Professor Simon Joss

Professor of Urban Futures (Urban Studies & Social Policy)

telephone: 0141 330 5618
email: Simon.Joss@glasgow.ac.uk

Office 129, 25 - 29 Bute Gardens, Glasgow, G12 8RS

Biography

I am Professor of Urban Futures and currently also Head of Urban Studies based the School of Social and Political Sciences.

My first degree, in biology, was from the University of Bern (Switzerland). This was followed by doctoral research on technology policy (within the field of Science and Technology Studies) at Imperial College, University of London, under the supervision of John Durant (1993-1998). I subsequently spent over 20 years at the University of Westminster including as director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy and founding director of the doctoral Graduate School. As Professor of Science & Technology Studies, I co-founded the International Eco-Cities Initiative in partnership with Dr Arthur Molella (Smithsonian Institution, USA) and Professor Robert Kargon (Johns Hopkins University, USA).

Professional appointments have included membership of funding committees (e.g. Wellcome Trust), advisory committees (e.g. chair of Vitae Researcher Development Advisory Group), technical committees (e.g. BSI Smart and Sustainable Cities and Communities SDS/2), examination boards (e.g. University of Oxford), and editorial boards (e.g. Journal of Spatial Research & Planning). In 2022, I was appointed Associate Editor of the leading international journal Cities.

Research interests

With a background in Science & Technology Studies (STS), my research interests are in the fields of:

Urban Futures
Sustainable urban development
Urban technologies
Policy analysis and governance of urban innovation

I am associate director of the ESRC-funded Urban Big Data Centre.

Further details here Google Scholar and here ResearchGate.

Research groups

Publications

List by: Type | Date

Jump to: 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2007 | 2003 | 2002 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1995

Number of items: 52.

2024

Noori, Negar, de Jong, Martin, Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 and Ranjbar-Sahraei, Bijan (2024) Smart city modeling: a social network analysis approach. Global Public Policy and Governance, (doi: 10.1007/s43508-024-00101-9) (Early Online Publication)

Caprotti, Federico, Duarte, Catalina and Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 (2024) The 15-minute city as paranoid urbanism: ten critical reflections. Cities, 155(105497), (doi: 10.1016/j.cities.2024.105497)

De Jong, Martin, Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 and Taeihagh, Araz (2024) Smart cities as spatial manifestations of 21st century capitalism. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 202, 123299. (doi: 10.1016/j.techfore.2024.123299)

2023

Chesher, Chris, Hanchard, Matthew ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2460-8638, Humphry, Justine, Merrington, Peter ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5646-9460, Gangneux, Justine ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7823-9327, Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695, Maalsen, Sophia and Wessels, Bridgette ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2794-2116 (2023) Discovering smart: early encounters and negotiations with smart street furniture in London and Glasgow. Digital Geography and Society, 4, 100055. (doi: 10.1016/j.diggeo.2023.100055)

2022

Cowley, Robert and Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 (2022) Urban transformation through national innovation competitions: lessons from the UK’s future city demonstrator initiative. Journal of Urban Affairs, 44(10), pp. 1432-1458. (doi: 10.1080/07352166.2020.1828903)

Gangneux, Justine ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7823-9327, Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695, Humphry, Justine, Hanchard, Matthew ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2460-8638, Chesher, Chris, Maalsen, Sophia, Merrington, Peter ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5646-9460 and Wessels, Bridgette ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2794-2116 (2022) Situated, yet silent: data relations in smart street furniture. Journal of Urban Technology, 29(3), pp. 19-39. (doi: 10.1080/10630732.2022.2036311)

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695, D'Assenza-David, Hugo and Serra, Luis (2022) Eco-neighborhoods and the question of locational advantage: a socio-spatial analysis of French ‘ÉcoQuartiers’. Cities, 126, 103643. (doi: 10.1016/j.cities.2022.103643)

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695, Schraven, Daan and de Jong, Martin (2022) Bibliometric dataset (1990-2019) concerning 35 city labels dealing with sustainable urbanism. Data In Brief, 41, 107966. (doi: 10.1016/j.dib.2022.107966)

Caprotti, Federico, Chang, I-Chun Catherine and Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 (2022) Beyond the smart city: a typology of platform urbanism. Urban Transformations, 4, 4. (doi: 10.1186/s42854-022-00033-9) (PMID:35368739) (PMCID:PMC8962225)

Humphry, Justine, Maalsen, Sophia, Gangneux, Justine ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7823-9327, Chesher, Chris, Hanchard, Matt ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2460-8638, Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695, Merrington, Peter ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5646-9460 and Wessels, Bridgette ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2794-2116 (2022) The design and public imaginaries of smart street furniture. In: Flynn, Susan (ed.) Equality in the City: Imaginaries of the Smart Future. Intellect Books: Bristol, UK ; Chicago, USA, pp. 127-148. ISBN 9781789384642

Gangneux, Justine ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7823-9327 and Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 (2022) Crisis as driver of digital transformation? Scottish local governments' response to COVID-19. Data and Policy, 4, e26. (doi: 10.1017/dap.2022.18)

2021

Gangneux, Justine ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7823-9327 and Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 (2021) Scottish Local Government during Covid-19: Data Needs, Capabilities, and Uses. Project Report. University of Glasgow, Glasgow. (doi: 10.36399/gla.pubs.241346).

Schraven, Daan, Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 and De Jong, Martin (2021) Past, present, future: engagement with sustainable urban development through 35 city labels in the scientific literature 1990-2019. Journal of Cleaner Production, 292, 125924. (doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.125924)

2020

Wessels, B. et al. (2020) Smart Publics: Public Perceptions of Smart Street Furniture in London and Glasgow: Insights for Policy and Practice. Project Report. The University of Sydney and The University of Glasgow.

2019

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695, Sengers, Frans, Schraven, Daan, Caprotti, Federico and Dayot, Youri (2019) The smart city as global discourse: storylines and critical junctures across 27 cities. Journal of Urban Technology, 26(1), pp. 3-34. (doi: 10.1080/10630732.2018.1558387)

2018

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 and Rydin, Yvonne (2018) Prospects for standardising sustainable urban development. In: Bell, Simon and Morse, Stephen (eds.) Routledge Handbook of Sustainability Indicators. Series: Routledge international handbooks. Routledge: Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY, pp. 364-378. ISBN 9781138674769 (doi: 10.4324/9781315561103)

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 (2018) Future cities: asserting public governance. Palgrave Communications, 4, 36. (doi: 10.1057/s41599-018-0087-7)

De Jong, Martin, Chen, Yawei, Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695, Lu, Haiyan, Zhao, Miaoxi and Yang, Qihui (2018) Explaining city branding practices in China's three mega-city regions: the role of ecological modernization. Journal of Cleaner Production, 179, pp. 527-543. (doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.01.098)

Cowley, Robert, Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 and Dayot, Youri (2018) The smart city and its publics: insights from across six UK cities. Urban Research and Practice, 11(1), pp. 53-77. (doi: 10.1080/17535069.2017.1293150)

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 and Cowley, Robert (2018) National policies for local urban sustainability: a new governance approach? In: Eames, Malcolm, Dixon, Tim, Hunt, Miriam and Lannon, Simon (eds.) Retrofitting Cities for Tomorrow's World. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.: Chichester, West Sussex, pp. 227-245. ISBN 9781119007210 (doi: 10.1002/9781119007241.ch14)

2017

Caprotti, F. et al. (2017) Smart Eco-City Development in Europe and China: Policy Directions. Project Report. University of Exeter, Exeter.

Caprotti, Federico, Cowley, Robert, Datta, Ayona, Castán Broto, Vanessa, Gao, Eleonor, Georgeson, Lucien, Herrick, Clare, Odendaal, Nancy and Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 (2017) The New Urban Agenda: key opportunities and challenges for policy and practice. Urban Research and Practice, 10(3), pp. 367-378. (doi: 10.1080/17535069.2016.1275618)

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695, Cook, Matthew and Dayot, Youri (2017) Smart cities: towards a new citizenship regime? A discourse analysis of the British smart city standard. Journal of Urban Technology, 24(4), pp. 29-49. (doi: 10.1080/10630732.2017.1336027)

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 and Cowley, Robert (2017) Sustainable cities in Asia: preface. In: Caprotti, Federico and Yu, Li (eds.) Sustainable Cities in Asia. Routledge: Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY, xviii-xix. ISBN 9781138182110 (doi: 10.4324/9781315643069)

2016

de Jong, Martin, Yu, Chang, Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695, Wennersten, Ronald, Yu, Li, Zhang, Xiaoling and Ma, Xin (2016) Eco city development in China: addressing the implementation challenge. Journal of Cleaner Production, 134(Part A), pp. 31-41. (doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.03.083)

2015

De Jong, Martin, Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695, Schraven, Daan, Zhan, Chan and Weijnen, Margot (2015) Sustainable–smart–resilient–low carbon–eco–knowledge cities; making sense of a multitude of concepts promoting sustainable urbanization. Journal of Cleaner Production, 109, pp. 25-38. (doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.02.004)

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 (2015) Eco-cities and sustainable urbanism. In: Wright, James D. (ed.) International Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences. Elsevier: Amsterdam ; Boston, pp. 829-837. ISBN 9780080970875 (doi: 10.1016/B978-0-08-097086-8.74010-4)

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 (2015) Sustainable Cities: Governing for Urban Innovation. Series: Planning, environment, cities. Palgrave Macmillan: New York. ISBN 9781137006363

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695, Cowley, Robert, de Jong, Martin, Müller, Bernhard, Park, Buhm Soon, Rees, William, Roseland, Mark and Rydin, Yvonne (2015) Tomorrow’s City Today: Prospects for Standardising Sustainable Urban Development. Project Report. University of Westminster, London.

2014

Tomozeiu, Daniel and Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 (2014) Adapting adaptation: the English eco-town initiative as governance process. Ecology and Society, 19(2), 20. (doi: 10.5751/ES-06411-190220)

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 (2014) Rising to the challenge: public participation in sustainable urban development. In: Hofmeister, Wilhelm, Rueppel, Patrick and Lye, Liang Fook (eds.) Eco-cities: Sharing European and Asian Best Practices and Experiences. Konrad Adenauer Stiftung: Singapore, pp. 35-54. ISBN 9789810901363

2013

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695, Cowley, Robert and Tomozeiu, Daniel (2013) Towards the ‘ubiquitous eco-city’: an analysis of the internationalisation of eco-city policy and practice. Urban Research and Practice, 6(1), pp. 54-74. (doi: 10.1080/17535069.2012.762216)

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695, Kargon, Robert H. and Molella, Arthur P. (2013) From the Guest Editors. Journal of Urban Technology, 20(1), pp. 1-5. (doi: 10.1080/10630732.2012.735408)

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 and Molella, Arthur P. (2013) The eco-city as urban technology: perspectives on Caofeidian International Eco-City (China). Journal of Urban Technology, 20(1), pp. 115-137. (doi: 10.1080/10630732.2012.735411)

2012

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 (2012) Tomorrow's City Today: Eco-city Indicators, Standards and Frameworks: Bellagio Conference Report. Project Report. University of Westminster, London.

Joss, S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695, Tomozeiu, D. and Cowley, R. (2012) Eco-city indicators: governance challenges. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, 155(12), pp. 109-120. (doi: 10.2495/SC120101)

2011

Joss, S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 (2011) Eco-cities: the mainstreaming of urban sustainability - key characteristics and driving factors. International Journal of Sustainable Development and Planning, 6(3), pp. 268-285. (doi: 10.2495/SDP-V6-N3-268-285)

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695, Tomozeiu, Daniel and Cowley, Robert (2011) Eco-Cities: a Global Survey 2011: Eco-City Profiles. Project Report. University of Westminster, London.

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 (2011) Eco-city governance: a case study of Treasure Island and Sonoma Mountain Village. Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning, 13(4), pp. 331-348. (doi: 10.1080/1523908X.2011.611288)

2010

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 (2010) Accountable governance, accountable sustainability? A case study of accountability in the governance for sustainability. Environmental Policy and Governance, 20(6), pp. 408-421. (doi: 10.1002/eet.559)

Joss, S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 (2010) Eco-cities: a global survey 2009. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, 129, pp. 239-250. (doi: 10.2495/SC100211)

2009

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 (2009) Making technology accountable - citizen’s conferences in the era of public accountability. Revista Diacrítica, 23(2), pp. 299-316.

2007

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 (2007) Public spheres pushing for change: participation in the governance of GM crops. In: Taylor, Iain E.P. (ed.) Genetically engineered crops: interim policies, uncertain legislation. Series: Crop science. Haworth Food & Agricultural Products Press: New York, pp. 305-339. ISBN 9781560229889

2003

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 (2003) Zwischen Politikberatung und Öffentlichkeitsdiskurs: Erfahrungen mit Bürgerkonferenzen in Europa. In: Schicktanz, S. and Naumann, J. (eds.) Bürgerkonferenz: Streitfall Gendiagnostik. Leske und Budrich: Opladen, pp. 15-35. ISBN 9783810036292 (doi: 10.1007/978-3-663-09456-2_1)

2002

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 (2002) Toward the public sphere—reflections on the development of participatory technology assessment. Bulletin of Science, Technology and Society, 22(3), pp. 220-231. (doi: 10.1177/02767602022003006)

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 and Bellucci, Sergio (Eds.) (2002) Participatory Technology Assessment: European Perspectives. Center for the Study of Democracy: London. ISBN 9780853748038

2000

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 (2000) Participation in parliamentary technology assessment: from theory to practice. In: Vig, Norman J. and Paschen, Herbert (eds.) Parliaments and Technology: the Development of Technology Assessment in Europe. State University of New York Press: Albany, NY, pp. 325-364. ISBN 9780791443033

1999

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 (1999) Public participation in science and technology policy- and decision-making — ephemeral phenomenon or lasting change? Science and Public Policy, 26(5), pp. 290-293. (doi: 10.3152/147154399781782338)

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 and Borwnlea, Arthur (1999) Considering the concept of procedural justice for public policy-and decision-making in science and technology. Science and Public Policy, 26(5), pp. 321-330. (doi: 10.3152/147154399781782347)

1998

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 (1998) Danish consensus conferences as a model of participatory technology assessment: an impact study of consensus conferences on Danish Parliament and Danish public debate. Science and Public Policy, 25(1), pp. 230-22. (doi: 10.1093/spp/25.1.2)

1995

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 and Durant, John (1995) The UK national consensus conference on plant biotechnology. Public Understanding of Science, 4(2), pp. 195-204. (doi: 10.1088/0963-6625/4/2/006)

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 and Durant, John (Eds.) (1995) Public Participation in Science: the Role of Consensus Conferences in Europe. Science Museum: London. ISBN 9780901805850

This list was generated on Sat Jul 5 22:26:49 2025 BST.

Jump to: Articles | Books | Book Sections | Edited Books | Research Reports or Papers

Number of items: 52.

Articles

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 (2018) Future cities: asserting public governance. Palgrave Communications, 4, 36. (doi: 10.1057/s41599-018-0087-7)

Joss, S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 (2010) Eco-cities: a global survey 2009. WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, 129, pp. 239-250. (doi: 10.2495/SC100211)

Joss, Simon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2856-4695 (2009) Making technology accountable - citizen’s conferences in the era of public accountability. Revista Diacrítica, 23(2), pp. 299-316.

Books

Book Sections

Edited Books

Research Reports or Papers

Caprotti, F. et al. (2017) Smart Eco-City Development in Europe and China: Policy Directions. Project Report. University of Exeter, Exeter.

This list was generated on Sat Jul 5 22:26:49 2025 BST.

Grants

Recent research grants in the field of sustainable urban development, smart cities, and urban big data:

Urban Big Data Centre: governing urban big data. ESRC (ES/S007105/1), 2019-2023
Smart eco-cities for a green economy: a comparative study of Europe and China. ESRC (ES/L015978/1), 2015-2018
Tomorrow’s city today: an international comparison of eco-city frameworks. Leverhulme Trust (IN-2012-102), 2012-2015
Developing international standards and policy for eco-cities. Rockefeller Foundation (B742225), 2011-2012
The governance of eco-city innovation. ESRC (ES/I001379/1), 2011-2012

Grant award in support of postgraduate research students:

Wellbeing When Writing: An intervention programme for tackling mental health and wellbeing issues arising from the doctoral writing process. Office for Students (Catalyst Fund) 2018-2020 (held at University of Westminster).

Supervision

I have successfully supervised eight PhD candidates to completion, and currently have four doctoral researchers under my guidance.

I am available to supervise projects in the broad areas of: sustainable urban development, eco cities, smart cities, policy analysis, governance (community engagement, public accountability), and innovation (experimentation, standardization). I am well versed in both qualitative methods (semi-structured interviews, participant observation, discourse analysis) and quantitative techniques (surveys, bibliometric analysis, webometrics).

Examples of recent doctoral research topics:

Sustainable development in post-Apartheid South Africa: Johannesburg and Cape Town
One Planet Living: impact measurement and assessment
Cycling everywhere: an exploration of the development of mobility cultures
Eco-cities: technological showcases or social places?
Urban conservation and environmental sustainability in Scottish urban planning policy and practice
Using data to transform public services
Smart city standards in local practice

Fetrat, Mohammad Anwar
Research Topic: The role of local government in SDGs implementation: A case of Glasgow city, with special focus on the potential and limits of SDG 11 to support migrant communities.
Papp, Bernadett
The integration of tourism governance into the wider urban agenda.

Teaching

My teaching – mainly at postgraduate level – encompasses three broad areas: sustainable urban development; urban big data governance; and research methodology.

Sustainable Urban Futures (URBAN 5119)
Urban Studies Researching & the Dissertation (URBAN 5116)
Dissertation supervision

Research datasets

Jump to: 2021

Number of items: 2.

2021

Gangneux, J. and Joss, S. (2021) Scottish Local Government during COVID-19: Data Needs, Capabilities, and Uses. [Data Collection]

This list was generated on Sun Jul 6 04:03:45 2025 BST.

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Clarity

Professor Simon Joss

Biography

Research interests

Research groups

Publications

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2007

2003

2002

2000

1999

1998

1995

Articles

Books

Book Sections

Edited Books

Research Reports or Papers

Grants

Supervision

Teaching

Research datasets

2021