Earthna highlights Education City's innovation, sustainability

Earthna Centre for a Sustainable Future, a member of Qatar Foundation (QF), in co-operation with social analytics platform Neighbourlytics, has launched a report titled ‘Education City as an Innovation District’, at the ongoing Cityscape Qatar.The report is based on a study which analyses how residents, employees, and visitors engage with the district and recommends ways to enhance environmental, social, and economic prosperity, a statement from Earthna said Wednesday.During a session at Cityscape Qatar – described as the country’s largest real estate exhibition – Nihal Mohamed al-Saleh, director of programmes at Earthna, presented key findings from the study, which uses unique technology and social data analytics to provide a holistic view of urban life in Education City.This involves looking at the volume and variety of activities, walkability, relevance, and character of the district.The report benchmarks Education City – QF’s flagship initiative, home to universities, technology parks, cultural institutions and so much more – against five key areas in Doha, and other innovation districts world-wide.It highlights that the campus has a mix of places that people can visit for work, study, or leisure, utilise a high number of community assets, and a robust business and services network. It also identifies opportunities to create more ways for people to enjoy Education City, by focusing on how people move around the area, offering more activities, and creating greater awareness of events and attractions.The report marks the first step in an ongoing programme of "placemaking” work, which will empower Education City’s communities to identify ways to improve sustainability and livability at a grass roots level.Al-Saleh believes that co-operative action will be an essential aspect of Education City’s future success: "Earthna is committed to developing sustainable societies and livable, resilient cities in hot and arid environments, and this report provides a foundation for the future development of Education City."The report’s findings will help ensure that the district’s evolution will be focused on supporting the wellbeing of its residents and visitors by creating a year-round vibrant campus, with low-carbon spaces that can be fully utilised, even in Qatar’s hot climate. However, the people who use Education City must be at the heart of this work, and it is essential that we work with the community to explore ways to revisualise the spaces we have and create a thriving urban neighborhood from the ground up.”