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The Tropical Urbanism and Design Lab, called TUDLab, will mark the event with a conference and masterclass on October 20 featuring keynote speakers Charles Wolfe, a Seattle-based land use attorney, urbanist writer and photographer, and Richard Briggs, an architect and urban artist.

Organisers and TUDLab founders Associate Professor Lisa Law and Dr Silvia Tavares have invited local planners and architects to join the conference at The Cairns Institute to discover how they could be involved with TUDLab.

“TUDLab is a space for industry, local government, community and university collaboration on design issues for our city and other urban areas in the tropics,” she said.

“It will help us think through our engagement with the community and architects to live more sustainably with the reef and rainforest that surrounds Cairns.

“Six ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø research staff and five adjunct staff with expertise in varied fields including geography, landscape architecture and hydrology have joined TUDLab.

“Dr Silvia Tavares will present on urban design at the conference, Dr Colin MacGregor and Dr Hanshe Lim will discuss sustainable urbanism, Dr Kearrin Sims is speaking about inclusive urbanism and Dr Sharon Harwood about Indigenous planning.

Dr Silvia Tavares said a highlight of the conference will be a masterclass with Charles Wolfe on creating an urban diary of the city.

“Charles will lead participants on a walk through Cairns city demonstrating how photography can empower citizens to raise their concerns and wishes with urban planners to promote a better city,” she said.

There is a photo competition for the homepage of the TUDLab with a prize of $250.