Susana Alves

Susana Alves is an Associate Professor in the Department of Social and Developmental Psychology at Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. An accomplished Environmental Psychologist with a PhD in Architecture (Environment-Behavior Studies) from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Dr. Alves has held academic positions at institutions across Brazil, the United States, the United Kingdom, Turkey, and Italy. She is internationally recognized for her research on how natural landscapes promote health and psychological well-being across diverse populations.

Dr. Alves' educational background includes:

• Ph.D. in Architecture (Environment-Behavior Studies) from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2003)
• M.S. in Environmental Psychology from Universidade de Brasília, Brazil (1997)
• B.S. in Psychology from Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Brazil (1993)

Her research focuses on the intersection of environmental psychology, landscape architecture, and human well-being, with particular emphasis on nature-based interventions in diverse settings. Dr. Alves employs multi-method approaches to investigate how urban green spaces, historic landscapes, and biophilic design elements influence psychological well-being across different populations including older adults, migrants, and urban residents under stress. Her work bridges theoretical environmental psychology with practical applications for policy and design, particularly in the areas of restorative environments, social-ecological memory, and nature-based solutions for urban challenges.

Analysis of Dr. Alves' recent publications reveals consistent themes in environmental psychology with a growing focus on biophilic design applications in educational settings, nature-based solutions for urban challenges, and cross-cultural perspectives on human-nature relationships. Her work demonstrates sophisticated integration of environmental psychology theory with practical applications across diverse cultural contexts, particularly examining how natural elements in built environments can enhance psychological well-being, social connection, and environmental stewardship.

Dr. Alves has received numerous scholarly recognitions including the Cheryl Minor Female Scholar of Distinction Award and multiple prestigious fellowships from organizations like CAPES, CNPq, and the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Her research has been supported by significant grants including EU Horizon 2020 funding and projects with international collaborators across multiple continents.

As an educator, Dr. Alves has taught courses on environmental psychology, landscape architecture, and human behavior across multiple institutions and countries. She serves on editorial boards for prominent journals in her field and is actively engaged in professional organizations including the Environmental Design Research Association and the International Association for People-Environment Studies.