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 interested in pursuing academic internships related to the project.
As part of that, we met with Alisher Kulzhabayev, an incoming Master of Environmental Studies (Planning) student at York University in Toronto, Canada. Alisher’s academic and research background is centered on urban planning, public space, transportation, and community well-being. As a research assistant at York University, he examined how people experience shared spaces in high-rise housing and how inequalities affect access to public spaces and amenities and has also conducted research on transportation accessibility and mobility equity, as well as public-life research with Park People examining how residents use and experience Christie Pits Park.
Alisher notes that these experiences have developed his interest in how the built environment shapes everyday experiences and how planning can support more resilient and inclusive communities. He is particularly interested in exploring urban heat through the intersections of public space, mobility, built form, and nature, and contributing a planning and research perspective to Pedestrian Space’s Sustainable Urbanism & Planetary Health initiative.
View more about the Pedestrian Space ‘Global URBAN HEAT Media Lab’ project and network below.