How cities can take the lead on global crises
As rapid urbanization aggravates these problems, there is added impetus for cities to act.
Julian is currently working on a Global Challenges Research Fund project to increase the resilience of traditional houses in Madagascar to cyclones – working with the local government, NGOs and academia. He is an Engineering Leaders Scholar of the Royal Academy of Engineering, a position which has allowed him to pursue his passion: using civil engineering to improve the livelihoods of individuals within vulnerable communities. This has led to him using his expertise to improve the sanitation of the Ritsona refugee camp and to identify opportunities for political entrepreneurship within the civil engineering sector. He has a track record of breaking interdisciplinary boundaries to generate innovative ideas. This includes Electroquake, which combines electrical and civil engineering to allow buildings to adapt to earthquakes preemptively and has resulted in his selection for the STEM Awards organised by The Telegraph. Outside work, he loves to watch classic movies and play rugby, the latter allowed him to play for the Luxembourg National Rugby Team for four years.
As rapid urbanization aggravates these problems, there is added impetus for cities to act.
Digital access isn't enough. We need better frameworks for measuring the second digital divide in skills, security awareness and user motivations.