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Dr. Yawei Zhao is a Lecturer in Human Geography at the University of Manchester. She specializes in digital technologies, urbanization, and lifestyle migration. Her research explores data centers, PropTech, and the intersection of lifestyle migration with small city urbanization. Funded by the British Academy, IJURR Foundation, and Mitacs Canada, her work appears in journals like Urban Geography and Housing Studies . Prior to Manchester, she was a sessional instructor at the University of Calgary, where she earned her PhD in Geography. She holds degrees from McGill University, City University of Hong Kong, and National University of Singapore. Her research interests include urban governance, ecological civilization, and China's urban dynamics. Notable projects examine the Belt and Road Initiative's AI governance platforms and the impact of virtual tourism on cultural heritage sites. She co-leads PhD supervision on topics such as internal migration in China and animal rights in urban governance. Dr. Zhao actively contributes to interdisciplinary platforms like Digital Futures, Manchester China Institute, and Manchester Urban Institute. She organized the 2022–2023 conference ‘Making Rent: Generational Inequality and the Housing Crisis.’

• Urban Geography
• Digital Technologies
• Urbanization
• +8 more

Aaron Kappeler is a Lecturer in Anthropology of Development at the University of Edinburgh's School of Social and Political Science, Department of Social Anthropology. He teaches core courses in the MSc International Development program and MA Social Anthropology, including Anthropology and Environment and Social Development. Education: PhD, University of Toronto Graduate studies, University of Heidelberg and University of Leipzig Undergraduate, University of Arizona Research Focus: Kappeler specializes in Latin American political economy with emphasis on agricultural development , petro-populism , and rural livelihoods . His fifteen-year ethnographic fieldwork in Venezuela examines state enterprises, agrarian reform under Chávez, and the interplay of race, nature, and capital in socialist policy implementation. Current work analyzes oil rent redistribution mechanisms. Publication Trends: Recent scholarship (2021-2025) reveals consistent focus on Venezuelan political economy , bridging anthropology and political science . Key themes include petro-populism's impact on rural cooperatives (2024), racialized sovereignty production (2023), and neo-structural socialism in state enterprises (2025). His work critically engages with dependency theory while documenting grassroots responses to resource nationalism. Scientific Awards: None documented in source material. Academic Supervision: Kappeler annually supervises MSc dissertations in International Development and MA dissertations in Social Anthropology. He has served as Director of Admissions for graduate development programs and coordinates departmental open-day events.

• Development
• Political Economy
• Labor
• +10 more

Dr. Alice Earley is a Researcher at the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE) within the Division of Urban Studies and Social Policy at the University of Glasgow. Her work focuses on urban regeneration, gentrification, housing inequalities, and community enterprises. Prior roles include Research Fellow at UCL’s Bartlett School of Planning and Tutor in Urban Studies at the University of Glasgow. Education: PhD in Urban Studies (University of Glasgow, 2022) MRes in Urban Research (University of Glasgow) MSc in Urban Regeneration (Bartlett School of Planning, UCL) MA(Hons) in Geography (University of Edinburgh) Research Interests: Alice’s research explores debates on regeneration vs. gentrification, housing inequalities, community asset management, and urban governance. Her work emphasizes structural inequalities and the role of partnerships in policy processes. She advocates for equitable urban development through community-led initiatives and policy reforms. Teaching & Collaboration: At the University of Glasgow, Alice has taught courses on urban policy, public policy, and planning. She also contributed to teaching at UCL. Her collaborations include projects with CaCHE, the Scottish Government, and community organizations like BS3 Community Development. Current projects address housing policy in Scotland and England, including affordable housing strategies and private rented sector regulation. Labs/Teams: Affiliated with CaCHE and the Neighbourhoods, Welfare and Wellbeing Research Group at Glasgow’s Urban Studies department. Engaged in interdisciplinary collaborations across urban studies, public policy, and geography.

• Urban Regeneration
• Gentrification
• Housing Inequalities
• +4 more

Professor Charlotte Lemanski is a Professor of Urban Geography at the University of Cambridge's Department of Geography. Her research focuses on urban inequality in the global South, particularly through infrastructure, governance, and citizenship frameworks. She holds affiliations with the University of the Western Cape (Extraordinary Professor) and the University of Johannesburg (Senior Research Fellow). Education: BA Politics (Durham), MSc Development Management (LSE), DPhil Geography (Oxford) PG Cert in Learning and Teaching (UCL) Research interests include off-grid infrastructure transitions, infrastructural citizenship, and interdisciplinary urban studies. Her work emphasizes Southern voices in knowledge production, evidenced by her British Academy-funded initiatives mentoring early-career researchers. Notable projects include studies on energy innovation for low-income housing, governance of just urban transitions, and hybrid infrastructure configurations in African cities. She has supervised numerous postgraduate students and collaborates with NGOs, architects, and engineers globally.

• Urban Geography
• Infrastructure Studies
• Urban Governance
• +3 more

Dr Duncan Smith is an Associate Professor in GIS and Visualisation at the Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (CASA) at University College London (UCL). He serves as Programme Co-Director for the MSc Urban Spatial Science, focusing on digital visualisation and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) education. His research emphasizes urban sustainability, transport accessibility, and interactive urban visualisation, with a particular interest in global mega-cities like London, Singapore, and São Paulo. Dr Smith holds a PhD from UCL (2011), an MSc from the University of Edinburgh (2005), and a BA (2003). His recent projects include leading the ESRC-funded Driving Urban Transitions project (2024) exploring sustainable travel in small cities and outer metropolitan areas. Previously, he was Co-Investigator on the SIMETRI project (NSFC JPI Urban Europe) analyzing urban sustainability in London, the Randstad, and China's Greater Bay Area. His research interests span urban visualisation techniques, transport equity analysis, and polycentric urban development. Key areas include GIS-driven urban modelling, accessibility metrics, and the intersection of housing policy with sustainable urban form. His interactive visualisations, available on citygeographics.org , showcase innovative approaches to spatial data presentation. Dr Smith's work consistently addresses global sustainability challenges through geospatial methodologies. Recent studies highlight inequalities in transport accessibility and the spatial implications of urban policies. Upcoming projects will further investigate small-city mobility dynamics using multi-national collaborations with Amsterdam and Lisbon researchers.

• Urban Sustainability
• Transport Accessibility Analysis
• Urban Visualization
• +7 more

Nora Waitkus is a Professor of Sociology at Heidelberg University's Max-Weber Institute of Sociology and an Assistant Professorial Research Fellow at the London School of Economics' International Inequalities Institute. Her research focuses on socio-economic stratification, wealth inequality, class dynamics, housing inequalities, and economic elites. She holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of Bremen, an M.A. in Political Science from Freie Universität Berlin, and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Hamburg. Key research areas include: wealth concentration mechanisms, institutional drivers of inequality, cross-national comparative analysis, and media portrayals of economic elites. She employs methods like longitudinal household surveys, media data analysis, and survey experiments. Her recent work emphasizes how redistribution policies moderate income-wealth linkages, the role of inheritance in wealth legitimacy, and gender disparities in wealth accumulation across occupational classes. Awards: RC28 Significant Scholarship Award, Aleida Hagenaars Memorial Award, NWO Talent Grant (VENI) Grants: VENI project on Varieties of Wealth , Wealth Conflicts within Families (TiU Grant) She leads the Chair of Comparative Social Stratification at Heidelberg University and maintains active collaborations with institutions like Tilburg University and the University of Michigan.

• Wealth Inequality
• Socio-Economic Stratification
• Housing Inequalities
• +4 more

Dr. John Glen is a Visiting Professor at the Cranfield School of Management, Cranfield University. He previously served as Director of the Executive MBA (2002–2004) and Full-Time MBA (2004–2007). His research focuses on housing economics, health economics, and macroeconomics, with notable work on mortgage arrears, property valuation impacts of school performance, and waste management economics. He regularly comments on UK and global macroeconomics and football finance for BBC media, having provided over 75 interviews in three years. Education : Not explicitly listed, but affiliated with Cranfield School of Management. Research Interests : Housing economics, health economics, macroeconomic trends, and sports finance. He employs econometric models to analyze policy impacts on markets, such as school performance on property prices and mortgage default risks. His articles span topics like waste incineration valuation, breast cancer treatment costs, and mortgage arrears determinants. He has advised major clients including Kuehne + Nagel, Jaguar Land Rover, and government entities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. No awards are listed, but his work has been cited in over 10 studies on mortgage arrears and credit risk. Labs/Teams: Not explicitly mentioned, but collaborates with institutions like the Council of Mortgage Lenders and co-authored studies with Catarina Figueira and Joseph Nellis.

• Housing Economics
• Health Economics
• Macroeconomics
• +3 more

Dr. Isaias Fanlo serves as University Lecturer in Modern Iberian Literary and Cultural Studies within the Spanish & Portuguese Department of the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics at the University of Cambridge. He holds an Iberian Studies Fellowship at Fitzwilliam College where he is based at Storey's Way, Cambridge CB3 0DG. His research specializes in contemporary Iberian cultures with emphases on: Queer theory applied to theatrical and performative events in Spain Intersections of race, class, citizenship and HIV status in urban spaces Catalan and Spanish literatures from the 19th century to present Toponormativity and resistance against gentrification Archival studies of HIV/AIDS through performance Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals dominant trends in spatial politics and queer resistance, with 60% focusing on theatrical responses to urban gentrification and normative space usage. His work increasingly integrates race theory with queer studies, particularly in Catalan drama contexts, while maintaining strong connections to HIV/AIDS cultural narratives and experimental performance forms. His notable awards include: Time Out Award 2016 for Best Innovative Project (Terrats en Cultura festival) Butaca Award 2019 for Best Initiative for Audiences As a cultural manager, Fanlo has significantly impacted Barcelona's scenic arts through founding the decade-running Terrats en Cultura rooftop festival and serving as artistic advisor for Teatre Nacional de Catalunya and Teatre Lliure. His academic supervision extends to MPhil and PhD students researching Iberian queer cultures, though specific student names aren't documented in available materials. His laboratory of practice manifests through active participation in the European Creative Rooftop Network and ongoing festival curation, blending academic theory with community-based artistic production across Barcelona and Chicago.

• Queer Theory
• Theatre and Performance Studies
• Iberian Cultures
• +7 more

Dr. Daniel Matlin is a Reader (equivalent to Associate Professor) in the History of the United States since 1865 at King's College London, affiliated with the Faculty of Arts & Humanities and the Department of History. He joined King's in 2012 after previous academic positions at Queen Mary University of London (as Leverhulme Early Career Fellow) and Cambridge University, where he served as Director of Studies at the Centre for History and Economics. His research examines the intersection of race, intellectual life, and urban space in 20th-century America, with specializations in: African-American intellectual/cultural history Civil rights and Black Power movements Historical constructions of race and Black diasporic identity Urban history (particularly Harlem and New York City) Jazz history and cultural expression Publication analysis reveals consistent focus on Harlem as both physical space and cultural symbol, with interdisciplinary approaches bridging history, visual culture, musicology, and urban studies. His works critically analyze racial representation, community formation, and the politics of space. Awards & Honors: Arthur Miller Centre First Book Prize for On the Corner: African American Intellectuals and the Urban Crisis Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship He actively supervises PhD students in African-American history, civil rights, black nationalist thought, and 20th-century cultural history. Grant-funded projects include 'Race Capital? Harlem as Place and Symbol since 1900.' Matlin engages extensively with public history through lectures at institutions like the National Theatre and Black Cultural Archives.

• African-American History
• Intellectual History
• History of Race
• +7 more

Hakan Sandal-Wilson is an Assistant Professor of Gender, Peace and Security at the Department of Gender Studies, London School of Economics and Political Science. His research critically examines intersections of gender, sexuality, ethnicity, religion, and conflict in the Middle East, particularly focusing on Kurdish queer/LGBTIQ+ politics and diasporic movements. He is also invested in creative-critical interdisciplinary research methods, co-editing a volume on politically engaged methodologies. Previously, he served at the University of Cambridge as a Teaching Associate and Affiliated Lecturer, and as Campaigns Officer for Amnesty UK’s LGBTI Network. Education : - PhD, University of Cambridge Centre for Gender Studies - MA in Cultural Studies, Istanbul Bilgi University Research Interests : - Queer Studies in Conflict Zones - Kurdish Social Movements - Diasporic Feminist and Queer Activism - Ethnography and Creative Writing Methodologies Publications Trends : His work bridges theoretical inquiries with activism, emphasizing marginalized queer voices in conflict-affected regions. Recent projects include monographs on Kurdish queer politics and co-edited collections on creative-critical interventions for social justice. Awards & Grants : No awards explicitly mentioned, but his work has been translated into multiple languages and featured in outlets such as openDemocracy and Jadaliyya. Advising & Mentorship : No listed advisees, but directs LSE’s MSc Gender and MSc Gender (Research) programmes, teaching courses like GI402 (Gender, Knowledge & Research Practice) and GI413 (Gender, Race & Militarisation). Labs & Collaborations : Co-convened 'Creaction' interdisciplinary workshops at UCL, fostering global creative-critical social justice research.

• Gender Studies
• Sexuality Studies
• Peace and Conflict Studies
• +5 more

Dr. Zheng Wang is a Lecturer in Sustainable Cities at King's College London's Department of Geography, part of the School of Global Affairs. Previously, he held positions at the University of Sheffield (2017–2022) and was a Research Associate on the ESRC-funded project 'Governing the Future City' (2016–2017). His research focuses on urban governance, mega-urban projects, and the social impacts of urban redevelopment, particularly in China. He holds a BSc from University College London, an MSc from Cardiff University, and a PhD from UCL's Bartlett School of Planning. Key research themes include: urban governance configurations, community engagement post-resettlement, rural migrants' integration, and the socio-spatial effects of large-scale developments. His work has been funded by the British Academy and Economic and Social Research Council. He currently explores theoretical frameworks for global urban studies using China as a critical case. His recent articles analyze state-society dynamics in Shanghai, variegated urban redevelopment impacts, and global comparative urbanism. He received the 2017 Early Career Research Award from the Royal Town Planning Institute and serves as Associate Editor of Transactions in Planning and Urban Research . Teaching includes postgraduate courses on sustainable urban governance and PhD supervision in urban planning, migration, and neighborhood studies. He is affiliated with King's Urban Futures Research Group and the Centre for Integrated Research in Risk & Resilience.

• Urban Governance
• Mega Urban Projects
• Community Studies
• +3 more

Fran Tonkiss is Professor of Sociology at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), Department of Sociology. She is a key member of the Urban Sociology research cluster and teaches in the MSc City Design and Social Science programme, where she convenes a graduate course on Urban Inequalities. Her academic work bridges urban and economic sociology, with a strong focus on the social life of urban form and spatial divisions. Her research interests include urban inequalities, urban design and development, social and spatial divisions, and the socio-economic organisation of urban space. She explores how economic processes shape urban environments and how spatial arrangements reinforce or challenge social inequalities. Her work also extends into gendered urban space, informal economies, austerity urbanism, and the sonic dimensions of cities, reflecting a broad and interdisciplinary approach to urban life. The trends in her recent publications reveal a sustained engagement with critical urban theory, spatial justice, and the politics of urban form. Her articles frequently address themes such as gentrification, infrastructure, urban protest, and the gendering of public space, often with a comparative or global perspective. She contributes significantly to methodological discussions in qualitative research, particularly in discourse, content, and focus group analysis. Fran Tonkiss is a member of the editorial boards of the British Journal of Sociology , City , and Economy and Society , highlighting her influence in the field. While no specific scientific awards are mentioned in the text, her extensive publication record and editorial roles indicate high scholarly recognition. She supervises doctoral students in urban and spatial sociology, contributing to the next generation of scholars in the field. Though no grants are explicitly listed, her research output suggests active involvement in funded projects. She is part of a vibrant research environment at LSE, particularly within the Urban Sociology cluster, which fosters interdisciplinary collaboration on pressing urban issues.

• Urban Sociology
• Economic Sociology
• Urban Inequalities
• +11 more

Ben Seymour is a Lecturer in Fine Art at the Department of Art, Goldsmiths, University of London. His research focuses on the intersections of urban regeneration, gentrification, and culture, alongside critical analyses of contemporary capitalism's ideologies, including precarious labor, creative economy, and financialization of art. He is also a writer and Deputy Editor of Mute Magazine , contributing to debates on digital culture, political economy, and artistic resistance. Position: Lecturer in Fine Art Institution: Goldsmiths, University of London Research Themes: Urban Regeneration, Gentrification, Art and Capitalism, Cultural Politics Email: b.seymour@gold.ac.uk Ben's academic and artistic work critically examines urban development processes, particularly in London's Hackney and other global cities, through films, articles, and visual essays. He has explored the socio-political consequences of regeneration projects, linking them to broader capitalist dynamics such as financialization and the erosion of community spaces. His practice extends to curatorial and editorial projects, including co-programming films on gentrification and organizing reading groups on Marx's Capital in Hackney and Brooklyn. His films have been internationally screened at festivals and galleries in Edinburgh, Leeds, NYC, Amsterdam, and Spain, addressing themes of urban utopianism and capitalist critique.

• Urban Regeneration
• Gentrification
• Cultural Politics
• +4 more

Professor Paula Meth is an esteemed academic at the University of Glasgow , specializing in Southern Urbanism . She joined the Department of Urban Studies & Social Policy in 2024, bringing expertise in Human Geography , Urban Planning , and Development Studies . Her research focuses on the urban global South , examining socio-spatial intersections such as housing & youth , informality, violence & gender , and urban peripheries & social difference . Her work spans funded projects like Youth and the Work/Housing Nexus (British Academy), Living the African Peripheries (ESRC), and Gender and Housing Formalisation (British Academy). She is a co-investigator on the Urban Citizenship and Transcontinental Lives project and co-domain lead for the African Cities Research Consortium in the Safety & Security domain. Professor Meth has published extensively in journals such as Urban Geography , International Journal of Urban and Regional Studies , and Environment and Planning: A , and co-authored key texts like Geographies of Developing Areas and Living the Urban Periphery . She is committed to public engagement , curating exhibitions on urban life in Africa. British Academy Grant (2025-2026): Evidence Cultures in Post-Apartheid Policy Making ESRC Grant (2023): Urban Citizenship and Transcontinental Lives FCDO Grant (2022-2023): Safety & Security Domain Co-Lead She supervises doctoral students on topics including urban policy mobilities , climate emergency planning , and ecological gentrification . Her teaching includes Policy, Politics and Power and Housing Inequality , with upcoming courses on Southern Urbanism and Inclusive Cities .

• Urban Studies
• Human Geography
• Development Studies
• +7 more

Dr. Johan Andersson is an Associate Professor in Urban Cultural Geography at King's College London's Department of Geography, part of the School of Global Affairs. He holds a BA in Comparative Literature and Art History from Stockholm University (2000) and a PhD in Urban Studies from University College London (2008). His postdoctoral roles included a fellowship at the University of Leeds and a visiting scholar position at the Graduate Center of City University New York. His research focuses on queer nightlife, cinema and urban spaces, and postindustrial urbanism. Notable works include Berlin's queer archipelago (2023) and Berghain: Space, affect, and sexual disorientation (2022). He co-edited The City in American Cinema: Film and Postindustrial Culture (2019) and has published widely on topics like queer space, gentrification, and transnational religious networks. Andersson leads the Urban Futures research group and co-founded Queer@King's, a hub for LGBTQ+ studies. He advises PhD students on urban, cultural, and social geography topics. His work intersects with UN SDGs addressing sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11) and reducing inequalities (SDG 10).

• Urban Cultural Geography
• Queer Nightlife Studies
• Cinema and Urban Spaces
• +3 more