Global Junior Challenge and Smart & Heart Cities (Rome, October 27-30): an international multi-event from downtown to the suburbs to reflect on a new model for cities and the role of education for the growth of smart communities. Tomorrow, a conference will be held with experts and administrators at the Rome Campidoglio.
Today, nearly three and a half billion people live in urban areas. By 2030, when the world population will reach level eight billion, five billion people will live in cities. By 2050, nine billion individuals – 70% of the global population – will live in cities. How are cities preparing?
The Fondazione Mondo Digitale, in collaboration with the City of Rome and the Eurocities Consortium, has organized the Smart&Heart Cities International Conference that will be held tomorrow – Thursday, October 29 – in the Sala della Protomoteca at the Rome Campidoglio. An entire day (9 am to 4 pm) will be dedicated to a debate between international experts on common strategies and solutions, including three round tables.
“In the city of the future, technology will play a fundamental role. The number of devices connected to the Internet will overwhelm that of humans. An smart and sustainable city will also have to promote the skills and sentiments of people,” explains Alfonso Molina, Professor of Technology Strategy at the University of Edinburgh, FMD Scientific Director and designer of the Smart&Heart Cities Model.
The international conference is part of a multi-event unfolding from the suburbs to downtown Rome. The Rome Città Educativa is currently hosting the Knowledge Society Forum 2015, promoted by the Eurocities Consortium, which brings together over one hundred European cities including Rome.
Tomorrow will also see the end of the International Hackathon for civic and social innovation to develop software solutions to improve the city of Rome and surrounding areas through four challenges: Share Giubileo, Civic Apps, Open School and Best Rome Apps.
In addition the school at Via dei Consoli is hosting the showcase area for the finalists of the seventh edition of the Global Junior Challenge, the international competition that rewards the most innovative projects employing ICT technology for education and training of youth. The “Mix and Mingle” Global Junior Challenge Party will be held tomorrow evening from 8-11 pm at the school gym.
On Friday, October 30, it’s back to downtown at the Sala della Protomoteca (9-12 am) for the workshop present the results of Project ComeOn! in Holland, Hungary, Italy, Romania and Spain, where young and old were the protagonists a micro-planning and social innovation project to identify and solve local issues in their communities.
At 10 am, the Aula Giulio Cesare will host the Global Junior Challenge Awards Ceremony, including the presentation of the Special Prize of the President of the Republic to the most innovative projects presented by Italian schools.
The full programme is available here.
