Around the country, cities are aging -- especially cities that built themselves around industries that are now long gone. This week, Syracuse town officials agreed to move forward with a proposed mega-mall called Destiny USA, which would rival the Mall of America in size. The developers of the mall promise that it will be 'green,' with all of its power coming from renewable sources, and that the mall has the potential to bring dollars and jobs back to the region.

In this hour of Science Friday, live from Syracuse, New York, Ira and guests talk about the challenge of revitalizing urban areas in sustainable, environmentally viable ways. How can aging towns remake themselves for the better, while protecting or improving air, water, and living conditions for the people who live there? How can cities revitalize themselves, while not destroying the things that make each city unique?

We'll also hear about 'urban forestry' and its effects on the urban ecosystem, and projects to clean up the Onondaga Creek and Onondaga Lake -- once called the most polluted lake in the nation. Call in with your questions and comments at 1-800-989-8255 (3-4 Eastern). Teachers, find more information about using Science Friday as a classroom resource in the Kids' Connection.

Guests:
Emanuel Carter
Associate Professor
Faculty of Landscape Architecture
State University of New York - College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF)
Syracuse, New York

Anne Mosher
Associate Professor of Geography
Maxwell School of Syracuse University
Syracuse, New York

Richard Smardon
Professor and Chair of the Environmental Studies Faculty
State University of New York - College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF)
Syracuse, New York

David Nowak
Project Leader, Urban Forestry
USDA Forest Service
Syracuse, New York

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This segment produced by Charles Bergquist