GREENGAGE takes centre stage at SSPCR Conference in Bolzano

01/20/2026 - 11:19

From 9th to 12th December 2025, the fifth Smart and Sustainable Planning in Cities and Regions (SSPCR) conference brought together professionals and academics from over 40 countries to share best practices in modern planning. Two lecturers and three second-year students from ABEL's Built Environment programme had the opportunity to participate in a practical workshop focused on GREENGAGE, a European project we're actively involved in.

Expertise

GREENGAGE centres on Citizen Observatories—local groups using data gathering and analysis technologies to influence sustainability policies. Examples include monitoring air quality in neighbourhoods or identifying maintenance gaps. The project operates five pilots across Bristol (UK), Turano and Gerace (Italy), Copenhagen (Denmark), and North Brabant.

During the workshop, participants explored the experiences and results from all five pilots before heading outdoors to test the GREENGAGE app themselves.

A Rich Programme
The conference featured diverse workshops and research presentations organised around seven thematic tracks: Energy Transition, Adaptive Regeneration, Mobility Systems, The Just City, Economics of Urban Energy Transition, Circular Economy Strategies, and Data and AI-Powered Territories.

Our Team's Experience
The Built Environment team included lecturers Rana Habibi (Urban Design) and Daniëlle Mourits (Built Environment), alongside students Haley Segeth (Mobility), Paula-Jai James (Urban Planning), and Noa van Maanen (Urban Design). Everyone gained valuable insights whilst expanding their professional networks.

Student Reflections
Noa van Maanen: "The conference was truly inspiring. Conversations with participants from diverse backgrounds opened fresh perspectives. I loved seeing how professionals tackle their work and connect ideas creatively."

Paula-Jai James: "It was like a vibrant burst of energy and discovery. Engaging with people from different fields and learning from creative presentations made the experience genuinely meaningful and unforgettable."

Haley Segeth: "Observing academic research enriching our field and meeting professionals from various expertise was invaluable. Working as hands-on ambassadors for GREENGAGE showed me how citizen participation can be realised beyond the classroom."