Sara Ferguson

Dr Sara Ferguson is a Research Fellow at the School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen's University Belfast. Her work focuses on urban-rural dynamics, social policy, and health-related environmental factors.

• Active in UK-focused research on deprivation trajectories and rural retention
• Utilizes machine learning for spatial and health analysis
• Collaborates with international teams on ageing and physical activity studies

Research Trends: Analysis of recent publications reveals interdisciplinary work blending urban studies, geographic information systems, and public health, with specific emphasis on rural-urban disparities, family ties, and built environment impacts.

• Key themes: spatial boundaries, policy frameworks, and health outcomes
• Methodologies: longitudinal data analysis, machine learning, stakeholder engagement

Professional Activities: Organizing committee member for the Staying Rural workshops and exhibitions (2022-present), contributor to liveability metrics through MAPS-Full implementation (2019), and participant in Healthy Cities conferences (2018).