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Prof Claire Colomb
Professor of Urban Studies and Planning
The Bartlett School of Planning
Faculty of the Built Environment
- Joined UCL
- 1st Sep 2001
Research summary
My research interests span across the following themes:
Urban governance, policies and politics:
o The changing politics of planning and urban development in European cities, with a particular focus on new forms of urban entrepreneurialism and urban governance (UK, France, Germany, Spain)
o The contested politics of urban regeneration in European cities
o The combination of "culturalist" and "materialist" approaches in urban political economy
o The role of digital platforms in urban governance and urban change
o Social movements and urban politics in Europe and India
European spatial planning and European Union policies with a territorial impact:
o The impact of the EU on spatial planning, regional development and urban policies across Europe
o European cross-border and transnational cooperation networks between cities and regions (e.g. INTERREG programmes), and their impact on policy learning and cognitive Europeanisation
Comparative planning:
o Comparative spatial planning cultures and systems in Europe / the transformation of planning systems and practices
o Devolution, decentralization and spatial planning in "contested" states (UK/Spain/Belgium)
Urban sociology:
o The impact of urban and planning policies on gentrification, segregation, "diversity" and social mix in European cities
o Urban social movements and social mobilizations surrounding planning and urban development issues
o Neighbourhood planning and public participation in planning processes
I regularly do consultancy and advisory work for EU transnational cooperation projects and programmes as well as local authorities.
Teaching summary
I have been teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels at the Bartlett School of Planning since 2001 in the fields of urban sociology and urban politics, as well as European, international and comparative planning. I am coordinating the international links and student exchanges between the UCL Bartlett School of Planning and overseas universities.
I am a regular guest lecturer at various European universities in France, Germany, Spain and Belgium.
Education
- University College London
- Doctorate, Doctor of Philosophy | 2008
- University College London
- Other higher degree, Master of Philosophy | 2000
- Institut d'etudes politiques (IEP), Paris
- First Degree, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) | 1998
Biography
I have a dual background as a social scientist and urban planner educated in France, the UK and Germany, with a first degree in Social Sciences (Politics and Sociology) from the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences-Po) and a PhD in Town Planning from University College London, the Bartlett School of Planning. I am also currently studying part-time at SOAS for an MSc in Politics of Asia, to expand my research outside Europe.
Prior to becoming a full-time Lecturer at UCL in January 2005, I worked for three years as Project Developer for the European Union Programme INTERREG IIIB North-West Europe, which funds transnational co-operation projects across 8 European countries.
Over the past 20 years I have lived, worked and researched in France, the UK, Germany and Spain (Catalonia), and speak English, French, German, Spanish and Catalan.
I am a Chartered Member of the RTPI and Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences.