As part of the Pedestrian Space ‘Global URBAN HEAT Media Lab’ and network in development, we are recording our conversations with incoming collaborators around the world, as well as students pursuing academic internships related to the project.
As part of that, we met with Sonora Ward, an MSc Urban Studies student and Global Studies graduate specializing in Sustainability science, and dedicated to issues of climate change and social injustice. Sonora wrote to us: ‘I am really inspired by the work your organization is doing to promote pedestrian-friendly urban design as a strategy for both social equity and environmental health. I would love the opportunity to learn from and contribute my skills as an Urban Studies and Geography student to your vital work. I really resonate with Pedestrian Space’s research and advocacy work as my studies are specialized in community-centered approaches to socio-environmental transformations.’
She reflected that she is very interested in the area of human and ecological system interactions in urban contexts. Growing up in a coastal city experiencing housing insecurity and temporary displacement from fires and flooding, she became very interested in how cities can be better designed to ensure healthy ecosystem functioning and the well-being of low-income residents. This led to her current research on Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for Mediterranean coastal cities. Specifically, how NbS can be co-designed in socially inequitable contexts to act as climate shelters for vulnerable residents.
Her current MSc thesis focuses on community-centered coastal nature-based solutions in metropolitan Barcelona, exploring how dune restoration and native plant introduction can protect marginalized communities from heat and coastal hazards. She notes that ‘This work strengthens my understanding of climate adaptation, environmental justice, and the need for inclusive governance. I believe this emphasis is essential for meaningful green transitions and aligns with your work on urban heat and planetary health.‘
View more about the Pedestrian Space ‘Global URBAN HEAT Media Lab’ project and network below.