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Sarah Billington is the UPS Foundation Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University and a Senior Fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment. Her research program focuses on sustainable building design, human wellbeing, and ethical supply chain practices. Education: PhD, University of Texas at Austin, Structural Engineering (1997) MSE, University of Texas at Austin, Structural Engineering (1994) BSE, Princeton University, Civil Engineering & Operations Research (1990) Her lab employs interdisciplinary methods to study how built environments impact human physical, psychological, and social wellbeing. Current projects include developing tools to quantify nature exposure in buildings, exploring affordable housing's role in wellbeing, and using AI to assess forced labor risks in material supply chains. While no longer active in this area, her group previously pioneered research on sustainable construction materials like bio-based composites and ductile cement-based composites. Her recent publications address topics such as nature integration in architecture, workplace design optimization, and health impacts of building materials. The Billington Lab at Stanford fosters collaborative team science, welcoming partnerships to advance occupant-centric engineering solutions.

• Sustainable Building Design
• Human Wellbeing in Built Environments
• Affordable Housing
• +3 more

Nancy M. Wells is a Professor in the Department of Human Centered Design and serves as the Senior Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Education in the College of Human Ecology at Cornell University. Her work bridges environmental psychology and public health, examining how built and natural environments impact human health and behavior across the lifespan. Dr. Wells received a joint PhD in Psychology and Architecture from the University of Michigan and completed National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) post-doctoral training at the University of California, Irvine. Her educational background uniquely positions her to investigate the intersection of physical environments and human wellbeing through both psychological and architectural lenses. Her research focuses on how environmental contexts—from homes to neighborhoods to schools—affect health outcomes, cognitive functioning, and resilience. A central theme examines nature's role in human resilience, particularly how natural environments buffer against adversity and challenge. She has conducted influential work on school gardens and their effects on children's physical activity, dietary habits, and learning. More recently, she has pioneered research on nature and autism, conducting a randomized controlled trial examining natural environments' effects on autistic youth wellbeing. Analysis of Dr. Wells' recent publications reveals consistent focus on nature's health benefits, with strong emphasis on experimental methodologies including randomized controlled trials and natural experiments. Her work spans environmental psychology, public health, and education, with particular attention to vulnerable populations including low-income communities and children of color. NSF Funding for environmental health research USDA Funding for school garden studies Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Funding MacArthur Foundation Funding Senior Associate Editor of Environment and Behavior (4 years) Research Advisory Board of Children and Nature Network Board of Directors for reDirect Dr. Wells actively mentors undergraduate and graduate students through the Wells Lab, involving them in all research stages from data collection to publication. Her research has been supported by multiple significant grants examining housing quality effects on mental health, neighborhood design impacts on physical activity, and school garden interventions. She leads interdisciplinary research teams that integrate perspectives from environmental psychology, public health, landscape architecture, and education. The Wells Lab operates as an integrated research-teaching-outreach unit that develops practical yet rigorous studies to assess causal relations between environment and health, creates valid measurement tools, and identifies causal pathways. Current projects include examining nature's effects on autistic youth wellbeing in partnership with The Center for Discovery in New York, and investigating multi-sensory design in urban public spaces.

• Environmental Psychology
• Human-Environment Interactions
• Nature and Health
• +7 more

Vanessa May is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Manchester and currently Head of the Department of Sociology. She holds a PhD from Abo Akademi University (2001) and has held roles including Co-Director of the Morgan Centre for Research into Everyday Lives (2018–2022). A Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences, she serves as Publications Director on the British Sociological Association’s Board of Trustees. Her research focuses on self, belonging, migration, family life, temporality, and qualitative methods. Recent projects include studies on ageing in migration contexts, ageing in place, and the Claremont Court housing scheme. Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to social inclusion and sustainable cities. Key research interests include the interplay between temporality and the built environment, qualitative longitudinal analysis, and the sociological study of public spaces. She has led interdisciplinary projects funded by ESRC and AHRC, exploring themes like socio-emotional wellbeing in families and the impact of non-standard work hours on parenting. Her methodologies span mixed methods, narrative analysis, and biographical approaches. Education: PhD, Abo Akademi University (2001) Awards: Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences Key Projects: ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health (Co-lead for Innovative Methods) Ageing in Place longitudinal study (ESRC-funded) Claremont Court interdisciplinary project (AHRC-funded) Her recent publications address pandemic masking practices, urban family dynamics, and temporal belonging. She actively engages in public sociology through talks and editorial roles, emphasizing the societal relevance of sociological research.

• Sociology
• Belonging
• Migration
• +7 more

Marketta Kyttä is a Professor of Land Use Planning at Aalto University's Department of Built Environment. She holds a PhD in Architecture from Helsinki University of Technology (2004) and leads the Spatial Planning and Transportation Engineering Master’s program. Research Interests: Child- and age-friendly urban environments SoftGIS methodology for participatory mapping Social sustainability and urban health Public participation in planning Activity space modeling Scientific Awards: Lea Pulkkinen award Tapio Nummenmaa award Geospatial World Forum's WebGIS Innovation Award (2010) Oskari Vilamo award (2020) Oppikirja-palkinto for urban planning literature Methodological Contributions: SoftGIS (PPGIS innovation) Commercialization as Maptionnaire software International Collaborations: Affiliated with universities in Italy, Australia, and the US. Her work spans 80+ countries through Maptionnaire’s global adoption.

• Environmental Psychology
• Child-Friendly Urban Planning
• Public Participation GIS (PPGIS)
• +6 more

Ian Ewart is an Associate Professor at the University of Reading's School of the Built Environment, serving as Head of Construction and Engineering Management and Research Group Lead for Organisation, People and Technology. He chairs the Research Ethics Committee since 2016 and supervises undergraduate/postgraduate dissertations. His academic journey spans engineering and anthropology: DPhil Social and Cultural Anthropology, University of Oxford, St Hugh's College (2007-2012) MSc Material Anthropology and Museum Ethnography, University of Oxford, St Hugh's College (2006-2007) BA (Hons) Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Oxford, Harris Manchester College (2003-2006) Diploma in Management Studies, University of the West of England (1990-1994) BEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering, Staffordshire University (1983-1987) Ewart's research integrates ethnographic methods with digital technology studies, examining human-technology interactions in construction and domestic settings. His work bridges engineering practice and social anthropology, focusing on skill transmission, sustainable design, and multisensory experiences in virtual environments. Publications from 2025-2013 reveal a dominant trajectory in digital twins for socio-ecological sustainability, VR-based occupant behavior prediction, and HBIM for heritage conservation. The corpus demonstrates consistent cross-disciplinary innovation, merging archaeological reconstructions with healthcare applications while maintaining anthropological rigor. Key recognition: ESRC Future Research Leader fellowship (2013) for Designing Healthy Homes project He supervises PhD candidates like Afolabi Dania (Nigerian sustainable construction) and Joanna Hull (Heritage BIM), leveraging ESRC funding for ethnography-VR health studies. His grants emphasize participatory design and real-world impact assessment in built environments. Leaders the Organisation, People and Technology research group, developing multisensory Roman town reconstructions with sound/smell integration to advance archaeological and architectural experience modeling.

• Anthropology of Technology
• Built Environment
• Ethnographic Research
• +7 more

Anna Grigolon is an Assistant Professor at the University of Twente , Netherlands, affiliated with the Transport Engineering and Management Research Group . Her research focuses on sustainable urban mobility , user-centric transport solutions , and travel behavior analysis using tools like discrete choice modeling , spatial analysis , and social psychology theories . Research Interests : Sustainable Urban Mobility Accessibility Modeling Travel Behavior Discrete Choice and Latent Class Modeling Spatial Analysis and GIS Shared Micromobility and Mobility Hubs Equity in Transport Planning Article Trends : Anna’s recent work (2025–2024) emphasizes mobility justice , 15-minute city transitions, and equity in transport access , particularly for marginalized communities like São Paulo favelas. She integrates digital tools (e.g., serious games, kiosks) and space-time metrics to evaluate mobility solutions. Projects : She currently leads the SmartHubs project and contributes to DREAMS and R-map , focusing on smart, equitable mobility systems in Europe and Saudi Arabia.

• Sustainable Urban Mobility
• Transportation Planning and Modeling
• Accessibility Modeling
• +10 more

Theo Arentze is a Full Professor at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) in the Department of the Built Environment, leading the Real Estate Management and Development group. He is affiliated with EAISI Health and EAISI Mobility research institutes. Education: MSc in Psychology (Cognitive Psychology & AI) from Groningen University, PhD from TU/e Urban Planning Research: Spatial choice behavior, decision support systems, activity-based modeling, agent-based simulation His research integrates bounded rationality into spatial choice models to enhance behavioral realism, with applications in real-estate management , neighborhood development , healthy cities , and hybrid work environments . Recent work includes child-friendly urban planning and energy-efficient housing impacts . Prominent article themes include: Hybrid work location decisions Urban public space affective experiences Child friendliness in residential choices Sustainable energy preferences Spatial decision support systems Social network modeling Scientific recognition includes: Best Poster Award (2025) - Computational Urban Planning Conference Long Paper of Distinction (2021) - Healthy Buildings Europe EuroFM Best Paper Award (2017) Pyke Johnson Award (2016) As an educator, he teaches courses in Urban Planning , Housing Economics , and Quantitative Research Methods . His multidisciplinary team combines expertise from psychology, sociology, and urban economics to create high-quality built environments through behavioral research.

• Spatial Choice Behavior
• Decision Support Systems
• Activity-Based Modeling
• +9 more

Dr. Alessio Russo is a Senior Lecturer in Landscape Architecture at the School of Architecture and Built Environment, Queensland University of Technology (QUT). As a recognized expert in urban ecosystem services and green infrastructure, his research bridges environmental design with human health and climate change mitigation. His research emphasizes enhancing urban human health and wellbeing through biodiverse green spaces, participatory design, and nature-based solutions that address thermal comfort, pollution removal, food production, and water runoff. Key projects include 2023-2024: Urban rewilding aesthetics & people's needs in blue/green infrastructure (UKRI RECLAIM Network Plus) 2023: Climate-resilient public spaces (RPA Small Grants, UoG) 2021-2022: Shared vision for urban greening (UCL & Net Zero Innovation Programme) His scholarly output spans 2014-2025, focusing on nature-based urban regeneration aligned with SDG 11. He serves as Associate Editor for Urban Agriculture and Regional Food Systems and sits on editorial boards of Urban Planning, Discovering Cities, and Urban Resilience and Sustainability. Professional memberships include IFLA, ICOMOS-IFLA, and IUCN CEM.

• Urban Green Infrastructure
• Nature-Based Solutions
• Urban Ecosystem Services
• +6 more

Geke Dina Simone Ludden serves as Full Professor of Interaction Design at the University of Twente's TechMed Centre within the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science. Her interdisciplinary work bridges human-computer interaction, health technology, and behavioral design. Her research focuses on behavior change through digital interventions , particularly in health contexts. Key areas include cognitive health for aging populations , wearable stress management technologies , and human-building-technology interactions in healthcare environments. She employs co-design methodologies and user-centered approaches to develop tools supporting wellbeing and aging-in-place solutions. Recent publications reveal strong trends in applied health informatics (62% of 2023-2025 output), with significant emphasis on Dutch aging populations and cross-cultural healthcare comparisons . Her work consistently integrates mediation theory and socio-technical frameworks to analyze technology adoption barriers. Ludden actively supervises academic work, having examined 6 doctoral theses since 2020 on topics ranging from hand rehabilitation devices to biodiversity UX implementations. She directs the TechMed Centre's research initiatives focused on translating interaction design principles into clinical applications, particularly through the MattPod sensory dining project and cognitive health toolkits.

• Design
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Behavior Change
• +6 more

Dr. Ava Fatah gen. Schieck is a Professor of Media Architecture and Urban Digital Interaction at The Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London (UCL) , where she has been affiliated since 2001. She teaches in the MSc Architectural Computation program, focusing on embodied interactions and urban digital experiences. Education: ATQ03 - Recognised by the HEA as a Fellow (UCL, 2008) Certificate in Learning and Teaching (UCL, 2007) Master of Science (UCL, 2001) Her research explores the intersection of architecture, digital media, and urban spaces. Key themes include: Mediated spatial experiences in museums and public environments Embodied interactions through dance, movement, and performative design Urban screens and community-centered digital installations Smart city critiques focusing on marginalized communities Pervasive computing's impact on social dynamics Her publication corpus (149+ outputs) predominantly addresses media architecture, HCI, museum technology, and sensory interactions , with recent work emphasizing olfactory interfaces, pandemic urbanism, and heritage digitization. Awards & Honors: Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA, 2023) Projects & Grants: As Principal Investigator for the EPSRC-funded 'Screens in the Wild' , she examines networked urban screens for community engagement. She previously led the 'SCREAM' project (UrbanBuzz program) and contributed to EPSRC's 'Urban Design and Pervasive Systems'. She reviews grants for EPSRC, UKRI, SNSF, and other international bodies. She directs research through UCL's Space Research Group and VR Centre for the Built Environment , collaborating globally. As program chair for the Media Architecture Biennale (2012-2020), she fosters interdisciplinary dialogue across architecture, HCI, and interaction design.

• Media Architecture
• Urban Digital Interaction
• Human-Computer Interaction
• +7 more

Sonit Bafna is an Associate Professor and Director of the Ph.D. Program in Architecture at the Georgia Institute of Technology's College of Design. He holds a Ph.D. from Georgia Tech (2002), an SMArchS from MIT (1993), and a professional degree in Architecture fromCEPT University (1990). His research bridges empirical studies on space-human interaction and critical architectural theory, focusing on morphology, behavior, perception, and aesthetics. Key research areas include home layout's impact on mental health (e.g., reduced depression risk in living-area-centered apartments), workplace design's role in employee wellbeing, and the relationship between spatial configuration and cognitive abilities. His work is funded by organizations like the General Services Administration and Kaiser Permanente. Bafna supervises doctoral research in morphology, design theory, and cognitive studies. Current projects include a book on imaginative reasoning in architecture and studies on hospital corridor design and film spatial analysis. His courses cover architectural theory, design analysis, and research methods. Notable contributions include interdisciplinary studies on space syntax, the therapeutic potential of domestic environments, and the visual functioning of buildings. His research emphasizes the socio-cultural dimensions of architecture and its imaginative potential beyond functionalism.

• Architectural Morphology
• Space Syntax
• Behavior and Perception
• +5 more

Michelle Laboy is an Associate Professor in the School of Architecture at Northeastern University, with affiliate appointments in Civil & Environmental Engineering and the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs. She holds a Master of Architecture and Urban Planning from the University of Michigan (2005) and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico (2001). Her research focuses on transdisciplinary design methods that integrate socio-ecological systems with built environment resilience, emphasizing material circularity and long-term sustainability. Key projects include the Boston LightWells initiative and Common SENSES, which explore community-driven solutions for urban resilience. Laboy has received prestigious awards including the Latrobe Prize (2017 and 2022) and Excellence in Teaching (2020). She co-founded FieLDworkshop, a design research practice addressing ecological and cultural regeneration in cities. Her work bridges architecture, engineering, and policy through projects funded by NSF, DOE ARPA-E, and Autodesk. Research themes include green infrastructure planning, climate-resilient building systems, and participatory modeling for equitable urban development. Laboy has authored/co-authored books such as *The Architecture of Persistence* and over 30 peer-reviewed articles in journals like *Journal of Industrial Ecology* and *Journal of Architecture*. Her teaching spans comprehensive design studios and systems integration courses, emphasizing transdisciplinary collaboration. Education: MArch/MUP, University of Michigan, 2005 BSc Civil Engineering, University of Puerto Rico, 2001 Key Awards: 2022 Latrobe Prize (AIA College of Fellows) 2020 Excellence in Teaching Award (CAMD) 2017 Latrobe Prize (AIA College of Fellows) Grants & Projects: Principal Investigator: Boston LightWells (Autodesk/ Boston Groundwater Trust) Co-PI: Community Resilience in Extreme Temperatures (Northeastern) DOE ARPA-E grant for carbon-negative timber construction Laboy’s practice, FieLDworkshop, operationalizes research into built projects ranging from residential designs to urban-scale interventions. Her scholarly contributions highlight the interplay between technical innovation and social equity in achieving sustainable urban futures.

• Resilient Urban Design
• Green Infrastructure
• Socio-Ecological Systems
• +6 more

Sarah CHAN Hian May is a Research Fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities (LKYCIC), Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), under the Chan Heng Chee Research Fellowship. She holds a Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Studies from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and a B.A. (Hons) in Economics from NTU. Her research focuses on environmental psychology, exploring human-environment interactions across natural, built, and virtual domains. Key themes include urban sustainability, virtual reality applications, and behavioral change mechanisms to bridge environmental and technological challenges. Education Ph.D., Interdisciplinary Graduate Programme, Nanyang Technological University (2022) B.A. (Hons) in Economics, Nanyang Technological University (2017) Research Projects She collaborates with Dr. Neo Harvey on the 'Leveraging Shared Experience of Urban Heat' project, addressing climate resilience in Singapore. Her work integrates computational methods to analyze digital self-expression, emotions, and landscape perceptions. Recent studies include the impact of virtual nature on stress reduction and pro-environmental attitudes through metaverse interventions. Grants & Collaborations Recipient of Chan Heng Chee Research Fellowship Active collaborations with institutions like NTU's School of Social Sciences and interdisciplinary teams at LKYCIC Lab & Team Involvement Contributes to urban resilience and computational social science research teams, focusing on data-driven solutions for environmental and social challenges.

• Environmental Psychology
• Computational Social Science
• Urban Sustainability
• +4 more

Patrick Singleton is an Associate Professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Utah State University, specializing in transportation research. His work bridges travel behavior, safety analysis, and health impacts of transportation systems, with a focus on active transportation and data science applications. Academic Background: PhD in Civil and Environmental Engineering (Portland State University, 2017) Research Areas: Travel behavior, transportation-electrification, pedestrian safety, health-wellbeing in transport Recent research trends emphasize data-driven approaches to pedestrian and bicycle safety, transportation electrification, and the impact of environmental factors like air quality on travel patterns. His lab develops tools for pedestrian data analysis and systemic safety improvements. Scientific recognition includes multiple UDOT awards and a 2017 Best Paper award. He mentors graduate students in transportation modeling and safety analysis.

• Travel Behavior
• Transportation Planning
• Traffic Safety
• +6 more

Dr. Emily Midouhas is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and Human Development at the UCL Institute of Education. She has been with UCL since completing her PhD in 2012, progressing from postdoc to lecturer and then to Associate Professor. Her work focuses on developmental psychology with particular attention to child mental health and behavioral problems. Her educational background includes: PhD from the UCL Institute of Education (2012) MSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science (2003) HEA Fellowship from University College London (2017) Dr. Midouhas's research primarily examines why some children develop behavioral and mental health problems while others do not, with special focus on parenting practices and neighborhood environments. She takes a developmental psychopathology approach and has a keen interest in neurodivergent children. Her current research projects include CALMS (funded by ESRC), PUSH (funded by NIHR), M-WAY (funded by ESRC), and a project on measuring child wellbeing (funded by UCL Grand Challenges). She co-leads the Nurture Lab and Cubic Lab, investigating various aspects of child development and mental health. Analysis of her recent publications shows a strong focus on the interplay between family dynamics, neighborhood environments, and child mental health outcomes. Her work frequently employs longitudinal data and examines bidirectional relationships between parental and child behaviors. There's a clear emphasis on understanding how environmental factors like household chaos and neighborhood greenspace impact child development and mental health. Dr. Midouhas is actively involved in securing research funding for her projects. She currently leads or co-leads several funded research initiatives examining child mental health, parenting, and environmental factors. She serves as the Departmental Graduate Tutor, overseeing doctoral student admissions and progression. Her teaching interests include developmental psychology and positive psychology at the undergraduate level. She is looking to recruit PhD students with strong quantitative skills who are interested in topics such as parenting and child behavior, mental health of neurodivergent children, and the built environment's impact on child behavior.

• Developmental Psychology
• Child Mental Health
• Parenting and Child Behavior
• +7 more