Hanna Baumann

Dr Hanna Baumann is a Principal Research Fellow at the UCL Institute for Global Prosperity within The Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment at University College London. Her research focuses on social inclusion in urban transitions, particularly examining how infrastructures shape urban exclusion and participation of refugees and migrants. She frequently employs participatory, creative and arts-based research methods in her work and serves as editor of the journal CITY.

Her research interests center on three interrelated strands: the role of public services in shaping urban citizenship of migrants and refugees; participatory planning of sustainable food and waste systems with people living in food poverty; and translation of gender-inclusive urban design into policy practice. Her work intersects urban and regional planning, human geography, architecture, urban sociology, and migration studies with a strong emphasis on creative methodologies.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent focus on infrastructure as both a site of exclusion and potential for community building, particularly in contexts of displacement and crisis. Her work spans multiple geographic contexts including Lebanon, Palestine/Israel, and London, with recurring themes of spatial justice, vulnerability, and creative resistance. She demonstrates a distinctive approach that bridges academic research with artistic practice and policy engagement.

Among her notable honors are the Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship (2019-2022), ZK/U Residency (2024), and CBRL Residential Fellowship (2023). She has also served on advisory boards including the Women's Safety Audits for Mayor of London/TfL and as a judge for the Leigh Douglas Memorial Prize.

Dr Baumann actively supervises PhD and Master's dissertations on topics related to urban contestation, displacement, infrastructure, and heritage. She leads the 'Urban Futures and Prosperity' module for postgraduate students and delivers lectures across multiple programs including MSc Global Prosperity, MSc Urban Studies, and MSc Health in Urban Development. Her professional activities include convening conferences on vulnerability, infrastructure, and displacement, as well as contributing to the Another Provision arts/research practice.

She maintains strong connections between academic research and practical application, advising policy organizations and local government on participatory approaches to planning public spaces and services. Her work with UN agencies and non-governmental organizations in the Middle East and South Asia demonstrates her commitment to translating research into real-world impact.