Personal profile
Biography
Resume
Joe Ravetz is Director of the Mind-Lab ('Laboratory for Urban Collective Intelligence'), a global online community, working on the mapping and design of pathways ‘from smart to wise’. He also leads the Future-wise cities theme for the Manchester Urban Institute, with both local and global programs. He is author of two landmark texts: the new ‘Deeper City: collective intelligence and the pathways from smart to wise’: the previous ‘City-region 2020: Integrated planning for a sustainable environment’: and nearly 100 publications both academic and professional.
Behind this is a journey in progress on sustainable cities and regions, foresight and transition management, climate / environment policy, social technology and economic development. From this Joe Ravetz developed the Synergistic methods for mapping of collective intelligence, and design of transformative pathways, with a package now available as the Pathways Toolkit.
He has advised policy (UNIDO, UN-Habitat, European Commission, UK government departments, urban / regional public agencies): and also works with business and the third sector, as a Principal of the non-profit strategy / foresight firm SAMI Consulting. As a former architect-planner he is a keen advocate of visual thinking, and foresight / futures methods for strategic planning and urban transformation. Joe Ravetz provides review and evaluation services for many academic bodies, together with keynotes and interactive workshops in many countries around the world. He is currently on the editorial boards of Urban Planning & Design & the Foresight journal, and visiting professor at the University of Baja California, Mexico, and the University of Brawijaya, Indonesia.
Outlook
In all this the over-arching theme is about inter-connection: the reality of cities, not as boxes labelled ‘economics’ or ‘environment’, but rather as whole systems which interact, with evolutionary transformation, and possible co-evolutionary transformation. To respond to this we need new kinds of whole-system thinking: not only as specific nodes or links, but as cognitive systems of learning, communication and collaboration – the components of a collective intelligence.
In that sense the research topics here include spatial development, resource flows, environmental policy, energy / climate change studies, land / landscape studies, policy evaluation and participation. But the strategic agenda is more about the inter-connections between them – again with powerful insights from collective intelligence thinking, as applied with systems / complexity science, transition and innovation studies, futures and foresight methods. Overall these takes shape as a 20 year intellectual journey, which began with exploration of the ‘inter-connectedness of things’, and then shifted towards the ‘inter-connectedness of thinking’, as explored in the Deeper City book - (https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315765860 )
Research interests
The Mind-Lab (‘Laboratory for Urban Collective Intelligence’) aims to advance the state of the art on collective intelligence – exploring, debating and testing with an experimental zone of methods and case studies. The first phase (2019-24), gathered 650+ participants, in 33 main open meetings, with 55 invited speakers from around the world. We are now setting up a second phase for 2025-2030. This aims in the direction of a online community platform, major grant application, major project applications, and international steering group. This includes 4 main strands:
- Projects & case studies: experiments & applications, new & ongoing;
- Community & dialogue: debates and symposia, ‘lab tours’, online comment;
- Research & publication: compile special issues and a multi-author book;
- Policy & practice: disseminate results, methods & tools, with ‘white papers’ & practical guides.
- Linkage with the Future-wise-citiestheme at the Manchester Urban Institute, with the Manchester region as a long running case study / Living Lab.
Summary of programs and themes:
CITY-WISE
- Future city-wise: from scenarios to envisions
- Peri-wise & bio-regional: peri-urban & sustainable city-region
ECO-WISE
- Climate-wise: Urban climate policy
- Resource-wise: Circular economy foresight & policy analysis:
- Resilience-wise: Resilience, risk, tipping points
SMART-WISE
- Smart-wise: applications of CHAI – ‘collective human- artificial intelligence’
- Smart-Gov-wise: ‘Collective local intelligence’
FORE-WISE
- Future-wise: ‘Collective forward intelligence’
- Mind-wise: ‘Collective urban intelligence’
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DATES From |
To |
SPONSOR / CLIENT
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PROJECT TITLE |
ROLE |
|
2019 |
2021 |
UKRI – ‘Towards a Sustainable Earth’ |
PERI-CENE – Peri-urban climate & environment |
P.I. |
|
2018 |
2018 |
EPSRC Smart Cities Global South |
Smart Wise Cities in India |
P.I. |
|
2018 |
2018 |
GMCA |
Natural Course Water Governance |
P.I. |
|
2017 |
2020 |
JPI Urban Europe |
Learning Loops in urban environment |
Co-I |
|
2017 |
2018 |
Manchester-Melbourne Collaboration |
Fire & Flood: toward resilient cities |
P.I. |
|
2016 |
2019 |
Academy of Science Finland |
BEMINE: – integrated visioning |
Partner |
|
2016 |
2018 |
ESRC Impact Acceleration |
Metropolitan INnovation & Intelligence Lab (MINI-LAB) |
P.I. |
|
2015 |
2015 |
EC – DG Research & Innovation |
Foresight study on Horizon 2020 Third Strategic Programme |
Partner |
|
2015 |
2015 |
DEFRA |
Environmental Futures Horizon Scanning |
Partner |
|
2014 |
2015 |
Government Office of Science, Foresight Unit |
Future of Greater Manchester |
Partner |
|
2014 |
2014 |
Government Office of Science, Foresight Unit |
Future of Cities Foresight: commissioned report on ‘Urban Ecosystems’ |
P.I. |
|
2014 |
2017 |
European Commission, DG Research, FP7 |
CASI: Common Assessment for Sustainability Innovation |
Partner |
|
2013 |
2013 |
European Commission, DG Energy (CEPS / GOPA) |
Smart Cities & Communities Stakeholder Platform |
Partner |
|
2012 |
2013 |
EPSRC Knowledge Transfer Action |
Manchester Energy Foresight |
Lead |
|
2012 |
2013 |
EPSRC KTA |
Manchester Security Foresight |
Lead |
|
2012 |
2013 |
EU Occupational Safety & Health Agency (coord.SAMI) |
Green Jobs scenarios project |
Partner |
|
2011 |
2013 |
Mauritius Research Council |
Mauritius National Research Foresight Exercise |
Lead |
|
2011 |
2012 |
Natural England (coord.SAMI) |
Scenarios for the Natural Environment 2060 |
Partner |
|
2010 |
2012 |
European Commission, DG Research, FP7 |
IKNOW – interconnecting knowledge |
Partner |
|
2010 |
|
UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) |
Foresight for Low Carbon Automotive Sector in Turkey & Eastern Europe |
Lead |
|
2010 |
|
DEFRA (coord.SAMI) |
Future proofing for CAP reform trade negotiations |
Partner |
|
2010 |
|
European Commission, DG Trade |
Trade impact assessment for the Andean & Libyan trade agreements |
Partner |
|
2008 |
|
Rockefeller Foundation / Institute for Alternative Futures |
Foresight for Smart Globalization |
Partner |
|
2007 |
2012 |
European Commission, DG Research, FP6 |
PLUREL – ‘peri-urban land use relationships’ |
UK lead |
|
2007 |
2009 |
Environment Agency (England & Wales) |
Application of futures methods to policy intelligence |
Lead |
|
2007 |
2008 |
Welsh Assembly Government (WWF-Cymru) |
One Planet Wales |
Lead |
|
2007 |
2008 |
World Wildlife Fund UK |
Sustainable communities in the West Midlands |
Lead |
|
2006 |
2007 |
World Wildlife Fund UK |
One Planet West Midlands |
Lead |
|
2006 |
2007 |
Yorkshire Forward (Regional Development Agency) |
Leeds 2050 |
Partner |
|
2006 |
2010 |
UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization) |
Technology Foresight: training & capacity building |
Lead / Partner |
|
2006 |
2011 |
EPSRC (SUE-2 program) |
SUREGEN – Sustainable Urban Regeneration |
Partner |
|
2005 |
2009 |
WWF-UK |
OPEN - One Planet Economy Network |
Lead |
|
2005 |
2008 |
South East England Development Agency / DEFRA |
One Planet Economy Regional Assessment (OPERA) |
Lead |
|
2005 |
2008 |
World Wildlife Fund UK: Biffaward |
Eco-Budget UK / One Planet Economy |
Lead |
|
2005 |
2007 |
Sustainability North West for Biffaward |
Eco-Region NW: An interactive toolkit for resource productivity |
Lead |
|
2005 |
2007 |
European Commission 6th Framework Programme |
EUROCOOP: European Cooperation for regional innovation strategies |
UK lead |
|
2005 |
2006 |
SE Regional Assembly |
Stabilizing the Ecological Footprint in the SE Strategy |
Lead |
|
2004 |
2007 |
European Commission 6th Framework Programme |
INTELCITIES: ‘Intelligent Cities’ |
Partner |
|
2004 |
|
University of British Columbia, Canada ,SDRI |
Georgia Basin Futures Project |
Expert |
|
2004 |
|
Stockholm Environment Institute / North West Regional Association |
A Preliminary Ecological Footprint of the NW Region |
Partner |
|
2004 |
2005 |
Ecosys / White Young Green Environmental Ltd / |
ASSESS: benchmarking for env. business & waste management |
Partner |
|
2004 |
|
ONS (Office of National Statistics) |
UK Material Flow Accounts: methodologies for TMR & overburden |
Partner |
|
2003 |
2006 |
European Commission 6th Framework Programme |
INSURE: regional sustainability indicators & systems dynamics model |
UK lead |
|
2003 |
2005 |
European Commission, 5th Framework Programme |
REGIONET – evaluation of regional sustainable development |
UK lead |
|
2003 |
2004 |
Environment Agency (England & Wales) |
‘Scenarios’: futures studies methodologies & applications to policy& management |
Lead |
|
2003 |
2004 |
DEFRA (Department of Environment Food & Rural Affairs) |
DEFRA science Forward Look 10 year strategy |
Partner |
|
2003 |
2004 |
Stockholm Environment Institute / Ecosys / SEEDA |
Taking Stock: a mass balance & footprint analysis of the SE Region |
Lead |
|
2003 |
|
NWRA - climate |
Spatial implications of climate change |
Lead |
|
2003 |
|
ESRC & Institute of Alternative Futures, |
Scenarios for rural economies & landuse |
Sub/c |
|
2003 |
|
Manchester City Council |
Building Schools for the future: Ecological footprint appraisal |
Lead |
|
2002 |
2005 |
Environment Agency: with Cambridge Econometrics |
REWARD - Regional & Welsh Appraisal of Resources & Development |
Partner |
|
2002 |
2004 |
Enviro-Centre / Biffaward |
Intermodal transport for waste & recyclables |
Lead |
|
2002 |
2003 |
Irish Environmental Protection Agency |
National Spatial Strategy: sustainable settlements modelling programme |
Lead |
|
2002 |
|
North West Regional Association |
Sustainability communications framework |
Lead |
|
2001 |
2002 |
UK Countryside Agency |
Sustainable Development in the Countryside Around Towns |
Lead |
|
2001 |
2002 |
Sustainability NW |
Application of the Atlas NW |
Lead |
|
2001 |
2002 |
United Nations University Tokyo, Institute of Advanced Studies |
Urban Environmental Transition – scaling from local to global |
Expert |
|
2001 |
|
EU-DG Environment / JRC-ISPRA (Sustainable Towns & Cities) |
Review of Local Sustainability Indicators |
Lead |
|
2000 |
2001 |
RTPI (Royal Town Planning Institute) |
UK Spatial Planning Framework |
Partner |
|
1999 |
2000 |
Irish Environmental Protection Agency / University of Limerick |
National Spatial Strategy: methodologies for sustainable settlements planning |
Lead |
|
1999 |
2000 |
Yorkshire & Humber Regional Assembly |
Regional Climate Change Strategy Development |
Partner |
|
1999 |
|
EU-JRC-Ispra |
Integrated assessment concepts & methods |
Lead |
|
1998 |
2001 |
EPSRC |
Regional interactive Sustainability Atlas |
Lead |
|
1998 |
2000 |
SNW / NCBS / Biffaward |
Regional resource flow audit |
Lead |
|
1997 |
2000 |
European Commission 4th Framework |
Integrated Visions for a Sustainable Europe |
UK lead |
|
1997 |
1999 |
ESRC (Global Environmental Change Fellowship) |
Integrated assessment & economic evaluation |
P.I. |
Teaching
Although mainly focused on research and policy applications, Joe Ravetz delivers a stream of training courses, seminars, and lectures around the UK and EU. Recent examples are the Foresight training course for the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, ‘Visualization Workshops’ for the International Centre for Social Science in Vienna: the ‘Sustainable Environmental Management’ Siberian course for IDPM: the United Nations Habitat conference in Naples 2006: the UNEP Man & Biosphere Programme, MA in Sustainable Urban Development at Chalmers in Goteborg: Urban Institute in Dublin: Institute of Contemporary Arts, London: and many other UK engagements.
He has also taught at undergraduate and post graduate level in Manchester, and is currently supervising 2 Phd students, and advisor on 3 others.
Further information
Emails - [email protected] – [email protected]
New book: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315765860
General site: www.manchester.ac.uk/synergistics/
Collaboratorium (Collective Intelligence Lab): www.manchester.ac.uk/synergistics/conversations/
COP26 – Climate-wise program: www.manchester.ac.uk/synergistics/climate-wise/
Creative visual thinking: www.urban3.net
Pursuits: visual thinking and drawing, running & tennis, camping, music.
Media availability: generally available for national / regional media. Contact [email protected] or (+44)(0)7719 233115
Experience: various press interviews, ranging from Guardian to Big Issue:
Expertise: future studies: climate change: One Planet agenda: sustainable cities and regions: sustainable regeneration, economic development: community participation, housing, transport, energy, waste issues.
External positions
Principal , SAMI Consulting
1 Jan 2010 → …
Areas of expertise
- GE Environmental Sciences
- Sustainable development
- collective intelligence
- systems transformation
Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms
- Manchester Urban Institute
- Manchester Institute of Innovation Research
- Sustainable Futures
- Digital Futures
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 1 No Poverty -
SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation -
SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy -
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 15 Life on Land -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions -
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Exploring the ‘collective forward intelligence’ potential: the Foresight 3.0 program at the Mind-Lab
Ravetz, J., 28 Mar 2025, In: Foresight: the journal of futures studies, strategic thinking and policy. 27, 2, p. 449-473 25 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile32 Downloads (Pure) -
Improving young people's mental health through neighbourhood initiatives: the role of ‘collective local intelligence’ in Manchester
Ravetz, J., 15 May 2025, In: Child and Adolescent Mental Health. 30, 2, p. 198-201Research output: Contribution to journal › Commentary/debate
Open Access -
Managing the urban-rural transition: A review of approaches and policies for peri-urban land use
Salem, M., Ravetz, J., Sareen, S., Dong, T., Haque, M., Bayoumi, W., Tsurusaki, N. & Xu, G., 2 May 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Journal of Urban Management. 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Urban economies in flux: from the ‘nexus’ of challenges to a ‘connexus’ of opportunities in the global south
Ravetz, J., 8 Oct 2025, (Accepted/In press) Conversations on City Economy: Growth, Inclusion and Sustainability. New Delhi: RoutledgeResearch output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
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Where is the peri-urban? Mapping the areas ‘around, beyond and between’
Ravetz, J. & Sahana, M., 14 Feb 2025, In: Frontiers in Sustainable Cities. 7, 1436287.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access
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EPP-RG: Environment, Policy, and Place
Barker, A. (Researcher), Gilchrist, A. (Researcher), Munoz Romero, G. (Researcher), Haughton, G. (Researcher), Mell, I. (Researcher), Thornhill, I. (Researcher), Carter, J. (Researcher), Tippett, J. (Researcher), Ravetz, J. (Researcher), Li, L. (Researcher), Black, P. (Researcher), Kerr, R. (Researcher), Zandieh, R. (Researcher), Zhu, W. (PGR student), Sanderson, M. (Researcher), Phillips, A. (Researcher), Lauwerijssen, R. (Researcher), Shaji, M. (PGR student), Glentworth, J. (Researcher), Fitzmaurice, H. (PGR student), Spriggs, H. (PGR student) & Stoneham, R. (PGR student)
1/01/10 → 31/12/30
Project: Research
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Peri-urbanization & climate-environment change
Ravetz, J. (PI) & Pinto, N. (CoI)
13/02/19 → 12/02/21
Project: Research
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Public Participation in Developing a Common Framework for Assessment and Management of Sustainable Innovation
Miles, I. (PI), Amanatidou, E. (CoI), Bleda, M. (CoI), Cox, D. (CoI), Popper Villarroel, R. (CoI), Randles, S. (CoI) & Ravetz, J. (CoI)
1/01/14 → 30/06/17
Project: Research
Activities
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From smarter cities to wiser humans
Pinto, N. (Speaker) & Ravetz, J. (Speaker)
11 May 2022Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk › Research
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various activities in 2019-20
Ravetz, J. (Other)
2019Activity: Internal positions, career professional development, other peer review and other › Other › Research
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Manchester Institute of Innovation Research (Organisational unit)
Ravetz, J. (Academic expert member)
2019 → …Activity: Membership › Membership of committee › Research
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Universidad Autonoma De Baja California
Ravetz, J. (Secondee)
1 Oct 2018 → 1 Oct 2019Activity: External visiting positions or secondments › Visiting an external academic institution › Research
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Universidad Autonoma De Baja California
Ravetz, J. (Secondee)
1 Jun 2018 → 1 Jun 2019Activity: External visiting positions or secondments › Visiting an external academic institution › Research
Datasets
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PERI-CENE Spatial Analysis Tool P-CAT
Pinto, N. (Creator), Sahana, M. (Creator) & Ravetz, J. (Creator), University of Manchester, 25 May 2021
https://nenpintoresearch.wixsite.com/temp-pcat
Dataset
Press/Media
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Exploring Flood Risk and Natural Flood Management Responses
Carter, J., Sahana, M., Ravetz, J. & Pinto, N.
19/08/21
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Blogs and social media
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THE GUARDIAN: School climate strike children’s brave stand has our support
Anderson, K., Burman, E., Giordano, S., Jones, S., Kasmire, J., Pinkse, J., Ravetz, J., Rimmer, A., Sapin, K., Shuttleworth, J., Wood, F. & Joseph-Salisbury, R.
13/02/19
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Expert comment
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