The NODES research group participates in the IX International Congress of Creative Cities

On December 12 and 13, the NODES research group from the Open University of Catalonia (UOC) participated in the IX International Congress of Creative Cities, held at the Segovia campus of the University of Valladolid.
The central theme of the congress was creativity applied to urban development, highlighting innovative actions that provide solutions to the challenges and opportunities faced by cities, both small and large. The main goal of the event was to foster collaboration among various public, private, and academic agents, at both national and international levels, to explore and disseminate creative urban projects and contribute to global initiatives such as the UN-Habitat agenda and the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
In this context, Inés Martins, Amalia Creus, and Efraín Foglia presented the paper “Sustainable Mobility and Care: Exploring the Mobility of Older People in the Public Space of Barcelona Through Participatory Methodologies,” as part of the research project Digital Cartography, Care, and Urban Mobility.
The presentation focused on the preliminary results of the project, which explores the intersection of sustainable urban mobility (non-polluting vehicles), care, and the configuration of public space in Barcelona, with a specific focus on the mobility of older people. The research follows a qualitative methodology, using interviews, focus groups, and visual maps co-designed with older people to understand how sustainable mobility and care dynamics affect this group.
The emerging results help identify the needs and obstacles that older people face in the urban environment. Furthermore, they point to measures to improve the quality of public space and neighborhoods, ensuring their autonomy and independence, as well as a better quality of life.
Additionally, following this presentation, the speakers Inés Martins, Amalia Creus, and Efraín Foglia have published the article “Cuidados y Movilidad Sostenible: un análisis de la movilidad de las personas mayores en el espacio público de Barcelona” in the book *Ciudades en transformación: creatividad, protesta y patrimonio en el siglo XXI* (Madrid, McGrawHill. ISBN: 978844864764).