Kian Goh

Kian Goh is an Associate Professor of Urban Planning at UCLA's Luskin School of Public Affairs, where she investigates the spatial politics of urban climate change responses across North America, Southeast Asia, and Europe. A licensed architect and co-founder of SUPER-INTERESTING! design practice, she bridges academic research with professional practice in urban ecological design and social mobilization.

Her educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Urban and Environmental Planning from MIT
• Master of Architecture from Yale University

Prior academic appointments span Northeastern University, University of Pennsylvania, The New School, and Washington University in St. Louis.

Dr. Goh's research centers on climate justice, urban resilience, and the intersection of design with social movements. Her work critically examines how climate adaptation plans reinforce or challenge spatial inequalities, with particular focus on queer space and smart city sociopolitics. Her forthcoming MIT Press book Form and Flow: The Spatial Politics of Urban Resilience and Climate Justice analyzes global power dynamics in urban climate responses through case studies in New York, Jakarta, and Rotterdam.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals dominant themes in climate justice praxis, with strong emphasis on racial capitalism, fiscal equity, and grassroots mobilization. Her scholarship consistently connects urban theory to on-the-ground climate activism, highlighting how marginalized communities shape resilient futures through spatial resistance and alternative governance models.

Dr. Goh has not been mentioned to have received specific scientific awards in the provided materials.

As an educator and practitioner, she mentors students in urban planning while leading SUPER-INTERESTING!—a Brooklyn-based firm engaged in multidisciplinary architecture and strategic consulting. Her professional work with Weiss/Manfredi and MVRDV informs her academic research on just urban design and climate adaptation.

Through SUPER-INTERESTING!, Dr. Goh collaborates with community organizations on climate resilience projects, particularly focusing on queer spatial practices and equitable smart city development. Her current fieldwork in Jakarta examines urban waterscapes and hydro-politics in sinking cities, while ongoing projects analyze fiscal mechanisms for climate justice in North American municipalities.