionally, he is a Fellow of the British Academy of Social Sciences, a Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute and a Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.  

His main research interests focus on land economy and urban planning, encompassing areas such as urban planning theory and practice, urban governance and regional planning, urban development and planning regulations. His most recent book, The Forgotten City, published in 2021, has received widespread acclaim in the field. Professor Allmendinger has published over a hundred influential academic papers and monographs with citations exceeding 9,000. Additionally, he has rich teaching experience, maintaining a balanced commitment to both teaching and research. He has lectured at numerous top-tier universities, including the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and the University of Hong Kong.