CHS Interest Clusters

Funded Research Projects

The Centre for Human Settlements houses a diversity of funded research projects. 

Current major themes include: 

URBANIZATION AND PLANNING IN ASIA - MORE 
Michael Leaf, John Friedmann, Tom Hutton 

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANNING PROJECTS - MORE
Peter Boothroyd, Leonora Angeles

SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLANNING - MORE
Leonie Sandercock, Leonora Angeles, Penny Gurstien

PLANNING FOR THE DISASTER-RESILIENT CITY - MORE
Stephanie Chang, Tim McDaniels, Mark Stevens 

TRANSPORTATION, BUILT FORM AND SUSTAINABILITY - MORE
Larry Frank

THE 21ST CENTURY CITY - MORE 
Tom Hutton

Student/Faculty Research and Discussion Groups

In addition to funded research projects, the Centre for Human Settlements also houses "interest clusters" that provide students and faculty with more informal opportunities to explore thematic interests and, in particular, to engage with members of the broader academic and practice community.  Current interest clusters include:

The Student Transportation Forum

...involves students interested in issues of transportation planning.  The group hosts seminars, discusses current research, and volunteers in activities supporting active transport and sustainable transportation. 

Student organizer:  George Poulos (george [dot] jn [dot] poulos [at] gmail [dot] com)

Faculty contact:  Larry Frank (ldfrank [at] exchange [dot] ubc [dot] ca)

The Hazards and Disasters Discussion Group

...brings together faculty and graduate students from across the UBC campus to informally discuss current topics and share research related to natural hazards, disasters, and risk reduction.  Graduate students and faculty from any disciplinary background are welcome to join. 

Student organizer:  Marleen de Ruiter (marleenderuiter [at] gmail [dot] com)

Faculty contact: Stephanie Chang (stephanie [dot] chang [at] ubc [dot] ca)

The Pacific Housing Research Network (PHRN)

...facilitates multi-sectoral housing research activities across BC and fosters dialogue and collaboration among housing researchers and stakeholders to encourage the effective application of research results to housing solutions.  Created in September 2011, the PHRN builds on the success of the three Housing Research Roundtables conducted in 2009 and 2010 across BC.  Housing research is a broad field that encompasses topics such as housing affordability, residential real estate and economics, housing for people with special needs such as seniors or persons with disabilities, housing statistics, housing mobility, homelessness, and sustainable and technical aspects of houses.  The goals of the PHRN are to:  (1) Encourage sharing of findings across researchers, knowledge users, and stakeholders; (2) Support each other for developing and conducting research; (3) Leverage capacity to find funding solutions for housing research and dissemination; and (4) Encourage students to consider housing as an area of choice for their career.  The network is coordinated by the Centre for Human Settlements and the University of Victoria's Office for Community-Based Research.

Faculty contact:  Penny Gurstein (penny [dot] gurstein [at] ubc [dot] ca)