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Join the Urban Futures Studio on November 3rd for an engaging Friends of the Future seminar with Hazem Abu-Orf, Associate Professor of Urban Planning at the ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ of Palestine and Research Fellow at the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIAS). This seminar is free and open to all. We do ask you to register via this link:

This session introduces the concept of "conflict-adaptive circularity", which reorients the circular economy from a technical to a socio-political framework. It investigates how communities in contested cities like Belfast and Nicosia leverage low-tech, improvised circular practices to build both social resilience and a more equitable urban future.

About Hazem Abu-Orf

Dr. Hazem Abu-Orf is an Associate Professor of Urban Planning at the ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ of Palestine and, currently, a Research Fellow at the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIAS). His research focuses on urban planning in conflict-affected regions, exploring issues of governance fragmentation and spatial justice. Shifting the focus from top-down efficiency to bottom-up adaptability, Abu-Orf’s research aims to develop practical toolkits for policymakers and crisis-response teams working in conflict-affected urban contexts. 

About 'Friends of the Future'

The Friends of the Future seminars are the Urban Futures Studio’s take on public seminars: warm, interactive, and focused on hope. Each month, we invite an academic, activist, artist, or practitioner to chat with us on the sofa in front of a circle of colleagues and guests. All are welcome.