# Gregor H. Mews Source: https://hello.cv/gregormews ## About Dr Gregor H. Mews MURP (TU-Berlin), PhD EnvirDes (University of Canberra), MPIA, ISOCARP, is currently an academic at the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC) and senior leadership figure in the international NGO space. His multidisciplinary research focuses on urban healthy, regenerative design, emphasising the convergence of public health, public space, ontological design theory, spatial justice, and more-than-human urbanism. Research Interests & Themes Public Health & Urbanity: Integrating health and well-being into public open space and urban design frameworks, particularly in response to COVID-19's spatial implications for children and community life. Culture and identity: Advancing design in pursuit of (re) humanising the urban within a more-than-human world. Situated awareness of urban ecologies and place stewardship nested in culture and identity. Play & Participatory Urbanism: Exploring the role of play and youth co-design as catalysts for transformative and transgressive urban experiences—with a global perspective on localised practices. Flux Cities & Ontological Design: Investigating the emergent urban condition through conceptual frames like Flux Cities, focusing on non-linear, regenerative urban processes. Previously, he was the Executive Director of Urban Synergies Group, a Co-Founder and Director of the Australian Institute of Play, a Steering Committee Member of UN-Habitat’s World Urban Campaign, a Council Board Member of City Space Architecture and a Strategic Advisory Board Member of the Journal of Public Space. Currently, Greg is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Association and a full member of the International Federation of National Teaching Fellows. As for his practice contributions, Greg has led local, national and international projects in the nexus of urban design and health, been an Urban Thinker voice for UN-Habitat and strategically to advocate for vulnerable population groups with impact transcending boundaries across the Global North and South and the implementation of the New Urban Agenda. Under the conceptual approach of "Right to the City", he advocated for better health and well-being outcomes at the United Nations Habitat III conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development held in Quito (Ecuador) in 2016. Over the course of two decades, he has been teaching, researching at universities in Europe (University of Kassel, Technical University of Berlin), North America (Yale University), Africa (University of Makeni), and Australia (QUT, University of Canberra, UNSW Canberra). Previously, he served as the Study Area Coordinator for the Landscape Architecture Program at QUT and co-led the transdisciplinary Impact Labs framed around Planet as part of the new Bachelor of Design. Greg received multiple work-related awards including the prestigious ‘Oscars of Education” QS Wharton Reimagine Education Award in the category Presence Learning & Teaching as well as the 2021 overall Education Award, the 2022 national AAUT Citation Award in the category Advanced learning on curriculum transformation and innovative and pedagogy practice, ISOCARP's Gerd Albers Award for best book in planning 2022 as well as the best research project award 2022 from the Planning Institute of Australia QLD. His latest research projects include an MRFF-PPHR Initiative grant in Australia and a Civil Society in Development grant in Sierra Leone. Greg has published four books and 64 other publications internationally, including “Perspectives of sustainable urban development for cities in Central Asia”, the recent “The future of Asian and Pacific Cities: Transformative pathways towards sustainable urban development in the post covid-19 era” for UN-ESCAP, and the multiple award winning book “Transforming Public Space through Play”, guest editor of “Special issues Journal - Public health and wellbeing in public open spaces through climate responsive urban planning and design” in the Journal of Public Space. Between 2008 and 2013, he was the Vice-President and advocacy coordinator of the Planning Institute of Australia (ACT Division), held an Adjunct Prof. Associate position at the Health Research Institute at the University of Canberra, and is an active member of ISOCARP (International Society of Urban and Regional Planners) Community of Practice Urban Health. In his pursuit of adding quality to urban environments, he served on juries and boards in Denmark, Germany, Sierra Leone and Australia, including the ACT Government, National Capital Authority, Logan Together, Dreamtown, Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk, advising government, non-government and industry on urban design and public space projects. ## Work ### Lecturer | University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland ### Queensland University of Technology ### Adjunct Professional Associate | University of Canberra ### Founder | Urban Synergies Group ### Seasonal lecturer | University of Canberra Faculty of Health ### Seasonal lecturer | University of Canberra Faculty of Arts and Design ### Seasonal lecturer | Universität Kassel ## Education ### University of Canberra | PhD Environmental Design ### University of Canberra Faculty of Arts and Design | Graduate Certificate in Research Methods and Design ### Technische Universität Berlin | Dipl.- Ing. für Stadt- und Regionalplanung ## Publications ### Flux Cities: Ontological Design for a Regenerative World book ### On Designing Exteriority from within Through Flux Cities in Public Space The Dusk of Design: Exploring Multidisciplinary Approaches and Evolutionary Biology in Architecture book-chapter ### Beyond playgrounds: how less structured city spaces can nurture children’s creativity The Conversation magazine-article ### Implementation of the New Urban Agenda on a local level: An effective methodology for human-centred urban design Journal of Urbanism journal-article ### Implementation of the New Urban Agenda on a local level: an effective community engagement methodology for human-centred urban design Journal of Urbanism: International Research on Placemaking and Urban Sustainability journal-article ### From wealthy to healthy cities: well-being for all starts at the neighbourhood level Cities & Health other ### Advancing Cities: Bioclimatic and Sociotechnical Understanding for Healthy Places ISOCARP Review 19: Towards Holistic Climate-Responsive Planning for Equitable Places and Communities book-chapter ### Greg Mews: Play and Public Art w/k – Zwischen Wissenschaft & Kunst journal-article ### Radical imaginaries and new places for children in cities 60th ISOCARP World Planning Congress Diamond Anniversary / 1st International Conference for New Cities conference-paper ### Introduction to Public Space. Analysing Complexity. other ### 2030 – a playful prediction Priorities for Play: Towards 2030 and Beyond book-chapter ### Play: Seeing and becoming different through the looking glass Inspirationally Playful: People, Papers and Practices that have Inspired Practitioners and Researchers book-chapter ### Living in a bubble? (Then it is probably NOT a biosphere) UniSC News online-resource ### Special Section on Health, Urban Climate and Complexity in Urban Design and Planning The Journal of Public Space journal-article ### Special Section on Health, Urban Climate and Complexity in Urban Design and Planning The Journal of Public Space journal-article ### Celebrating Public Space: Learnings from Sierra Leone other ### Transforming Life for Young People through Public Space Action in Informal Settlements in Sierra Leone Journal of Public Space journal-article ### Design for Impact: A model for embedding education for sustainability across an undergraduate design program International Conference on Sustainable Development conference-paper ### Intelligent Communities—Towards a New Ontology of Practice Smart Cities for Sustainable Development book-chapter ### Local Play, Every Day! other ### Transforming Public Space through Play book ### Implementation of the New Urban Agenda on a local level: an effective community engagement methodology for human-centred urban design Journal of Urbanism: International Research on Placemaking and Urban Sustainability journal-article ### Physical distancing, children and urban health: The COVID-19 crisis' impact on children and how this could affect future urban planning and design policies Cities & Health journal-article ### Pop-up Play City - the Capital of the children Play Blog online-resource ### Observations on Death and Life of Public Space in Australia during the COVID-19 Pandemic The Journal of Public Space journal-article ### Physical distancing, children and urban health Cities & Health journal-article ### Designed by kids for kids: Design strategies for improved outcomes for children's health and wellbeing in suburban environments International Symposium on Sustainable and Clean Energy (ISSCE): Quality in Research conference-paper ### Translating urban loveability into action in a post-COVID-19 world World Urban Campaign newsletter-article ### 2020: A Year without Public Space under the COVID-19 Pandemic other ### The future of Asian and Pacific Cities report ### Observations on Death and Life of Public Space in Australia during the COVID-19 Pandemic The Journal of Public Space journal-article ### Physical distancing, children and urban health Cities & Health journal-article ### Public health and well-being in public open spaces through climate responsive urban planning and design The Journal of Public Space journal-article ### Creating space for young people in urban slums of Sierra Leone Dreamtown/ Urban Synergies Group/ University of Canberra/ Queensland University of Technology report ### Survey Baseline Report: Creating space for young people in urban slums of Sierra Leone report ### Creating space for young people in urban slums of Sierra Leone report ### Urban loveability in a post-COVID-19 world World Urban Campaign newsletter-article ### Designed by kids for kids: Design strategies for improved outcomes for children’s health and wellbeing in suburban environments INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EMERGING APPLICATIONS IN MATERIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: ICEAMST 2020 conference-paper ### Designed by kids for kids Recent Progress on conference-paper ### The Future of Asian and Pacific Cities: Transformative pathways towards sustainable urban development in the post COVID-19 era [Discussion Paper] report ### Playing in the Streets: How Re-engaging Children with the Suburban Street-Scape Can Effect Change in Overweight and Obesity Patterns in Australia Spaces and Flows: An International Journal of Urban and ExtraUrban Studies journal-article ### Producing spaces, changing places - the role of play dissertation-thesis ### RAPID REVIEW OF EVIDENCE: POLICY AND PROVISION OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR AUSTRALIAN SCHOOL CHILDREN, WITH SPECIAL CONSIDERATION OF SAFE ACTIVE TRAVEL TO SCHOOL University of Canberra & Urban Synergies Group report ### Playing in the streets: How re-engaging children with the suburban street-scape can effect change in overweight and obesity patterns in Australia Spaces and Flows: an international journal of urban and extraurban studies journal-article ### Playing in the Streets: How Re-engaging Children with the Suburban Street-Scape Can Effect Change in Overweight and Obesity Patterns in Australia Spaces & Flows journal-article ### Urban Synergies Group: Creating space for young people in urban informal settlements in Sierra Leone: Empowering youth through public space dreams and actions World Urban Campaign- UN Habitat newsletter-article ### Exploring new horizons for youth wellbeing and Public Space in Sierra Leone ISOCARP Review 15: Planning for Metropolitan Area book-chapter ### Rapid review of evidence: Policy and provision of physical activity for Australian school children, with special consideration of safe active travel to school. report ### Special issues Journal - Public health and wellbeing in public open spaces through climate responsive urban planning and design The Journal of Public Space online-resource ### Designing healthy futures: involving primary school children in the co-design of a health report card International Journal of Design Creativity and Innovation journal-article ### Designing healthy futures: involving primary school children in the co-design of a health report card International Journal of Design Creativity and Innovation journal-article ### Designing healthy futures: involving primary school children in the co-design of a health report card International Journal of Design Creativity and Innovation journal-article ### Shaping Healthy Cities for and with Children: 9th World Urban Forum Side Networking Event Report report ### Urban Synergies Group: Planning by and for the people- Global and local experts work together with community to “Make Canberra a Human-centred City” World Urban Campaign online-resource ### The play value of selected play-spaces in Canberra Urban Synergies Group for ACT Government report ### Time for action. Implementing the New Urban Agenda in public spaces for health and wellbeing The Journal of Public Space journal-article ### Time for action. Implementing the New Urban Agenda in public spaces for health and wellbeing The Journal of Public Space journal-article ### Designing Healthy Futures: involving primary school children in the co-design of a health report card International Journal of Design Creativity and Innovation (TDCI) journal-article ### Making Canberra A Human-Centred City Charter SEE-Change, The Green Institute and Urban Synergies Group online-resource ### WUF9 Side Event: Urban Synergies - Call for action: A paradigm shift and new alliances for children health & well-being in cities World Urban Campaign newsletter-article ### Shaping Spaces for Generation Z The City at Eye Level for Kids book-chapter ### Shaping Healthy Cities for and with Children: Side Networking Event Report. Urban Synergies Group report ### WUF9 Side Event: Urban Synergies - Call for action: A paradigm shift and new alliances for children health & well-being in cities World Urban Campaign, UN-Habitat online-resource ### Making Canberra A Human-Centred City - Charter report ### Shaping spaces for Gen Z – International Forum Report report ### Our common urban future – possibilities and actions with and for children and young people! World Urban Campaign, UN-Habitat online-resource ### Time for a Paradigm Shift Towards Health and Well-being ICLEI- Local Governments for Sustainability, EcoMobility Alliance online-resource ### Urban Thinkers Campus - Shaping Spaces for Gen Z Urban Synergies Group & University of Canberra, Health Research Institute report ### A Perspective on healthy intelligent communities report ### Our common urban future – possibilities and actions with and for children and young people! World Urban Campaign newsletter-article ### Time for a paradigm shift towards health and well-being EcoMobility World Festival 2017: Festival Stories online-resource ### Right to the City book ### Right to the City: An exploration in pictures other ### city play research blog website ### Spielraeume zurueck erobern manual ### Spielraum Manifest book ### Diese Welt ist zum Spielen da! [Play is what our world is for!] Playground+Landscape magazine-article ### Urban Synergies Group website ### Making cities fit for life - key urban design features for a healthy living environment State of Australian cities conference proceedings conference-paper ### Active Living Impact Checklist manual ### Making cities fit for life - key urban design features for a healthy living environment State of Australian Cities National Conference conference-paper ### Active living impact checklist: A tool for developments in the Australian Capital Territory report ### Active Living in the school. Lanyon High workshop outcome report ### Urban sprawl + politics + cars = Canberra vs. Compa ct city + innovative politics + active forms of transport = healthy Canberra REALCORP 2010 conference-paper ### ACT Active Living Project. Scoping Study – Key Findings report ### ACT Active Living Forum – Our Health, Our City report ### Planning with less: “Peak Oil – forgotten challenge for Regional NSW New Planner magazine-article ### “Establishing a ‘working relationship’ between practitioners and academics conference-paper ### Perspektiven für eine nachhaltige Stadtentwicklung in Zentralasien book ## Source Read this profile on Hello.cv: https://hello.cv/gregormews Create your free profile at https://hello.cv