UChicago Urban Labs

We are five labs working to address challenges across five key dimensions of urban life: crime, education, health, economic opportunity, and energy & environment.

The Crime Lab, Education Lab and Crime Lab New York work to have social impact by carrying out R&D in close collaboration with the public sector and community-based partners. We are committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion in our work, and to fostering a workplace environment that is supportive of everyone on staff and dedicated to preventing workplace harassment and discrimination.

Latest Reports

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Innovation Fund for Safety, Justice, and Opportunity

A photograph of a street with a train: A train and train tracks are above a street with parked cars in between skyscrapers, with the sun setting such that there is a sun flare in the middle of the train.

Health Lab Road Map Initiative

Street lights

Health Lab TRANSFORM911

Urban Labs The First 10: A Report

Siren Lights police cops

Health Lab Merging Data from Cook County Jail and the Homeless Management Information System: Preliminary Findings

Teacher and students

Education Lab New partnership will support Chicago’s underserved students

Science in Service of Cities

Urban Labs partners with civic and community leaders to unlock the power of science and improve lives.

Watch our video

Learn more about us.

Five Labs

Urban Labs Crime Lab

We partner with cities and communities to use data and rigorous research to design, test and scale programs and policies that enhance public safety, improve educational outcomes, and advance justice.

Urban Labs Education Lab

The Education Lab partners with school districts to design, evaluate, and scale programs and practices that advance student learning and opportunity.

Urban Labs Energy & Environment Lab

The Energy and Environment Lab partners with government agencies and the private sector to identify, rigorously evaluate, and scale programs and policies that reduce pollution, conserve limited natural resources, improve environmental outcomes, and ensure access to reliable and affordable energy.

Urban Labs Health Lab

The Health Lab seeks to partner with civic and community leaders to identify, rigorously evaluate and scale programs and policies that improve health outcomes and address systemic barriers to achieving health equity.

Urban Labs Inclusive Economy Lab

The Inclusive Economy Lab partners with policymakers, community-based organizations and others to generate rigorous evidence that leads to greater financial security and real economic opportunity for communities harmed by disinvestment and segregation.

Our work and impact

Urban Labs works closely with partners to address some of the most pressing challenges across five key dimensions of urban life. Learn more about some of the work we have done and the impact it has made.

COVID-19 & the Economy Understanding the Economic Impacts of COVID-19

Students in Temporary Living Situations Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness

Developing a Best Fit Framework for Postsecondary Success Developing a Best Fit Framework for Postsecondary Success

Shaping the Future of College Access

Supporting Those on Chicago's Frontline During the Pandemic Joining Forces With Chicago Philanthropists & Business Leaders

The First 10: A Report A decade of impact at the Crime Lab and Education Lab

Predicting and Preventing Homelessness in Los Angeles A New Report from the University of Chicago Inclusive Economy Lab & The California Policy Lab

Connect & Redirect to Respect Connect & Redirect to Respect

Final Report

Smart Water Conservation Enforcement Using Smart Meters to Manage Residential Water Consumption in Fresno

Crime Lab: Science in Service of Cities Crime Lab: Science in Service of Cities

READI Chicago The Rapid Employment and Development Initiative

COVID-19 Household Survey How Americans Are Coping with COVID-19

Chicago Sports Alliance Chicago Sports Alliance

One Million Degrees Cultivating Student Success in Community College

The Inclusive Economy Lab is evaluating a promising program to help young people succeed by committing to- and graduating from- community college

EPA Inspection Targeting Improving EPA Inspection Targeting with Machine Learning 

Strategic Decision Support Centers Data-Driven Crime Prevention: Crime Lab Analyst Training

Preventing Failures to Appear in Court Preventing Failures to Appear in Court

Predicting Methane Leaks Reducing Methane Emissions in Colorado’s Oil & Gas Sector

Reducing Heavy-Duty Truck Emissions in California Using Remote Sensing Technology to Reduce Heavy-Duty Truck Emissions in California

Sarah's Circle Women Experiencing Homelessness in Their Own Words

Chicago Bag Tax Understanding the Impacts of Chicago's Disposable Bag Tax

Chicago’s bag tax significantly reduced disposable bag use

Lowering Lead Exposure Reducing Lead Exposure in Children through Improved Screening

Partnering with the Illinois Department of Public Health to analyze the costs and benefits of switching to a universal screening model versus updating the existing targeting system.

Crime in Chicago: Beyond the Headlines Crime in Chicago: Beyond the Headlines

City Club of Chicago Talk by Crime Lab Faculty Director Jens Ludwig

Locating Lead Pipes Incentivizing Self-inspections to Locate Hidden Lead Service Lines

Reducing Pollution from Crop Burning Evaluating the Impact of Subsidizing Green Technology on Crop Burning

Discover More

Energy & Environment Lab 7 Technologies for Fighting Climate Change

Wall Street Journal / September 12, 2023

Crime Lab Editorial: A high-tech ray of hope in the fight against gun violence in Englewood

Chicago Tribune / December 15, 2017

Careers Work for Us