Critical Research on Chinese Eco-Cities Seminar - Eco-cities - University of Westminster, London##&&University of Westminster##&&Courses##&&Study##&&International##&&Research##&&Business##&&News and events##&&About us##&&Connect##&&Staff##&&Students##&&Alumni##&&Discover##&&Study with us##&&Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment##&&Faculty of Media, Arts and Design##&&Faculty of Science and Technology##&&Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities##&&Westminster Business School##&&Westminster Law School##&&Partner institutions##&&Latest news##&&MusicTank turns up the volume on artist compensation for private copying##&&View all events##&&Potential Architecture##&&Eco-cities##&&News##&&Home##&&About us##&&Projects##&&People##&&Publications##&&Reflections##&&News##&&Events##&&Contact##&&Critical Research on Chinese Eco-Cities Seminar##&&Critical Research on Chinese Eco-Cities Seminar##&&Share this page##&&Facebook##&&Twitter##&&Google##&&Email##&&February##&&Please
 join us on Wednesday April (5-7pm) for a seminar in which Dr Federico
 Caprotti (King’s College London) and Professor Simon Joss (University 
of Westminster) will talk on 'Critical Research on Chinese Eco-cities: A
 Walk through Tianjin and Caofeidian Eco-Cities'.##&&Venue##&&:##&&Westminster Forum (5th floor, Wells Street, London W1T 3UW).##&&See map##&&Over
 the last decade, China has embarked on an ambitious programme of 
developing variously labelled 'eco-city', 'low carbon city', and 'smart 
city' projects. According to the World Bank, some one hundred eco-city 
initiatives are currently under way, while a survey by the Chinese 
Society for Urban Studies puts the number at above These numerous 
projects take different shapes and forms, from the retrofitting of 
existing towns to the construction of brand new cities, united under the
 overarching policy of the 'green economy' (also 'circular economy', and
 'green modernisation') at the centre of China's recent five-year plans.
 However, the discourse on eco-cities in China - as well as reflected 
more widely across global regions - is often characterised by a lack of 
critical, probing engagement: this can be seen at the level of 
normative-conceptual discourse as well as empirical assessment 
concerning real-life developments. In response, in this joint paper, 
Federico Caprotti and Simon Joss each offer their own critical reading 
of the contemporary Chinese eco-city phenomenon. Caprotti reflects on 
Tianjin Eco-city (Tianjin), arguably China's most high-profile eco-city 
project to date, using the narrative tool of a walk through the city, 
while Joss mobilises the analytical perspective of 'techno-city' to 
discuss the fledgling Caofeidian International Eco-city initiative in 
Hebei province.##&&The
 event is free of charge and open to the public, forming part of the 
Spring programme of seminars being organised by the University of 
Westminster’s Contemporary China Centre.##&&To register, please contact##&&Helena Scott##&&See the full list of seminars in the series##&&Biographies##&&Federico
 Caprotti is Senior Lecturer in Cities & Sustainability at King's 
College London; he is Principal Investigator and co-ordinator of a new 
multi-national research programme on 'Smart eco-cities for a green 
economy: a comparative study of Europe and China' (2015-2018, co-funded 
by ESRC, ANR, DFG, NSFC, NOW); and his most recent book##&&Eco-cities and the Transition to a Low Carbon Economy##&&is published by Palgrave Macmillan (2014).##&&Simon
 Joss is Professor of Science & Technology Studies at the University
 of Westminster and co-director of the International Eco-Cities 
Initiative. He is co-ordinator of the Leverhulme international research 
network 'Tomorrow's city today' (with involvement of Fudan University); 
his book##&&Sustainable Cities: Governing for Urban Innovation##&&is published in spring (Palgrave Macmillan).##&&About the University of Westminster:##&&The University of Westminster boasts a vibrant learning environment 
attracting more than students from over nations and we 
continue to invest in our future with new developments, research 
projects and new ideas.##&&We offer highly attractive practice-based courses which are 
independently rated as excellent, many with international recognition. 
Our distinguished 170-year history has meant we lead the way in many 
areas of research, particularly politics, media, art and design, 
architecture and biomedical sciences, and our position in the city of 
London allows us to continue to build on our close connections with 
leading figures and organisations in these areas as well as in the 
worlds of business, information technology, politics and law.##&&Our commitment to educating graduates for the needs of professional 
life attracts high quality students from within the UK and around the 
globe.##&&Internationalism, employability and sustainability are key elements 
in the University of Westminster’s vision for the future and we strive 
to ensure the very highest standards are met and maintained.##&&News##&&Read our latest news and find out how you can get involved.##&&LinkedIn##&&Join the International Eco-Cities Forum on LinkedIn.##&&Sign up to our mailing list##&&Email Address##&&University of Westminster is a charity and a company limited by guarantee. Reg no. England##&&University calendar dates##&&Our use of cookies##&&Terms of use##&&Main##&&Courses##&&Study##&&International##&&Research##&&Business##&&About us##&&News and events##&&Careers##&&Faculties and Schools##&&Architecture and the Built Environment##&&Media, Arts and Design##&&Science and Technology##&&Social Sciences and Humanities##&&Westminster Business School##&&Westminster Law School##&&Connect##&&Your Westminster##&&Facebook##&&Twitter##&&YouTube##&&Weibo##&&Foursquare##&&Google##&&LinkedIn##&&Instagram##&&Contact us##&&Regent Street, London W1B 2HW##&&General enquiries: (0)