Collaborate with us!
Cities of Awe is made possible because of mission-driven partners who believe in this work. Whether you want to support local projects, advance research, or organize grassroots engagement in your community, let’s get a conversation started. Here are some ways in which you can engage with us
Build on the research
We’re expanding into new geographies and cultural contexts. If you’re a researcher, designer, cultural practitioner, or thinker working in cities and communities, we’d love to collaborate. Join us to experiment, contribute to research, or co-create projects rooted in your local context.
If this is you, send us an email
connect@citiesofawe.com
Organize local explorations
Host a gathering in your community to start noticing the public life and awe that already exists around you. How you could help it grow? Our tools, research, and stories are free and open designed for you to adapt, experiment, and build upon.
Share what you discover to inspire us!
Partner with us
We’re looking for partners ready to imagine, test, and show what’s possible. Whether you want to support city experiments, sponsor a Cities of Awe Fellow, or advance research in your community, we’d love to connect.
You bring local knowledge, funding, networks, and ambition. We bring the research, methods, and tools to measure impact and scale what works.
Join our upcoming events
World Cities Summit
SINGAPORE / 14-16 JUNE
Join Louise Kielgast from the Gehl People Team as she talks about Awe in Public Life on June 15 at 16:40 as part of SOCS Research Spotlight
If you want us to participate or contribute to your event, contact us.
Listen to our podcast
Cities of Awe is a special series from The Science of Happiness, hosted by Dacher Keltner. It brings together researchers, designers, artists, and community leaders to explore how cities can be shaped not just for efficiency, but for connection, meaning, and collective wellbeing. Through stories and experiments in public life, the series shows how moments of awe in everyday urban spaces can deepen our sense of belonging and possibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Begin where you are. Step outside and notice the moments in public life that feel meaningful, surprising, or connecting. What draws people together? What makes you pause?
Awe isn’t reserved for the rare and spectacular, it is often found in the everyday. Learning to see it is the first step. For deeper research, you can explore resources from the Greater Good Science Center. -
We collaborate with researchers, city officials, community leaders, and practitioners to explore how awe can shape public life. Through partnerships, pilot projects, storytelling, and events, we test ideas and build real-world impact.
We also help cities and organizations understand and measure their work using shared frameworks for public life, lived experience, and awe. Whether you’re running a pilot, program, or place-based initiative, we can support you in building evidence to strengthen and scale your efforts. A fellowship to support locally embedded work is planned for next year. If you’re interested, reach out and we can explore how to work together. -
Absolutely. Our work is rooted in urban contexts, but the movement is open to anyone drawn to awe, community, and place-based approaches. Engage with our content, join our network, or connect with us directly.
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Yes, and we want to hear from you. Cities of Awe is a platform for lifting up awe-makers and public life projects of all kinds, from research to on-the-ground activation. Share what you're working on and we’d be happy to feature your work in our blog or newsletter.