Urban Research Program

Established in 2003 as a strategic research and community engagement initiative of Griffith University, we are now the largest dedicated urban research grouping in Australia.

The strategic foci of the URP are research and advocacy in an urban and regional context. We seek to improve understanding of, and develop innovative responses to Australia's urban challenges and opportunities by conducting and disseminating research, advocating new policy directions, and by providing training assistance. Our research produces new knowledge for policy, regulatory and community frameworks that seek to manage change and engender sustainable urban development.

In our research we are confronted by two fundamental questions:

What is the nature of Australian urbanisation in its contemporary and historical context?

How can research inform - that is, strengthen and improve - policy and regulatory frameworks that seek to manage change, and to engender sustainable urban development?

The URP is actively engaged in the wider research community of Griffith University and beyond, forming a network of research expertise that spans social, human and physical sciences.

News

Distinguished Professor of local and regional governance to visit Griffith University

Prof John Mawson will be visiting the URP for six weeks, from 15 June to 24 July, with the support of a 2009 Sir Alan Sewell Visiting Fellowship. He will be based at the Gold Coast campus and will be actively engaging with the Griffith research community.

Job Loss Suburbs Exposed

A new report, 'Red alert suburbs: An employment vulnerability index for Australia's major urban regions', identifies the suburbs across Australia that are most vulnerable to job losses as a result of the current economic crisis.

Seminars

Cheryl Desha explores the issue of how engineering education can systemically embed knowledge and skills for sustainable development, and is a major global consideration for engineering educators. Seminar to be held on Wednesday 8th July at the Nathan campus. URP seminar flyer - Desha (PDF 105k)

Prof John Mawson explores the issue of how engineering education can systemically embed knowledge and skills for sustainable development, and is a major global consideration for engineering educators. Seminar to be held on Friday 17th July at the Gold Coast campus. URP seminar flyer - Mawson (PDF 93k)