معرفی
Prof Dimitris Ballas is a Professor of Economic Geography at the University of Groningen's Faculty of Spatial Sciences since 2017. He leads the Islands and Sustainability Lab and directs the Erasmus Mundus Islands and Sustainability master's program. His expertise spans social and spatial inequalities, happiness research, spatial microsimulation, and geoinformatics. Ballas holds a PhD from the University of Leeds (2001) and has held academic positions at the University of the Aegean, University of Sheffield, and visiting roles at Harvard and Ritsumeikan University. His work emphasizes policy evaluation using GIS and spatial methods. He has authored/co-authored influential books like The Human Atlas of Europe and GIS and the Social Sciences. He serves on advisory boards for journals, research councils, and international organizations. His research bridges quantitative methods with societal issues, focusing on well-being, migration, and regional development.
Education:
- Bachelor's in Economics (University of Macedonia, 1996)
- MA in GIS (University of Leeds, 1997)
- PhD in Geography (University of Leeds, 2001)
Research Interests: Ballas investigates socio-spatial inequalities through spatial microsimulation, happiness geography, and urban green spaces' impact on well-being. He explores voting behavior, climate change mitigation, and island sustainability. Recent work includes analyzing discontent geographies and energy behavior diffusion.
Awards: Nominated for Best Teaching Practice in Spatial Sciences (2023).
Labs/Initiatives: Leads the Islands and Sustainability Lab and collaborates on projects like the PHOENIX and Mobi-Twin initiatives. Engages in global networks such as the European Regional Science Association and the Greek National Research Council.
