Sara Fregonese

Dr. Sara Fregonese is an Associate Professor of Political Geography at the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham. She holds a PhD in Geography from Newcastle University (2009) and has a background in Middle Eastern Studies. Her research explores intersections of geopolitics, security, and urban space, focusing on how conflict and terrorism reshape urban environments and affect daily life.

• PhD in Geography, Newcastle University, 2009
• MA in Cross-Mediterranean Cooperation, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, 2005
• BA in Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, 2003
• Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Education, University of Birmingham, 2020

Her work bridges political geography with urban studies, examining atmospheric impacts of terrorism, security measures in cities, and post-conflict urban memory. She has led major research projects on counterterrorism urbanism in Europe and historical sectarian territorial mapping in Lebanon.

• 2021-2024: ESRC ORA grant on Atmospheres of (counter)terrorism in European cities
• 2016-2017: British Academy grant on Lebanese sectarian history
• 2020: Co-edited book on atmospheric urban geopolitics

Dr. Fregonese contributes to academic leadership through editorial roles in journals like Geopolitics and book series with Rowman and Littlefield International. She teaches modules on geopolitical challenges and advanced research methods in human geography.