Indiana University Indianapolis
IN-2: Innovation 2

Urban sustainability is a new philosophy of developing healthy, productive communities that (1) promote and use locally-produced foods and products, (2) ensure safe access to natural spaces, and (3) establish low-carbon transportation systems. Urban living is arguably the most sustainable form of community given the concentration of resources, protection of arable land, and vertical structure of housing. Several groups at IUPUI have begun collaborative efforts to explore connections between environment, behavior, health, and climate as related to urban environments. These translational efforts have been inter- and trans-disciplinary The central theme of the Center for Urban Health is Environment, Community, and Health. Each of these "spheres" would be connected by the built and social environment from a contextual standpoint and by geospatial referencing from an integration standpoint. The goal would be to enhance health and sustainability for urban populations, with an eye toward both environmental legacies (i.e., reduced contamination, removing social and economic disparities) and emerging threats (i.e., climate change, water quality and quantity) A critical need that remains for current and future leadership in this area is establishment of a national presence in urban health. With the myriad developments in geospatial expertise, bioinformatics, and now public health, a logical next step for IUPUI is to embrace it mission through the Center in Urban Health.