Adriana Portella

Dr. Adriana Portella is an Associate Professor at the School of Architecture and Urbanism, Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel), Brazil, where she has held a permanent academic position since 2008. She is also a CNPq Productive Researcher Fellow (Level 2) and maintains strong international collaborations, notably with Heriot-Watt University in the UK, where she served as a Visiting Professor in 2022. Her research spans urban design, climate justice, social inequalities, and ageing, with a strong emphasis on community-engaged and participatory methodologies.

Her research interests focus on the intersection of urban environments and human well-being, particularly among vulnerable populations. She investigates themes such as climate justice, age-friendly cities, sense of place, resilience, and heritage. Her interdisciplinary work integrates urban planning, architecture, environmental psychology, and health geography, often applying innovative qualitative methods like photo diaries and participatory mapping, alongside quantitative analysis.

The body of her recent publications reflects a sustained focus on inclusive urban development, ageing in place, and climate change mitigation through Indigenous and community knowledge. Her work increasingly emphasizes decolonial approaches and global collaboration, especially between the Global South and North. The articles show a consistent trend toward policy-relevant, equity-driven research that bridges academic inquiry with real-world impact.

• CNPq Productive Researcher Fellow, Level 2

Dr. Portella has led major research projects funded by ESRC, CAPES, CNPq, and the British Academy, including the Amazon Indigenous Windows project. She has supervised numerous students and mentored research teams, particularly in Brazil. Her grants reflect a strong capacity for securing international funding and managing large interdisciplinary teams. She actively engages in knowledge mobilization, translating research into policy and public discourse.

She founded and coordinated the Laboratory of Behavioural Studies (LabCom) at UFPel from 2016 to 2023 and continues as a Research Fellow. She also led the Centre for Studies on Healthy Cities, Ageing and Citizenship and played key administrative roles, including Head of Department and Coordinator of the Master’s Programme in Architecture and Urbanism.