In a city like New York, resilience isn’t just an concept – it’s a necessary practice. But regardless of whether we live in rural or urban settings, we often rely on many centralized systems for the fulfillment of most of our basic needs including energy, communication, healthcare, and food (among others). Yet, in times of crisis, these systems often fail, leaving communities vulnerable. So what can we do? How can design and technology help in these circumstances? As we face shifts in governance, deepening inequality, and the ongoing effects of climate change, this course aims to equip students with the skills, tools, and strategies to respond to and prepare for disruptions, reframing resource constraints as opportunities for creativity, collaboration, and action.
Students will explore real-world scenarios, such as power shortages, climate events, food supply disruptions and communication breakdowns while exploring skills in physical computing, citizen science, urban gardening, renewable energy, wireless networking and media design, all while centering community-based approaches.
In this course you will:
- Learn to harvest and generate power using locally available materials.
- Use spatial tools to identify vulnerabilities and map community resources.
- Explore urban farming practices to address food insecurity and enhance local food systems.
- Design resilient communication networks that operate during wireless disruptions.
- Develop decentralized systems to reimagine infrastructure and strengthen community self-reliance.
The course is organized around four main topic areas, featuring expert lectures, hands-on workshops, and field trips to local Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) actively working on resilience-building initiatives in our communities. This class, in fact, aims to create a learning community inside and outside of the classroom where together we will experiment with collaboratively imagining and designing resilient, decentralized systems as alternatives to more centralized infrastructures.
Together, we’ll explore how resourcefulness, systems thinking, and community-centered innovation can empower us to respond to uncertainty, imagine new futures, and contribute to the resilience of our communities in the face of mounting social and environmental challenges. As we navigate a moment of significant political and social uncertainty, this course asks: how can we reimagine the city as a site of resistance, resilience, and renewal?
Join us to build the skills, connections, and vision needed to meet this moment.