On May 19, 2025, Anastasia Kokkinou from NeuroLandscape took the stage at Pint of Science in an engaging session titled "How Cities Shape Our Wellbeing." The event brought together a curious audience with diverse academic backgrounds - from archaeology to cognitive neuroscience - sparking lively discussions on urban design and mental health. The tickets sold out way in advance so we were expecting an exciting session!
Setting the Stage: Neurourbanism and the Quest for Healthier Cities
The evening began with Dr. Lisa Griffins, who provided a thought-provoking historical and sociological perspective on the relationship between cities and mental health. Her talk introduced key concepts like neurourbanism, setting the perfect foundation for NeuroLandscape’s practical insights.
Audience questions quickly turned to real-world applications:
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What does an ideal mental health-friendly city look like?
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Are there neighborhoods or cities already leading the way?
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How can urban design actively improve wellbeing?
NeuroLandscape’s Evidence-Based Approach
Anastasia’s talk delved into NeuroLandscape’s neurourbanism research, including the GreenInCities project, which examines how green urban interventions impact mental health. The audience was particularly engaged, reacting enthusiastically (especially to a well-placed meme!) and extending the Q&A beyond its scheduled time.
Key discussion points included:
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Participatory design – Should public spaces reflect what people want or what science shows they need?
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Longitudinal research challenges – How do factors like participant dropouts, seasonal changes, or construction phases affect findings?
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Wearable tech in urban neuroscience – Can EEG devices accurately measure brain activity in moving participants? What about wrist accelerometers?
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The role of VR – Could virtual reality pretesting prevent costly mistakes in urban development?
Why This Matters
At NeuroLandscape, we bridge neuroscience and urban design to create cities that nurture mental wellbeing. Events like Pint of Science allow us to share our research with broader audiences, spark meaningful dialogue, and inspire future collaborations.
Stay tuned for more updates on our work—and maybe we’ll see you at the next talk!
#NeuroLandscape #Neurourbanism #UrbanWellbeing #PintOfScience #GreenInCities #ScienceCommunication