Our team recently participated in the 18th International Summer School of Economics in Niš, Serbia, titled “Data-Driven Governance: Summer School on Policy Analytics and Urban Development.” During the event, we had the opportunity to lead an interactive co-design workshop focused on the role of Nature-based Solutions (NBS) in creating healthier, more resilient, and more inclusive urban environments.
The workshop centred on Park Trg Aleksandra Ujedinitelja, located in front of the Faculty of Economics, and invited participants to explore how the space could better support both people and nature. The activity was also part of the local Living Lab established within the CROSS REIS project, contributing to ongoing efforts to foster participatory approaches to urban sustainability and innovation.
Participants were encouraged to analyse the park from multiple perspectives and develop ideas for its future transformation. The workshop programme included:
- A “Speed Dating” card game introducing participants to NBS examples and their potential applications in urban environments.
- A field activity in the park, involving observation, interaction with park elements and users, and role-playing exercises to better understand the ecosystem, stakeholders, and relationships that shape the space.
- A co-design session, where participants worked together to develop proposals for enhancing the park’s environmental, social, and functional value through NBS.
The workshop resulted in a number of high-quality concepts for the future development of the park, reflecting participants’ excellent engagement with the NbS approach. The experience demonstrated the value of combining local observations, stakeholder perspectives, and collaborative creativity to generate innovative ideas for more sustainable and resilient cities.
