KNOWLEDGE, COMMITMENT AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION

The prime objective of the social sciences is to understand society in all its complexity. The city presents many of the great collective challenges that face us in the early 21st century. During this session we shall show the tools for learning and measurement that we have for the city. Data, interpretation and analysis placed at the service of social transformation. Committed social sciences. 

The objective of the session will be to reflect on and discuss the role of the social sciences in the knowledge, transformation and management of the contemporary city. As an area of scientific knowledge, the social sciences are characterized by three basic aspects: the prime objective of understanding society, understood as the result of human interactions; the use of methodologies centred on knowledge and the observation of behaviour, values and collective attitudes; and commitment to transformation, on the basis of ethical values that tend to be projected strongly in the research.

In the context of three thematic workshops and a closing dialogue, four main points will be tackled from different thematic perspectives: the tools for learning about and measuring reality; accessibility, management and publication of data; the instruments of interpretation and analysis; and the connection between the interpretation of urban reality and its transformation.

Workshop 1. The city and social and economic dynamics  
10 to 11:45 pm

Urban groups and socio-spatial inequalities
Lluís Torrens, Barcelona City Council
The question of housing
Anna Vergés, Barcelona Housing Observatory
The future of jobs
Sara Berbel, Barcelona City Council

Workshop 2. The city and dynamics of ecological transition
12 to 1:45 pm

The city and urban ecology
Frederic Ximeno, Barcelona City Council
Urban mobility
Carme Miralles, Autonomous University of Barcelona
The environment and public health
Carme Borrell, Barcelona Public Health Agency

Workshop 3. The city, values and urban governance
4:45 to 6:30 pm

The city and democracy
Ismael Blanco, Autonomous University of Barcelona
The city, gender and remedies
Sandra Ezquerra, University of Vic
The city and safety
Marta Murrià, Barcelona Institute of Regional and Metropolitan Studies

Closing dialogue
7 to 8:30 pm

Presenter and moderator: Ramon Canal, Barcelona City Council
Oriol Nel·lo, Autonomous University of Barcelona
Eva Garcia Chueca, CIDOB 
The closing dialogue will be about the tools for learning about and measuring reality, accessibility, data management and publication, the instruments of interpretation and analysis, and the connection between the interpretation of urban reality and its transformation.

ORGANIZERS
Barcelona Institute of Regional and Metropolitan Studies (IERMB), Institute of Governance and Public Policies (IGOP), Autonomous University of Barcelona and Barcelona City Council.

Places limited. Advance enrolment necessary at: dolors.minarro@uab.cat