معرفی
Dr. Varvara Toura is a Research Fellow affiliated with Géographie-Cités at École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS), currently holding an ATER position in urban and landscape projects at Democritus University of Thrace. She completed her PhD in Urban Studies at EHESS in 2023 with a dissertation examining sustainable urban renewal of industrial sites in Nantes and Saint-Ouen through participatory approaches. Her research focuses on deindustrialization, sustainable cities, and citizen engagement in heritage preservation.
Her educational background includes:
- PhD in Territories, Migrations, Development (EHESS, 2017-2023)
- Master 2 in Urban Planning & Development (Paris Institute of Urban Planning, 2015)
- Master 2 in Architecture (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 2014)
Dr. Toura's research explores the intersection of industrial heritage preservation and sustainable urban transformation. She investigates how participatory planning processes can revitalize post-industrial cities while preserving their historical identity. Her work critically examines urban shrinkage, gentrification dynamics, and community-led regeneration models in deindustrialized contexts.
Her publications consistently focus on urban regeneration of industrial brownfields, participatory governance, and sustainable district development. Key thematic patterns include industrial heritage preservation strategies, socio-spatial impacts of deindustrialization, and citizen engagement frameworks for sustainable urban transitions across European contexts.
Awards and Distinctions:
- Young Researcher Award, French-Swedish Association for Research (2020)
- CILAC Young Researcher Prize Finalist (2019)
- Caisse des Dépôts Research Institute Achievement Grant (2019)
As part of the EHGO research team at Géographie-Cités, she collaborates on projects examining urban transformation processes. Her current research develops planning models for deindustrialized cities integrating heritage conservation with sustainable development principles.
