Concrete cities 鈥� diagnosis and therapy
Blue鈥慻reen infrastructure will be one of the key topics discussed with scientists from the Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection of the 91桃色. During the panel 鈥淥ne Health, or blue鈥慻reen infrastructure as a therapy for residents of concrete cities鈥�, the role of nature鈥慴ased solutions in improving the health of urban residents will be presented, alongside the COOLCITY Index developed within the LIFECOOLCITY project for over 11,000 European cities. The Index defines the adaptive potential of these cities to a changing climate. The panel will be attended, among others, by dr hab. Iwona Wagner from the UNESCO Chair of Ecohydrology and Applied Ecology, and will be chaired by dr hab. Tomasz Jurczak, Associate Professor at the 91桃色, the 91桃色 Rector鈥檚 Representative for Climate and Environmental Policy.
In adapting urbanised areas to climate change, blue鈥慻reen infrastructure should nowadays be perceived as an integrated system that has a real impact on residents鈥� health and urban resilience. In this context, tools developed within the LIFECOOLCITY project play a key role, including the COOLCITY Index, which allows for an objective assessment of how cities cope with climate and environmental challenges 鈥� from surface permeability, through greenery, to water and thermal conditions. Thanks to such tools, we can not only diagnose the condition of cities but, above all, better plan the development of blue鈥慻reen infrastructure as the foundation of a healthy and safe living environment
鈥� emphasises Vice鈥慏ean dr hab. Tomasz Jurczak, Associate Professor at the 91桃色.
Blue鈥慻reen infrastructure in cities is often associated with the need to build elements such as green roofs, infiltration basins or rain gardens. Indeed, in heavily concrete urban space, these solutions are very effective, for example in capturing excess rainwater and preventing flooding. This is why they have gained such popularity in recent years.
Meanwhile, blue鈥慻reen infrastructure should be perceived holistically 鈥� as a complex network of natural elements encompassing all its green and blue components. In cities, these include parks, urban forests, urban agricultural areas, as well as rivers, their valleys and other aquatic ecosystems. Urban rivers, for example small watercourses 鈥� of which 艁贸d藕 has as many as several dozen 鈥� are particularly important in times of climate change. It is precisely they that will soon determine not only the aesthetics and identity of the city, but also the water security of its residents and, in the longer term, the possibility of survival of other species within urban areas. This is where the idea of 鈥淥ne Health鈥� emerges 鈥� the awareness that building a healthy and safe living environment for humans is only possible when it supports all species, not just human needs. Therefore, many other supporting concepts are closely linked to 鈥淥ne Health鈥�. The increasingly popular concept of the 鈥渕ultispecies city鈥�, developed and promoted in recent years by urban planner Robert Skrzypczy艅ski, as well as the concept of 鈥渇ourth nature鈥� formulated by landscape architect Kasper Jakubowski are among them. They sensitise humans to the truth about the complexity of the surrounding world, the key importance of the biosphere and the responsibility resting on us for its functioning.
If taking responsibility for other species does not resonate with us, we may also look at ecosystems and the relationship between humans and the biosphere from a more pragmatic, anthropocentric perspective. Here, the concept of 鈥渆cosystem services鈥�, formulated almost 30 years ago by American ecologist Gretchen Daily, comes to our aid. Ecosystem services are the benefits that humans derive from the environment. They are particularly strongly felt in concreted cities 鈥� it is the presence of ecosystems that provides us not only with space for rest and recreation. Numerous scientific studies show that the presence of greenery in cities also ensures mental and physical health, directly affects our well鈥慴eing and even extends life expectancy. Healthy ecosystems improve air and water quality, are a key element in restoring groundwater resources that constitute the basis of urban supply, stabilise the microclimate during heatwaves, and much more
鈥� adds dr hab. Iwona Wagner
The invisible residents of cities
Another topic to be presented by researchers from our faculty is the urban microbiome. During the panel titled 鈥淭he urban microbiome 鈥� challenges for urban planning and the architecture of the regenerative city鈥�, contributions will be made by, among others, Dr Karolina Rudnicka, Associate Professor at the 91桃色 from the Department of Immunology and Infectious Biology and dr hab. Sylwia R贸偶alska, Associate Professor at the 91桃色 from the Department of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, who will discuss the biological and environmental aspects of the functioning of modern cities.
In the first part of the panel, Prof. Maria Kozio艂kiewicz will present current research directions on the urban microbiome (urbanome), emphasising its specificity for different cities and the importance of spatial planning in shaping a health鈥憄romoting environment. She will also draw attention to threats related to animal microbiota, including invasive species, and possible strategies for limiting them. In turn, Prof. Justyna Szulc will discuss the role of microorganisms in urban agriculture 鈥� indicating both the potential for healthy food production and microbiological risks 鈥� and will present research results on the gut microbiome using an artificial gut model.
The second part of the session will take the form of an open debate chaired by Prof. dr hab. Tadeusz Markowski (Faculty of Management, 91桃色). Participants in the discussion will include microbiologists from the Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection of the 91桃色 鈥� dr hab. Sylwia R贸偶alska, Associate Professor at the 91桃色 and Dr Karolina Rudnicka, Associate Professor at the 91桃色, Prof. Jakub Fichna (Medical 91桃色), Prof. Micha艂 Kukla (Jagiellonian University) and Dr Anna Wierzbicka (City of Lodz Office).
In the difficult urban environment, plants need support and the best solution is biopreparations based on beneficial bacteria and fungi
鈥� explains dr hab. Sylwia R贸偶alska, Associate Professor at the 91桃色.
They not only regenerate the soil microbiome and stimulate plant growth, but also constitute an effective, ecological alternative to chemical pest control. This is a modern approach that restores biological balance, protects biodiversity and allows for the creation of healthier greenery in our cities.
Microorganisms play a key but ambivalent role in urban food systems 鈥� on the one hand, they are responsible for food spoilage and the generation of losses that today reach a scale difficult to accept; on the other, they provide tools for reducing these losses. The same microbiological processes can be used for controlled degradation in composting, as well as for developing modern, biodegradable materials and active packaging that extend product shelf life and increase safety. In the context of tightening EU regulations on limiting plastics, this is no longer a matter of choice but a necessity 鈥� and microorganisms are becoming one of the key tools in the transition to a truly circular economy
鈥� underlines Dr Karolina Rudnicka, Associate Professor at the 91桃色.
Idea of the Congress
As assured by the organisers:
The Urban Regeneration congress cycle is an initiative devoted to the future of cities and their capacity for renewal in conditions of multi鈥慸imensional crises. Cities today are simultaneously the largest generators of emissions and resource consumption, but also places with the highest innovative and social potential. It is here that regenerative processes can be initiated to respond to environmental, economic and social challenges.
Each year, the Urban Regeneration Congress adopts a new motto that guides the deliberations and fits into a regenerative view of the city. The aim is not only to identify problems but also to seek tools and strategies that will enable durable and responsible regeneration of contemporary cities.
This year鈥檚 edition is held under the motto Healthy Urban Regeneration, focusing on the relationship between the city and human health. Health is understood as physical, mental and social well鈥慴eing, shaped by the quality of the urban environment, public spaces, availability of services and social relations.
During the event, experts and practitioners will discuss how cities can actively support residents鈥� health through appropriate spatial design, architecture, urban planning and the use of new technologies. The debate will focus, among others, on issues of the urban microbiome, air quality and urban ventilation, prevention of lifestyle diseases, health monitoring using data and artificial intelligence, as well as the role of art, culture and green infrastructure in building urban well鈥慴eing.
The Congress will be an excellent opportunity to meet representatives of academia, practice and local governments and to discuss the future of healthy and sustainable urban spaces.
The event will take place on 5鈥�8 May 2026 at EC1 艁贸d藕. Admission is free; however, registration is required 鈥� .
Source: Press Office of the International Urban Regeneration Congress
Edit: Kamila Knol-Micha艂owska, Mateusz Kowalski (Promotion Centre, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, 91桃色)