Nicosia: The University of Cyprus is set to host a seminar titled ‘Urban health in Mediterranean cities: understanding the evidence, discussing action’ on Friday, 31st October 2025. The event, organized by the Department of Architecture, will take place at the Events Hall of the University of Cyprus, located at 75 Kallipoleos Avenue. This seminar is part of the U-CARE project, which is supported by the European Commission under the Erasmus+ programme.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the seminar aims to gather academics, policymakers, local authorities, and practitioners to discuss the promotion of health and wellbeing in urban areas through improved planning, governance, and design. Attendees will have the opportunity to examine research evidence on how urban environments affect human health, with findings presented from the U-CARE project’s case studies in Gothenburg, Berlin, Florence, and Nicosia. The local study focuses on the area surrounding Makarios Hospital in Nicosia.
The seminar will feature notab
le speakers, including Prof. Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, Director of Urban Planning, Environment and Health at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health. Prof. Nieuwenhuijsen, an expert in epidemiology and urban health, will address ‘Climate change, cities and health in the Mediterranean.’
The event will also cover local strategies and practices. Ms. Chrystalla Kaiafa from the Ministry of Health will discuss the WHO Healthy Cities Network strategies and their application in Cyprus. Dr. Fotoula Hadjipapa, Mayor of Lakatamia, will provide insights from a local government perspective on improving city health through local initiatives.
The seminar seeks to encourage dialogue among stakeholders, students, and the public about translating scientific evidence into practical actions to enhance urban environments, health, and quality of life. The event will be accessible to the public and conducted in both English and Greek, followed by a light lunch.
The seminar programme includes registration at 09:30, followed by vario
us sessions addressing topics from climate change impacts to local health strategies, concluding with an open discussion at 12:40.