The Urban Observer, Special Announcements

From the Director's desk

During 2023, CUR underwent a successful review that helped us sharpen and renew our mission and purpose.

"I am pleased to introduce you to the new faces joining me as Director to lead the Centre for Urban Research’s new research themes that will drive our research agenda and activities over the coming years."

Geographies of Land, Home and Place

Geographies of Land, Home and Place is led by Associate Professor Benjamin Cooke . Ben is a human geographer with research expertise in the social and political dimensions of nature conservation, land management and environmental governance. He teaches in RMITs leading Sustainability and Urban Planning course.

Supporting Ben in a joint Deputy role are Dr David Kelly and Dr Iris Levin .

David is a cultural geographer with research expertise on how the state and policy ecologies produce environments that affect the capacity of humans and non-humans to dwell well. David is a Vice Chancellors Research Fellow.

Iris Levin is an architect and urban planner with research expertise about the interface between migration and the built environment, particularly in relation to social housing. She is a Senior Lecturer in Sustainability and Urban Planning.

Regenerative Environments and Climate Action

Regenerative Environments and Climate Action is led by Dr Rebecca Olive . Rebecca is a Vice Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow with research expertise on nature-based sport and leisure practices, particularly swimming, in terms of climate resilience and how these activities shape relationships of care for ecologies and climate resilience. 

Supporting Rebecca in a joint Deputy role are Dr Sarah Robertson and Dr Nita Lauren. 

Sarah is a Research Fellow with a background in human geography. Her research expertise is in low/zero carbon housing, human-environment relations, and ideas and uneven experiences of place and placemaking in cities. 

Nita is a social psychologist who undertakes applied research that promotes conservation behaviours and benefits biodiversity. She is a Research Fellow working on an ARC Linkage project with Zoos Victoria and Genovese.  

Planning and Transport for Healthy Cities

Planning and Transport for Healthy Cities is led by Associate Professor Sarah Foster . Sarah is an ARC Future Fellow with applied research expertise designed to influence policy and practice to create healthier built environments. 

Supporting Sarah in the Deputy role is Dr Afshin Jafari and Dr Chris De Gruyter .

Afshin is a Research Fellow with research expertise using computational methods to promote active and sustainable transport. 

Chris is a Senior Research Fellow and Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) Fellow with research interests spanning across public transport, land use planning, travel demand management, and parking policy.

"Our new themes and refreshed Centre leadership support our vision to contribute new knowledge and understanding grounded in real-world problems, critical in orientation and collaborative in the making and sharing of knowledge. Save the date of Thursday, 31 October to come and join us to mark World Cities Day, help celebrate CURs new themes and find out more about our research."

"Save the date of Thursday, 31 October to come and join us to mark World Cities Day, help celebrate CURs new themes and find out more about our research."

Libby Porter, Director, Centre for Urban Research.