As we prepare to join the School of Architecture, Design and Planning on 1 July, we met to celebrate SEES, the School we’re leaving behind. We’ve shared many adventures with our old colleagues and promise to stay in touch! Continue reading
Author Archives: uqupadmin
Dorina Pojani advising QLD Youth Parliament Members on strategies to densify Brisbane
The YMCA Queensland Youth Parliament (QYP) is a unique opportunity for young people to create real change in Queensland. QYP participants, known as Youth Members, are the voice of youth in their electorates, advising politicians and decision-makers across the state. Every year, new Youth Members engage in a six-month program, where they’ll work in a small … Continue reading
Stephanie Wyeth on ABC Radio talking about the housing conundrum
Integrating taller apartment blocks into low-rise neighbourhoods is a difficult political task for governments around Australia. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has made clear his intention to build upwards in established suburbs. But with growing resistance from some residents, finding the right balance could be tricky. Listen to this ABC Radio segment featuring: Continue reading
Silvia Micheli and Antony Moulis launch new book on design strategies for productive cities
Yesterday, our Architecture colleagues Silvia and Antony celebrated the international launch of their book House Precinct Territory: Design Strategies for the Productive City published by ORO Editions. The event, hosted by Urbis, featured presentations by the authors, and a panel discussion on the implementation of manufacturing and agricultural production within cities. With buildings and cities one of … Continue reading
Dorina Pojani on JOY Drive talking about Australia’s housing woes
JOY Media is a multimedia media company based in Melbourne. It represents the diverse LGBTIQA+ rainbow. JOY Drive, hosted by Warren, is one of its flagship podcasts, running every weekday (4-6pm). UQ|UP’s Dorina Pojani was invited to share her thoughts on the deepening housing crisis in Australia. Listen to the full interview on Spotify. Continue reading
Dorina Pojani on The Cosmos Podcast talking about the impact of electric cars
The Cosmos Podcast is the flagship podcast of The Royal Institution of Australia. It investigates the key intersection of science and the community, cutting through the inaccuracies and alternative facts that flood the digital domain. Hosts invite leading researchers all over Australia to talk about the impact of their work. In the latest episode, Cosmos … Continue reading
Dorina Pojani comments on the housing budget in UQ’s Contact magazine
The 2023 federal budget was delivered on Tuesday night. The Australian Government spruiked a $4 billion surplus – the first of its kind in 15 years. But what does this mean for families and the nation’s most vulnerable communities? Contact spoke to a range of UQ experts who shared their opinions about how the 2023 … Continue reading
New Conversation article on the housing crisis, by Dorina Pojani
Australia’s housing crisis is engulfing both renters and owners who are struggling to find homes they can afford. Many are looking to the government to provide relief when the federal budget is handed down this evening. But there are no easy ‘silver bullet’ solutions for housing. This crisis has been decades in the making, and … Continue reading
Dorina Pojani wins READ Fellowship from AADF
The Research Expertise from the Academic Diaspora (READ) Fellowship Program was founded in 2021 by the Albanian-American Development Foundation to provide a formalized and structured opportunity through which the Albanian academic diaspora can contribute to the development of scientific research in Albania. Dorina’s one-year project, to be conducted in collaboration with colleagues at the Polytechnic … Continue reading
UQ|UP students on urban design tour of St Lucia campus
This week, Stephanie Wyeth’s first year Planning students put on their ‘urban design’ goggles and explored the St Lucia Campus. We talked about what works and what doesn’t, how the campus continues to change – just like the city – and how the built environment influences our connections to people, place and opportunity. Big thanks … Continue reading
Dorina Pojani on 7News talking about public transport service to stadiums
As Brisbane revamps its stadiums – partly in preparation for the 2032 Olympic Games, and partly to accomodate its local teams – questions emerge around transport access. Are our large sports venues well-served by high-capacity public transport? Dorina Pojani pitches in on 7News (21 April, 6pm): https://7plus.com.au/seven-news-brisbane (minute 25). Continue reading
Dan Luo giving public talk on data-driven urban design
Dan Luo, our colleague in Architecture is giving a public talk on data driven urban design, in collaboration with Arup. All UQ|UP members are invited to attend. To learn more, read on and visit the event’s Meetup page. Speakers: Dr. Dan Luo and Jaime Traspaderne Title: Big Data and Urban Design Summary: The recent emergence … Continue reading
Dorina Pojani speaking at The Greens’ forthcoming forum ‘The Case for Free and Frequent Public Transport’
The Australian Greens invite you to a forum entitled: ‘The Case for Free and Frequent Public Transport’. The purpose of the forum is to try to introduce the public to the idea that we should see transport in the city as a universal right, not as a privatised, user-pays system. Making public transport free will … Continue reading
BRTP fieldtrip: March Madness ‘Go Big, Go West’
At UQ|UP we take the task of developing the next generation of urban strategists and planning practitioners seriously. Working with our Planning Education Advisory Board, Stephanie Wyeth has been reshaping our final year program to include a greater emphasis on the essential skills, capabilities and experiences required in a graduate’s planning toolkit. The Western Corridor … Continue reading
Upcoming seminar: Urban growth, housing and settlement in Brisbane and Semarang
Join UQ|UP in a joint seminar between Brisbane and Semarang (Indonesia) to celebrate the 30 years of the Sister City Partnership between the two cities. The seminar will discuss issues around housing and urban growth in both cities, with presentations from Brisbane City Council and Semarang City Government and comments from colleagues from UQ and … Continue reading
New paper on school travel in Journal of Transport & Health, co-authored by Dorina Pojani and colleagues in China
There is reason to believe that a long school commute negatively affects the wellbeing of teenagers, but the empirical evidence is limited. The focus of past research has usually been on the commute mode or type rather than the commute length. Virtually all existing studies are based on surveys of a single domain of wellbeing; … Continue reading
Dorina Pojani on the Brisbane Times discussing NIMBYism and housing affordability
Read Dorina’s views on BCC’s plans to introduce high-rises at South Brisbane: https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/build-em-up-high-rise-plan-would-transform-south-brisbane-20230313-p5crlz.html Continue reading
AESOP Theory Group conference coming up!
All UQ|UP members invited! The agenda is below. The conference starts on 16 March, 9:00 a.m. (CET) / 6:00 pm (AET) and can be joined on both days via this Zoom link. Meeting ID: 982 8657 2524 / Passcode: 473588 Continue reading
Upcoming seminar series: Learning from the sister city (Brisbane-Semarang)
UQ|UP is organising a series of seminars in collaboration with the Brisbane City Council in Australia and Universitas Diponegoro and the Semarang City Government in Indonesia. We seek to foster a dialogue between Brisbane and Semarang, which have been sister cities for thirty years. There are three seminars in the series, each discussing a topic … Continue reading
UQ|UP at PIA’s Annual Women in Planning Breakfast
PIA Queensland Annual Women in Planning Breakfast is a fantastic opportunity to recognise the important contribution women make to the profession. At the 2023 event, which took place on 1 March, UQ|UP was represented by several staff members as well as OOPS, the Organisation of Planning Students. The event was chaired by Katherine Matthews (Associate … Continue reading
UQ|UP and UQ Arch staff participate in NTEU rally
On Wednesday, the UQ branch of the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) held a very successful strike action to protest against UQ’s excessive delays in the new round of Enterprise Agreement barganing. The NTEU demands secure jobs, safe workloads, and real payrises for UQ employees. Hundreds of union members and supporters, including several UQ|UP and … Continue reading
Short course on urban economics in Brisbane
Coordinated by longtime UQ|UP collaborator Stuart Donovan, this course runs over three days: from 3-5 July, at Southbank. The course builds from similar courses that Stuart has delivered in Amsterdam and Auckland. The earlybird price, which ends in February, is set at $900, on which students receive a 50% discount. The course is designed to … Continue reading
New piece on urban cycling in V, by Tmnit Hailu and Dorina Pojani
What do cyclists want? Former UQ|UP student Tmnit Hailu together with Dorina Pojani argue in The Fifth Estate that cycling must be treated the same as other vital urban infrastructure, such as water, sanitation, and telecommunication. Read the full piece: https://thefifthestate.com.au/columns/spinifex/what-do-cyclists-want/ Continue reading
Welcome to UQ|UP, Nadia!
Nadia Zaini is our newest member. She hails from Malaysia, where she is a lecturer at the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Faculty of Built Environment. At UQ|UP, she will study the impact of housing on women’s life choices in her home country, under the supervision of Drs Dorina Pojani and Sara Alidoust. Chamberlain community: let’s make … Continue reading
UQ|UP team on Contact Magazine writing about micromobility and e-scooters
Brisbane faces a variety of mobility challenges and a team of UQ|UP experts (Jonathan Corcoran, Dorina Pojani, Thomas Sigler, Frank Zou) and their colleagues are looking to the potential of micromobility – such as e-scooters and e-bikes – to help alleviate the pressure. Read the full article on UQ’s Contact Magazine: https://stories.uq.edu.au/contact-magazine/2023/why-e-scooters-are-the-public-mobility-glue-for-urban-transport/index.html Continue reading
Dorina Pojani on Streetsblog USA’s podcast Talking Headways
Dorina Pojani joins Jeff Woods to talk about her book, “Planning for Sustainable Transport in Southeast Asia: Policy Transfer, Diffusion, and Mobility.” They chat about how four different Southeast Asian cities are taking transportation ideas from other places and trying to deal with congestion and mobility. Listen to the full interview: https://usa.streetsblog.org/2023/01/26/talking-headways-podcast-policy-transfer-in-southeast-asia/ Continue reading
Six UQ|UP members on ScienceLink Mentoring Program
This is a flexible career mentoring program connecting Early to Mid Career Researchers and Academics with Senior Researchers and Academics within the Faculty of Science. You can participate as a mentor, mentee, or both. We all need support throughout our careers stages. Sara Alidoust, Karen McNamara, Dorina Pojani, Jonathan Corcoran, Sonia Roitman, and Sebastien Darchen already … Continue reading
New article on teenagers’ travel choices in JTH by Dorina Pojani and Vietnamese colleagues
According to Vietnamese traffic law, teenagers under 16 are not allowed to ride motorcycles. Yet, illegal motorcycle riding is rampant in Vietnamese cities. This article seeks to elucidate the factors that lead to this behaviour, and the reasons why parents permit it. The study relies on a survey of 832 parents of adolescents (16 to … Continue reading
Dorina Pojani on RGS’s podcast talking about new capitals
UQ|UP’s Dorina Pojani is on Ask the Geographer, the podcast of UK’s Royal Geographical Society. She talks about the challenges faced by Nusantara, Indonesia’s new capital city. The episode is titled ‘How ‘not to build a capital’. More more information and to have a listen, check the links below. Webpage: https://www.rgs.org/schools/teaching-resources/how-not-to-build-a-capital-with-dr-pojani-nusantar/ Soundcloud URL: https://soundcloud.com/rgsibg/how-not-to-build-a-capital-with-dr-pojani-nusantara-indonesia Continue reading
New book chapter on passive design by Dorina Pojani and UQ|UP students
This chapter reviews and summarizes the literature on passive design strategies employed in cities with (a) hot and humid climates which are prone to monsoons, typhoons, and/or floods, and (2) hot and arid climates which are prone to intense sunshine, droughts, and/or sandstorms. Case studies include Guangzhou, Bangkok, Singapore, Granada, Athens, and Yazd. For all … Continue reading
Alternative Planning History and Theory: new book by Dorina Pojani
This book includes twelve newly commissioned and carefully curated chapters each of which presents an alternative planning history and theory written from the perspective of groups that have been historically marginalized or neglected. In teaching planning history and theory, many planning programs tend to follow the planning cannon – a normative perspective that mostly accounts … Continue reading
New study in RTBM on the challenges faced by delivery riders, by Dorina Pojani and Vietnamese colleagues
Notoriously precarious, hazardous, and stressful, delivery jobs became even more onerous and dangerous during the pandemic. In this study, set in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, we applied Structural Equation Modelling to a large sample of primary data to measure delivery riders’ intention to quit their jobs at the height of the pandemic. We found … Continue reading
New article in CRES on the politics of natural disasters, by Dorina Pojani and colleagues
Disasters can be good for incumbent governments. Amidst an emergency, budgets can be revised and reallocated in a hurry, framing the government as a ‘saviour,’ issuing contracts to the government’s business clientele and/or prioritising the electoral base more than the victims. Thus elected officials can curry favour with voters and increase their chances of retaining … Continue reading
New article on gendered land access in Feminist Economics, by Dorina Pojani and Albanian colleagues
This study investigates gender gaps in access to land ownership and land inheritance in Albanian rural areas by combining a large-scale survey and five in-depth focus groups discussions. The article considers three sets of variables: place-based characteristics; family characteristics; and individual characteristics. Results find that rural societies lack awareness around legal property rights, undermine the … Continue reading
Dorina Pojani on 4ZZZ talking about the Gabba Olympics redevelopment
In preparation for the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics, the QLD Government has announced a complete refit of The Gabba Stadium in Woolloongabba. 4ZZZ journalist Joshua McIntosh spoke to community members and experts, including UQ|UP’s Dorina Pojani, about the proposal to gain insight into what it might mean for the area. Listen to the full story … Continue reading
New study on car ads and gender in Journal of Urbanism, by Naomi Thomas and Dorina Pojani
In Australia, a rapid adoption of personal vehicles from the mid-twentieth century onwards has been, at least in part, related to increasingly targeted and pervasive advertising. The result is a consolidation of automobility through exposure, as audiences consume persuasive messaging at conscious and unconscious levels. The argument in this study is that the messaging in … Continue reading
Dorina Pojani guest lecturing at GUtech, Oman
Dorina just started teaching a condensed module titled ‘UPAD 4-249 Theory and Models of Spatial Development’ at the German University of Technology (GUtech). Located in Muscat, the capital of Oman, GUtech was founded in 2007 and has already graduated nearly 1500 students. It is affiliated with RWTH Aachen University in Germany and has a highly … Continue reading
Sonia Roitman publishes new Routledge Handbook of Urban Indonesia
After more than two years in the making, Prof Deden Rukmana (Alabama University) and Sonia Roitman (UQ|UP) are thrilled to announce a new edited volume, “Routledge Handbook of Urban Indonesia”. The publication of this book is the celebration of a collective effort from 64 contributors, including established scholars such as Christopher Silver, Ashok Das, Nicholas … Continue reading
Stephanie Wyeth receives double teaching award
Congratulations to Steph who received two Teaching and Learning Awards this year: Big thanks to the rest of the UQ|UP team as well, for working hard in teaching through the year. Continue reading
Dorina Pojani quoted on ABC News about planning and climate change
The Climate Council report has found that Queensland bears the highest cost of climate disasters in Australia. Emily Sakzewski of ABC News interviews local experts on their views on how to future-proof our cities. Read Dorina’s statements here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-28/climate-council-report-impact-queensland-east-coast-australia/101695572 Continue reading
Dorina Pojani guest lecturing at Aalto University
As part of her study visit to Finland, UQ|UP’s Dorina Pojani was invited to give a guest lecture to Aalto University students enrolled in a Master’s course on Land-Use and Transport Policy. She discussed her research on policy learning and transfer in Southeast Asia. Continue reading
New promotions in the UQ|UP community
We are pleased to share some excellent news. Five staff promotions and confirmations have been announced within our community: Congratulations everyone for these very well-deserved outcomes! Continue reading
Dorina Pojani on the Courier Mail talking about shopping centre revitalisation
After the floods, Bellbowrie Shopping Plaza could be totally transformed. Brendan O’Malley of the Courier Mail interviewed local experts, including UQ|UP’s Dorina Pojani, to pick their brains. Dorina said that: “Demolishing the building was not a climate-friendly option, while replacing it with housing posed more complications than adaptively reusing the building for a high school … Continue reading
UQ|UP at PIA Awards for Planning Excellence dinner
A fabulous night on Friday! It was fantastic to meet and greet so many successful Qld planners who started their career with a UQ|UP degree. And several of our students and recent alumni received awards, including Laura Harvey, Alexandra Brosnan, and Melissa Hensley. Well done everyone! Continue reading
UQ|UP research on cycling stress featured in the media
A recent UQ|UP study looked at more than 3300 GPS-tracked ride logs to find out what routes cyclists were using to travel in and around the city. We found that cyclists avoid the shortest or easiest route to their destination in many cases so that they don’t have to cycle near heavy car traffic. The … Continue reading
Celebrating World Town Planning Day in Brisbane with PIA’s annual Keeble Lecture
Almost 200 planners and friends came together on 8 November to celebrate World Town Planning Day in Brisbane with PIA’s annual Keeble Lecture. This year we heard a terrific lecture from historian Dr Margaret Cook, who shared her deep insights about Brisbane river flooding. Dr Cook highlighted the critical role of planners and planning in … Continue reading
Happy World Town Planning Day to the UQ|UP community and beyond!
Today is World Town Planning Day, when planners and communities all over the world come together to celebrate the important role of planning in shaping places, spaces and lives. Good planning improves the lives of people and communities everywhere and every day. UQ|UP joins PIA in proudly to recognising and celebrating the contribution Australia’s planners … Continue reading
New Conversation article on gender mainstreaming in transport, by Dorina Pojani
The federal government’s recent Women’s Budget Statement recognises that “gender inequality is holding Australia back”. It commits the government to “advancing gender equality as a national priority and closing the gender gaps in our community”. The government promises significant investments to support structural changes in favour of women. Key topics include women’s economic equality, safety, … Continue reading
New article in The Fifth Estate on the benefits of urban trees, by Dorina Pojani
Australian planners and city aficionados often joke that, no matter what the problem is, the answer is always “more street trees”. Like most jokes, this is half true. While not a panacea, there are at least nine key reasons street trees can help achieve more than a handful urban planning and public health goals. Read … Continue reading
Sebastien Darchen and Cathryn Chatburn’s team cited for outstanding contributions to student learning in UQ Awards
Last night, UQ’s Teaching Community gathered to celebrate teaching excellence at the annual UQ Awards for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. We are delighted to announce that UQ|UP’s Sebastien Darchen and Cathryn Chatburn were amongst a team – the Urban Design Challenge team – recognised with a Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning. The … Continue reading
UQ|UP experts have their say on the QLD housing crisis
The Queensland Government met with stakeholders at a housing summit in Brisbane to discuss possible solutions to the State’s housing affordability crisis. Members of UQ|UP, including Stephanie Wyeth, Dorina Pojani, Thomas Sigler and Elin Charles-Edwards, have weighed in with what they’d like to see in the plan. Read the UQ Media story: https://stories.uq.edu.au/news/2022/uq-experts-have-say-on-qld-housing-crisis/amp-index.html Continue reading
New article on Iranian land-use planning in JPER by Abolghasem Azhdari and Dorina Pojani
Is the compact city more likely to materialize if development is guided by the “invisible hand” of the market or the government’s “iron fist”? This article explores this question in the context of Shiraz, a medium-sized, medium-density city in south-central Iran. Through a series of longitudinal analyses, we examine the roles of the market and … Continue reading
New paper on cycling stress in CSTP by UQ|UP team
Bicycles are a desirable but underutilised form of travel in many cities. A main barrier to a large uptake of cycling for travel is traffic safety. To assess how much traffic stress cyclists can endure and how this stress affects route choices, we have developed an index called Average Traffic Stress (ATS). This index aggregates … Continue reading
Dorina Pojani makes Stanford’s World’s Top 2% Researchers list
The latest release from the Meta-Research Innovation Centre at Stanford University brings good news for UQ|UP. Based on citations, Dorina Pojani ranks among the top 100,000 scientists and the top 150 in the Urban and Regional Planning subfield. Stanford’s citation ranking database is publicly available. It is based on a standardised system for comparing citations … Continue reading
UQ|UP at AILA Festival
On Sunday concluded the 2022 Festival of Landscape Architecture organised by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architecture. This year’s theme was COUNTRY, recognising that it is critical for all involved in shaping urban environments to join with First Nations people to gain a deeper understanding of Country as we prepare our cities for the complex challenges of … Continue reading
UQ|UP at SEQ 2050: A Vision for Transport & Mobility event
The 2032 Games, the SEQ City Deal and a regional population growing to 5.9 million by 2050: now is the time to consider the region’s liveability aspirations and plan for and deliver a safe and efficient transport network for SEQ residents, visitors and industry. What will the transport and mobility needs of the community be … Continue reading
Have You Been Planning Attention? Another fun trivia night with OOPS
Last night, OOPS stormed the REDROOM to bring HYBPA to UQ|UP! A planning-centred trivia quiz with ⭐ prizes ⭐ Courtney Ingle & Eli Rifai co-hosted this spin on trivia quiz, with Dorina Pojani as special guest host (but mostly player). This event was open to all, OOPS members or not. Stay tuned for the next … Continue reading
Dorina Pojani on The Fifth Estate, writing about public art and urban revitalisation
What’s the point of public art in urban space, and how can it be made engaging and interactive? Read Dorina’s piece on The Fifth Estate to find some of the answers to these questions: https://thefifthestate.com.au/urbanism/planning/how-public-art-can-revitalise-urban-spaces/ Continue reading
Dorina Pojani on the Green Urbanist podcast discussing eco-feminism and her book Trophy Cities
Ross O’Ceallaigh and Dorina Pojani discuss her new book Trophy Cities, a feminist perspective on new capitals and explore how patriarchal ideology is expressed in urban design, and what a matriarchal or ‘eco-feminist’ approach may be. Have a listen at the Green Urbanist podcast: https://greenurbanistpod.com/episode/54-dr-dorina-pojani-eco-feminist-urbanism Continue reading
Upcoming symposium on tourism and micromobility with UQ|UP participation
All members of the UQ|UP community are invited to attend. The details are in the flyer below. Feel free to share with your friends and colleagues. To register, follow this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/uq-micromobility-and-tourism-symposium-tickets-420950984727 Continue reading
New Conversation piece on e-scooter travel in Brisbane, by UQ|UP team
E-scooters offer commuters and tourists a way to cover shorter distances quickly – and without breaking a sweat. It’s for this reason Australian cities are trialling these schemes as part of broader interest in micromobility – small, light and often electric ways of getting around, such as bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters. But one question previously unanswered is: … Continue reading
9News interviews Dorina Pojani on Olympics planning
With the Gabba project set to blow well over original $1Billion price tag, 9News set out to interview stakeholders and experts. Have a listen to Dorina’s views on how Brisbane should plan for the Olympics: https://fb.watch/fKz3ifnhmU/ (aired on Saturday 24 September). Continue reading
Dorina Pojani on ABC Radio talking about tree shade inequality in Brisbane
On summer days, walking under the hot Brisbane sun, we are all desperate to find shade, and in some suburbs, not much shade is available. At UQ|UP, we have been researching tree shade inequalities in Brisbane, and Dorina Pojani was invited by ABC Radio to share the findings. Listen to the full interview on ABC … Continue reading
New article on public art in Journal of Urban Design by Caroline Milne and Dorina Pojani
In public art, the paradigm is shifting from ‘look but don’t touch’ towards interactive displays and creations that involve visitors. Accordingly, this study examined some of the factors that lead audiences to interact and engage with public art. Systematic observations of the ‘users’ of 11 public sculptures were conducted in Brisbane, Australia. The investigation revealed … Continue reading
Dorina Pojani on the Courier Mail discussing redesign options for the Toombul shopping centre
An airport hotel, a transport-oriented community and a walkable, tree-lined high street-style shopping strip – what should replace Toombul Shopping Centre? Brendan O’Malley from the Courier Mail set out to investigate options by interviewing the local state MP as well as a series of planning and business experts, including UQ|UP’s Dorina Pojani: Dr Pojani questioned … Continue reading
OOPS Awards Night 2022
This inaugural event – to be held annually from now on – recognises the achievements of UQ|UP students and staff. The awards are inclusive of all planning-related degrees in both the undergraduate and postgraduate divisions. Some awards are issued based on the decision of industry panels whereas others are determined by popular vote. OOPS Sponsors … Continue reading
Annual Keeble Lecture coming up
Join the Planning Institute of Australia for their annual Keeble Lecture to hear about resilience, flooding, and climate change from Dr Margaret Cook, author of A River with a City Problem: A History of Brisbane Floods. PIA’s annual Keeble Lecture is named in honour of Lewis Bingham Keeble, the Foundation Professor of Regional and Town … Continue reading
New paper on scooter ridership in Journal of Transport Geography, by UQ|UP team
Weather, climate, and daily human mobility patterns are inextricably linked, and so quantifying and examining these patterns is essential for smarter urban policy and design that are tailored to support our daily mobility needs and foreground urban sustainability. This study provides an empirical approach to better understanding the interface between weather, climate, and daily human … Continue reading
Welcome Reyad!
Our newest PhD student, Md Amjad Hossain Reyad, just joined UQ|UP from Bangladesh. In his research project, he will explore the barriers that women face in the city – under the supervision of Drs Dorina Pojani and Sara Alidoust. Rey will be in Chamberlain – say hi and make him feel welcome. Continue reading
New paper on ‘tree shade inequality’ in Australian Planner, co-authored by Dorina Pojani
This pilot study, set in Brisbane, Australia, provides answers to the following research questions: (1) Is there inter- or intra-suburb inequality in street tree provision, in particular along routes that lead to public transport stops? (2) Are further investments in street trees justifiable on heatwave harm reduction alone? The pilot targets three suburbs away from … Continue reading
New paper on green space access in European Planning studies, co-authored by Dorina Pojani
In the current era of climate breakdown, access to green space is not optional – it is vital. This study investigates the current disparities in urban green space access in five medium-sized European cities: Birmingham, Brussels, Milan, Prague and Stockholm. Through a GIS-based network analysis, we explore whether disparities in urban green space access (1) … Continue reading
Listen to Dorina Pojani on the Oblique Life podcast talking about mobility in the Global South
Urban mobility must tackle an over-reliance on automobiles, which has led to both sprawl and inequity of access to amenities and opportunities, if it is to re-invent itself. Citizens, particularly in the Global South, are already spending on informal, often unregulated private transport. To learn about this and more, listen to: The Oblique Life Global … Continue reading
Trophy Cities by Dorina Pojani receives first review in JAPA
A very positive review of Dr Pojani’s book, Trophy Cities, has just been published in the Journal of the American Planning Association. The review is by Dr Megan E. Heim LaFrombois at Auburn University. It’s available online here, with free access until October: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01944363.2022.2070409 Feel free to share the review on social media, using the hashtag #JAPAplanning and … Continue reading
Welcome Krismiyati!
Meet our new PhD student in planning, Ms Kris Tasrin. She just joined UQ|UP from Indonesia and will embark upon a four-year research project about the new capitals of Egypt and Indonesia – under the supervision of Drs Dorina Pojani and Sara Alidoust. Kris will be in Chamberlain – come by to say hi! Continue reading
Dorina Pojani on New Books Network talking about her book Trophy Cities
The New Books Network is a consortium of author-interview podcast channels dedicated to raising the level of public discourse by introducing scholars and other serious writers to a wide public via new media. Listen to Dorina’s interview by Ingrid Bayley on NBN: https://newbooksnetwork.com/trophy-cities Ingrid is a PhD candidate in geography at the University of Queensland. Continue reading
Xuanbo Liu upgraded from MPhil to PhD candidate
Xuanbo joined UQ|UP from China, via the University of New South Wales. He commenced as an MPhil student and, thanks to his excellent progress, was upgraded to PhD candidate status. Xuanbo is researching the social effects of gated communities in Shanghai. His supervisors are Drs Sara Alidoust and Dorina Pojani. Continue reading
New article on public space in Urban Design and Planning, by UQ|UP team
This study centres on alternative public space in Indonesian cities in the post-Reformation era. Through in-depth interviews with experts and personal observations of a variety of public spaces in Bandung and Surabaya, the authors explore: (a) the concept of ‘alternative public space’ in the context of Indonesian cities, (b) the actors that have driven the … Continue reading
Sufian Almubarak confirmed as PhD candidate
Sufian joined UQ|UP from Imam Muhammad bin Saud University, one of the most prestigious universities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He has received a full scholarship to study in Australia. His research will focus on car-free lifestyles among residents of sprawling cities in Saudi Arabia and Australia. Sufian is supervised by Drs Dorina Pojani … Continue reading
Dorina Pojani on the Globe and Mail talking about the impact of new capital cities
Rio to Brasilia, Seoul to Sejong, Old Cairo to New Cairo, Yangon to Naypyidaw, and now Jakarta to Nusantara. Climate mitigation in capital cities costs. Is building new ones the solution? UQ|UP’s Dorina Pojani, author of Trophy Cities, talks to Ivy Lerner-Frank at the Globe and Mail (Canada) without mincing words. Read the full article: … Continue reading
New OOPS Awards Night launched!
For the first time ever, OOPS is hosting an OOPS Awards Night! From 2022 on, this event will be held annually to recognise the achievements of UQ|UP students and staff. These awards are inclusive of all planning-related degrees in both undergraduate and postgraduate divisions. The awards are branched into three categories which include Academic Awards, … Continue reading
Dorina Pojani on 9News advocating for the preservation of Queenslander houses
A derelict Queenslander has been slated for demolition even though it should be protected under heritage regulations. The decision angering the local community, but Council says it’s damaged beyond repair. Dorina Pojani pitches in: https://mobile.twitter.com/9newsqueensland/status/1518872220529045504 Continue reading
Congratulations, Tmnit!
Tmnit Halefom was just awarded her MPhil degree. Sincere congratulations on this major accomplishment! Tmnit’s thesis research focused on active transport, in particular the traffic stress that cyclists experience in Brisbane. Her next stop is Melbourne, where she is embarking on PhD journey – fully funded by the University of Swinburne. At UQ|UP, we are … Continue reading
Sebastien Darchen on GEMS panel discussing the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane
GEMS held its first industry event of the year, a panel discussion on the 2032 Brisbane Olympics! Members had the privilege of listening to an engaging and diverse panel including Council Member Jonathan Sri and UQ|UP’s Sebastien Darchen, who provided invaluable insight and greatly contributed to this challenging conversation. The panel discussed topics like the … Continue reading
More on the SEQ City Deal: Laurel Johnson pitches in on ABC News
Outside of Brisbane, regional centres are booming. So why is there ‘not a lot’ for them in SEQ’s $1.8b City Deal? Read Laurel Johnson’s interview on ABC News: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-28/seq-public-transport-challenges/100939888 Continue reading
More housing in flood-prone areas? Dorina Pojani chimes in on ABC News
A month on from Queensland’s devastating flood disaster, thousands of families are attempting to rebuild as federal government funding for a joint support package remains up in the air. Build back better? Build back faster? Not build at all? Various experts from Queensland universities are interviewed, including UQ|UP’s Dorina Pojani. Watch the full news clip: … Continue reading
Dorina Pojani on ABC Radio Brisbane setting forth her vision for the SEQ Liveability Fund
If you had $285 million to make your neighbourhood more liveable, what would you spend it on? In southeast Queensland’s City Deal, there’s big ticket items – like the $450 million Brisbane Metro Woolloongabba Station or $210 million for affordable housing in Caboolture West. And then there’s $285 million dollars for a “Liveability Fund”. UQ|UP’s … Continue reading
Dorina Pojani on ABC News talking about the SEQ City Deal
The SEQ City Deal is great news for the development sector. It’s an exciting time to be a planner in Brisbane when there is all this money set aside for planning projects. But are we focusing too much on big-ticket transport items and neglecting smaller scale projects such as cycling networks and greenways? Read Dorina … Continue reading
Laurel Johnson on The Guardian advocating for a shakeup of the planning system in the aftermath of Brisbane floods
Queensland floods raise questions about the ethical obligation of planners. Laurel Johnson says the planning industry needs to return to its roots of caring for the health and safety of urban residents. Read Laurel’s interview in The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/mar/20/queensland-floods-raise-questions-about-the-ethical-obligation-of-planners-industry-figures-say Continue reading
UQ|UP HDR students invited to join AECURN
The Australasian Early Career Urban Research Network has been created to connect like-minded researchers and academics. Over the years, it has conducted several symposiums as platforms for Early Career Researchers or HDR students. It is a great place for UQ|UP students to liaise with their peers from other universities and exchange information, regardless of research stage. In addition, AECURN … Continue reading
Stephanie Wyeth nominated for PIA Qld Outstanding Woman in Planning award 2022
Some cheerful news as we, once again, deal with widespread flooding in Brisbane. Stephanie Wyeth has been nominated for PIA’s Outstanding Woman in Planning award! This is an amazing achievement and at UQ|UP, we are most proud and excited. The award will be announced at the annual PIA QLD Women in Planning Breakfast. Running in … Continue reading
New article about motorcycle delivery services in Journal of Transport and Health, co-authored by Dorina Pojani and Vietnamese colleagues
Delivery riders have been front-line workers throughout the pandemic but little is known about their own health and safety during this time. This study explores the health and safety issues facing delivery riders in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, during the Covid-19 pandemic, in particular during the second lockdown (May–October 2021). A web-based survey of … Continue reading
Upcoming Women in Planning event hosted by OOPS
Join UQ OOPS on International Women’s Day to celebrate influential female leaders in the planning industry! This exciting event will provide an insight into the roles women play in the planning industry. Women in Planning will showcase several female professionals, in which they will share their Gaines knowledge and valuable experiences from the planning workforce, … Continue reading
YIMBY Qld survey launched
YIMBY Queensland (Yes in my Backyard!) have released a new survey calling for responses to inform the future of development in Brisbane and South-East Queensland. The UQ|UP community is invited to complete the survey. The results will assist Brisbane City Council in their future iterations of the City Plan and any amendments they might consider … Continue reading
UQ|UP members finalists in Faculty of Science awards
We congratulate two UQ|UP members who have lead teams which are finalists in the 2021 Faculty of Science awards for the Partnership and Collaboration – Team award: SEES Study Bubble, led by Stephanie Wyeth EDI Committee, chaired by Dorina Pojani The entire UQ|UP community is invited to the awards ceremony. Please see the event details … Continue reading
Postgraduate UQ|UP students ‘Meet & Greet’ coming up!
OOPS is keen to attract more postgraduate students and big changes are coming from this year onwards. Events focusing on postgraduate students are planned to allow everyone to get to know each other better. The first event is: ‘Meet & Greet’ on Tuesday the 1st of March at 11:00 am in Steele Building. Come along – … Continue reading
New article on public space in Indonesia in City, Culture and Society, by UQ|UP team
This study examines how the Reformation has affected public space in Indonesian cities. The article draws on expert interviews and systematic field observations in Surabaya and Bandung, Indonesia’s most important cities after Jakarta. The findings reveal that, with democracy and decentralisation, the public sector is more keenly aware of the socio-political functions of public space, … Continue reading
Dorina Pojani talking about new capital city planning on ABC Radio Melbourne
Dorina in conversation with David Astle in Evenings, an eclectic program featuring the latest in arts, sport, science, music, medicine and more. She talks about her latest book, Trophy Cities. Listen to the full interview on ABC Radio Melbourne: https://www.abc.net.au/radio/melbourne/programs/evenings/evenings/13744714 (start at 2:08:00) Continue reading
Sara Alidoust and Dorina Pojani awarded Promoting Women Fellowships
Promoting Women Fellowships, valued at $12,500 each, are sponsored by the UQ Gender Steering Committee. They provide recipients with funding to undertake activities which enable them to propel themselves towards promotion. Sara will use her fellowship to study informal housing approaches in South East Queensland. Dorina will use hers to study corruption in the planning … Continue reading
New Conversation article on master-planned capitals, by Dorina Pojani
The new capitals created since 1900 have been, for the most part, great planning disasters. They are dreary, overpowering, underserviced, wasteful and unaffordable. Indonesia just announced the name of its planned new capital, Nusantara, to be built on Borneo island, about 1,300 kilometres away from the current capital, Jakarta. How can Indonesia avoid the pitfalls … Continue reading
New encyclopedia entry on low carbon transport and cycling, by Weichang Kong and Dorina Pojani
So far, only a handful of larger Northern European and East Asian cities have managed to achieve high proportions of cycling for transport. Also, in a few smaller university towns or working-class enclaves, cycling is normalized as part of the everyday culture. The cycling policies and programs which have been learned from these places are … Continue reading