Harry Smith

Africa’s cities are growing fast — but housing isn’t keeping up. 900M more urban residents by 2050, but only 21% of needed homes are being built.

Without urgent action, slums will swell, risks will rise, and resilience will remain out of reach. Housing can’t wait.

Jar in Action - Summerhall Arts Jar in Action is an ongoing project undertaking research into perceptions around sustainability, produced by fusionartsci.co.uk With engagement at its core the project asks artists, scientists and com...

If you're in Edinburgh, go check out the Jar in Action exhibit at Summerhall from 29Sept-19Oct
The jars represent different takes on the question "What does sustainability mean to you?" and includes work by HWU's Geography undergrad students www.summerhallarts.co.uk/event/jar-in...

Urban resilience isn’t about walls or tech fixes, it’s about people.

Include communities, strengthen local governance, and blend nature with durable infrastructure.

Ignore equity or informal settlements, and you build fragility.

Understanding the Intersection between Climate Action and Climate (In)Justice at Heriot-Watt University on FindAPhD.com PhD Project - Understanding the Intersection between Climate Action and Climate (In)Justice at Heriot-Watt University, listed on FindAPhD.com

Check out our fully-funded PhD Scholarship (one spot) to study the intersection between Climate Action and Climate (In)Justice at Heriot Watt, Edinburgh campus.
Open to home and overseas students. Due 26 Sept
#ClimateJustice #HumanGeography
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

Artificial Intelligence in migrant health: a critical perspective on opportunities and risks Rapid advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) are leading to the proliferation of health applications. AI presents both opportunities and risks for migrants, including refugees, and asylum-seekers. T...

Early access to new article in #LancetRegionalHealth on the benefits and risks of #ArtificialIntelligence for #migrant #health (co-authored by Gina Netto, RCUS) #AI
@hcsmith.bsky.social
www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...

The role of university campus landscape characteristics in students’ mental health University students frequently suffer from mental health challenges such as stress, depression, and anxiety during their studies. It is therefore cruc…

New paper by Koorosh Ahghabozorgi (w @svdjagt.bsky.social @hcsmith.bsky.social) shows the importance and benefits of blue/green spaces for students' #MentalHealth
#UrbanForestry #UrbanGreening #Landscapes www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

In Brasilia now, in UK soon, Mae Mekea Project team present their 3D model of the #AmazonRainforest exploring how the forest is changing & lived experiences of #IndigenousPeoples on frontlines of #ClimateChange
@adriportella.bsky.social @hcsmith.bsky.social maemekea.site.hw.ac.uk/the-amazon-i...

Examining the nonlinear and spatial heterogeneity of housing prices in urban Beijing: an application of GeoShapley Housing is essential for human well-being and economic stability. Major metropolitan areas, particularly in developing countries, face severe housing …

New paper in Habitat International co-authored by RCUS Prof. Colin Jones shows nonlinear & spatial heterogeneity effects on #Housing prices in Beijing. Proximity to the central #BusinessDistrict, housing age, & size show significant spatially variable impacts.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

New report a ‘wake-up call’ for ministers over struggles faced by BME carers The Where Are We Now? report comes almost 20 years after a Scottish Government report highlighted the ‘barriers’ BME carers face accessing support.

The report has been deemed a ‘wake-up call’ for ministers over struggles faced by BME carers by STV News news.stv.tv/scotland/new...

Good to see a legal right to breaks for unpaid carers being enshrined in law, something our friends MECOPP called for in their recent report which exposed the hardship and exhaustion experienced by BME unpaid carers in Scotland.

More on their calls: www.mecopp.org.uk/where-are-we... #CarersWeek

For more information on Mae Mekea: Amazon Indigenous Wisdom - Shaping Climate Solutions in Brazil follow them on Instagram (@maemekea)
or visit their website maemekea.site.hw.ac.uk

New research strengthens West Midlands’ commitment to tackle ethnic disparities in homelessness Levels of homelessness are disproportionate among minoritised communities in the West Midlands, new research from Heriot-Watt University finds.

New research from our Institute for Social Policy, Housing, Equalities Research shows stark #ethnic disparities in West Midlands #homelessness.

But innovative #prevention practices are beginning to work across the region.

More here: tinyurl.com/32brjpy2

#HeriotWattUni #SocialPolicy

Congrats to our PhD student, Mireya Gómez-Nava, & team for winning a funding competition for their project: “From Knowledge to Action: Mexican Indigenous Women Harvesting Water for the Future” with support from University of Birmingham, British Council, & Tecnológico de Monterrey - Guadalajara.

After engaging with the self-built neighbourhoods of Medellin through action-research for over 10 years, they are now helping me rediscover my long dormant enjoyment of drawing.

Congrats to our doctoral student, Jess Bowden, for passing her PhD viva!
#openacces publications from her thesis, Exploring Links Between #Heritage, #Memory and #SenseofPlace in Order to Understand How #OlderAdults Interact with Their Local #HistoricEnvironment, are linked in the thread below

Congrats to our @hwu-rcus.bsky.social colleagues, Dr Sacha Hasan, & Dr Deborah Menezes for their important research on housing barriers for people with complex needs in Scotland

People with learning disabilities facing barriers to housing, report warns It found around 1,300 people face challenges with appropriate accommodation, which was branded ‘varied and inconsistent’.

RCUS in the News: S.Hasan & D.Menezes found systemic barriers prevent people with learning disabilities & complex needs from accessing appropriate #housing in #Scotland “The reality is a postcode lottery which is unsustainable & damaging for our most vulnerable residents" news.stv.tv/east-central...

Congratulations to our PGR student Koorosh Aghabozorgi who yesterday passed his viva AND heard news of publishing his latest article on the same day!
Read the preprint on the role of our @heriotwattuni.bsky.social campus #landscape in supporting student #MentalHealth here: doi.org/10.1016/j.uf....

YouTube video by Corporación Jurídica Libertad Restauración Ecológica El Faro

Inspiring community work in self-built neighbourhoods in Medellin, collaborating with community organisations (JAC & Huerta Escuela El Faro, Mesa de Vivienda y Hábitat C8), NGOs (Madre Tierra Permacultura), and researchers at @hwu-rcus.bsky.social and @uoe-cahss.bsky.social. youtu.be/LEucGbeBBA4?...

Shows a view across Union Terrace Gardens in Aberdeen. The gardens are terraced, with an oval lawn at the bottom of the slope and multiple paths and steps leading downwards. City buildings can be seen around the gardens on the right hand side and along the line of a railway cutting on the left hand side of the gardens. The sky has patches of blue with some white clouds.

Really delighted to announce THIRTY bursaries for study on a postgraduate planning degree in Scotland in 2025/26.

The pipeline of future planners is being well supported by the Scottish Government. Details 👇

www.rtpi.org.uk/plannerbursary