In our Smart Sustainable & Green Cities Innovation Festival workshop, our objectives were:
- To stimulate collaboration and integrated approach across academic, private, and community sectors.
- To explore LEGO® Serious Play® as a creative and inclusive method for generating visionary while remaining practical ideas to tackle challenges related to urban regeneration, social equity, environmental sustainability, and technological integration.
- To apply the Sustainable, Smart, and Green (SSG) framework to address regeneration challenges in East Birmingham.
- To identify potential for long-term impact, scalability, and community ownership in addressing urban challenges through participatory design and engagement.
This event was hosted by BCU as part of its annual Innovation Fest and aligns with BCU’s Vision 2030 strategy to serve as an anchor institution for the city. As part of this ambition, the event explored interdisciplinary approaches to co-designing smart, sustainable, and green (SSG) solutions for East Birmingham, with a particular focus on the Tyseley and Hay Mills area.
The Innovation Fest Workshop brought together a diverse group of participants from both academic and non-academic sectors, fostering a holistic and interdisciplinary approach to addressing urban challenges in East Birmingham. Attendees represented a broad range of expertise, including: Built Environment and Urban Planning, Sustainability and Environmental Science, Engineering and Industry, Social Sciences and Education, Smart and Digital Cities, Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, and Community Engagement and Development. Participants came from a variety of sectors, including local government bodies such as Birmingham City Council; cultural and environmental organizations like the Birmingham Botanical Gardens; academic institutions including Birmingham City University and the University of Birmingham; the educational sector, such as Victoria Ark School; commercial businesses like T yseley Energy Park (TEP); charitable organizations such as HMTF; and community- based groups like Free@Last, which supports children, young people, and families in East Birmingham. The inclusion of educational institutions like Victoria Ark School highlights the importance of involving young learners in shaping the future of urban environments.
The workshop employed the LEGO® Serious Play® (LSP) methodology to engage participants in creative, collaborative thinking around Sustainable, Smart, and Green (SSG) city development. The participants are divided into groups to consider Sustainable, Smart, and Green approaches individually.