Thinkers, innovators and citizens from around the world are convening today to discuss the future of urban areas as part of On Cities. A virtual gathering, the event is hosted by Knight Center for International Media and the University of Miami’s School of Communication.   On Cities uses media to engage individuals and institutions around the world in better understanding urban challenges and sharing inspiring stories of urban innovation across borders. You can watch the event live today starting at 3 p.m ET or follow along via Twitter with the hashtag #oncities. “Cities are changing very quickly and though it’s not something people think about often, it affects us all,” says UM School of Communication Prof. Sanjeev Chatterjee, the event’s organizer in its press release. “The goal of On Cities is to encourage people to really look at their city, think about what the present and emerging challenges are, what we can learn from the past, and what the visions for the future are.” On Cities discussions will feature a visual meditation on cities past, present and future and international figures from the fields of architecture, urban design, technology and healthcare will share insight. Partners include Nightly Business Report, University of Miami’s Office of Civic and Community Engagement and School of Architecture. The following international institutions will participate in research and media projects focusing on the future of cities over the next year: Emerson College in Boston, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Salzburg Academy for Media and Global Change in Washington, D.C. and the Young India Fellowship, among others. The Knight Center for International Media was made possible in 2006 with 3.5 million in support from Knight Foundation. On Cities is part of the university’s initiative to test, measure and implement new global news techniques. It currently has two Knight Chairs in residence. By Jenna Buehler, executive assistant/communications at Knight Foundation