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Lecturing and Public Speaking

Michael W Mehaffy
Author, researcher, consultant and educator on sustainable cities
Executive Director, Sustasis Foundation, Portland, Oregon

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“What makes cities prosperous – and green?”

Michael Mehaffy is an urban scholar and popular speaker who has keynoted many events in the US, Europe and Latin America. He gives engaging talks on the fascinating role of cities in our lives, and the things we can do to make them work better for all. He is also qualified to speak on sustainability, technological change, climate change, the work of urbanist Jane Jacobs, the work of architect Christopher Alexander, and the fascinating story of computer software called “design patterns,” evolving from “pattern languages” in architecture. This topic is often of great interest to software and IT audiences.

Michael has taught at five graduate programs in four countries, including the University of Oregon, Arizona State University, and The University of Trento (IT). He is currently a researcher on urban systems at the University of Strathclyde (UK) and Delft University of Technology (NL). He has written sixteen book chapters, and many peer-reviewed publications. He also writes for popular publications including Metropolis, The Atlantic, Urban Land, and New Urban News. He is skilled at targeting his talks to general and specialist audiences alike.

Among the venues where Michael has keynoted and/or moderated:

National Building Museum, Washington, D.C.
Sopris Foundation, Aspen Institute, Colorado
AIA Historic Resources Committee Conference, Bath, UK
The Prince's Foundation for the Built Environment, London (moderator)
University College London, conference on “Cities and Evolution” (moderator)
Traditional Building Exposition and Conference, Chicago, IL (moderator)
Ontario Growth Secretariat, conference on growth
WHO/Ageing Well Network, “Age-Friendly Cities,” Dublin, IE
University of Strathclyde, Sir David Anderson Award Lecture, Glasgow, UK

Video/audio samples of Michael's speaking:

Voice of America, interview on the role of density and tall buildings in cities (2nd half): http://www.voanews.com/english/news/usa/arts/Social-Scientists-Debate-Role-of-City---135324343.html
Keynote for National Building Museum, 11th Annual Vincent Scully Award (starts at 11:00): http://vimeo.com/7600212
Public lecture on philosophy at “The Athens Dialogues,” Greece: http://streaming.sgt.gr/view-stream_en.asp?video=28
Academic lecture at University College London: http://www.rudi.net/node/20538

Praise for Michael's keynotes:

"I hope you will be pleased to know that your opening remarks were quoted frequently during the second day's sessions. I believe your work is very important."
                            -   James Malanaphy, Co-Chair
                                 Historic Resources Committee, American Institute of Architects

"Your thoughtful messages planning content well in advance of the event assured me we had selected the ideal [keynote] presenter."
                             - Piper Foster, Director, Sopris Foundation

"We had fantastic lectures, feedback and perspective by you."
                             - Ernesto Philibert, Program Director, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico

"What a compelling and inspiring synthesis you presented."
                            - Susan Zielinski, Managing Director, Center for Advancing Research and Solutions for Society

"Your presentation in Aspen was wonderful. It was the short survey course, in one hour, what I learned last year in the urban planning and design survey course at MIT."
                             - Robin Chase, CEO, Meadow Networks, and founder, ZipCar

"Your contribution was terrific."
                            - Elana Horowitz, Manager of Partnerships and Consulting
                              Government of Ontario, Growth Secretariat

Michael Mehaffy with colleagues at the Michael Mehaffy with friends Christopher Alexander and Andres Duany at

INTBAU India conference, January 2007 a session with Alexander at CNU XIV in Providence, RI, June 2006

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