Challenges in Changing Cities
We lead research into urban transformations across diverse global contexts
About us
We undertake and support cutting-edge research on emergent challenges and opportunities of urban transformations. We do so by nurturing a collaborative, interdisciplinary space capable of interconnecting multiple urban dimensions (cultural, economic, environmental, health, social, technological etc.). Equally important, we seek to incorporate policy and practice perspectives upfront in our research. Throughout, we engage in methodological innovation, to enable sophisticated integrated and outcome-oriented analysis.
Latest News
Browse our latest events, project highlights and blog posts below. If you would like to feature your work on our page, please email cicc-irt@glasgow.ac.uk.
EVENT | Wastelands & the City: The More-than-Human Life of Contemporary Ruins
Tuesday 27 February, in-person
The University of Glasgow Challenges in Changing Cities Interdisciplinary Research Theme in collaboration with the Glasgow School of Art’s Reading Landscape group presents their second seminar in the series Wastelands and the City..(read more)
EVENT | Interdisciplinary Ideation Workshop - Session 1
Thursday 1 February, in person
Challenges in Changing Cities, in collaboration with ArtsLab, invites researchers across disciplines to participate in a collaborative ideation workshop...(read more)
EVENT | Interdisciplinary Ideation Workshop
Thursday 25 April, in person
Challenges in Changing Cities, in collaboration with ArtsLab, invites researchers across disciplines to participate in a collaborative ideation workshop...(read more)
EVENT I Exploring interdisciplinary research: A hands on approach
Wednesday 22 November, 2023 (in person)
The IRTs held a collaborative event centred around critical reflection and knowledge exchange on interdisciplinary research in the social sciences and beyond....(read more)
EVENT I What is the "waste" in the wasteland?
The University of Glasgow and Glasgow School of Art held the event first in a new interdisciplinary Seminar Series, Wastelands and the City...[read more]
EVENT | China's Carbon Inclusion System: Practices and Prospects
Wednesday November 1, 2023 (online)
Our colleagues from the Scottish Centre for China Reserach in welcomed speaker Mr Yu Wei from China Jiliang University as he discusses China's carbon inclusion system...[read more]
PROJECT HIGHLIGHT | Exploring Covid-19 vaccine concerns with African, Caribbean and Black communities in Scotland
Public Health Scotland (PHS) has identified African, Caribbean and Black communities as having lower uptake of COVID-19 vaccines compared with other groups. Through community workshops and a co-produced video, this project aimed to raise awareness and understanding of the science and data of COVID-19 vaccines... [read more]
BLOG | Replace the M8: A Public Conversation
In June the cross college international research theme, Challenges in Changing Cities, hosted a public conversation on the future of Glasgow’s M8 urban motorway, led by Dr Andrew Hoolachan, Lecturer in Planning. Learn more about the "Replace the M8" campai... [read more]
Project highlight | Gallant: Glasgow as a Living Lab Accelerating Novel Transformation
The University of Glasgow and Glasgow City Council have been awarded over £10M by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) for a programme of work to help the city move towards climate resilience whilst tackling health, social and economic inequalities... [read more]
What Challenges in Changing Cities Means to Me
Our aim is to lead and facilitate contemporary and interdisciplinary social science research on cities, building on Glasgow's disciplinary strengths in Urban Studies.
Topics we have explored include emotional responses to built heritage, changing demographics and public health, and the role of democracy and community participation. For 2023 we are planning a series of sessions exploring different methods or approaches to research in cities.
View these short videos from our theme leaders and discover what the Challenges in Changing Cities theme means to them and their research.
Challenges in Changing Cities to me...
John Reuben Davies
John became part of the History team at the University of Glasgow in 2008. His interest in Indian history, and close partnership with the University of Calcutta, has led to ventures concerned with South Asian cultural heritage. In 2017 John led a workshop in Kolkata on the preservation and promotion of the historical cultural heritage of West Bengal and Bangladesh, and since 2018 has been leading a project on the challenges facing heritage-minority communities in the same region. John was elected a Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society in 2016.
Challenges in Changing Cities to me...
Muhammad Imran
Muhammad is Professor of Communication Systems. He has led a number of significant international research projects encompassing the areas of energy efficiency, fundamental performance limits, sensor networks and self-organising cellular networks. Muhammad has a global collaborative research network spanning both academia and key industrial players in the field of wireless communications and has led interdisciplinary 5G innovation work across the UK and beyond.
Challenges in Changing Cities to me...
Neil Munro
Dr Neil Munro is a Senior Lecturer in Chinese Politics in the School of Social and Political Sciences at University of Glasgow. He has a comparative interest in participation in governance as well as themes of trust and social cohesion as they relate to social and environmental policies and delivery of urban services. He has been Co-I of major ESRC research grants relating to health care and inequality in China, and a GCRF Small Grant for a city-wide survey in Dar Es Salaam.
Challenges in Changing Cities to me...
Ria Dunkley
Dr Ria Dunkley is a Senior Lecturer in Geography, Environment and Sustainability within the School of Education at the University of Glasgow. Ria was appointed as a Climate Ambassador during COP26 and is currently working with colleagues through the Centre for Sustainable Solutions at the University of Glasgow to advance research on enabling individuals, communities and organisations to initiate sustainable solutions through research, education and partnership.
Challenges in Changing Cities to me...
Ross Beveridge
Ross joined the University of Glasgow in 2016 as an Urban Studies Foundation (USF) Senior Research Fellow. His research focuses on the urban politics of environment, public goods and infrastructure. His latest book asks How Cities Can Transform Democracy and considers how the resources and spaces of urban life can be collectively self-governed to advance equality. Previously, Ross worked in Germany researching globalisation, sustainability and urban development in German cities. He is on the editorial board of Geography Compass and is the co-founder of the Urban Political Podcast.
