Jenny Roe is an environmental psychologist. She studies how we interact with our world, and how the world impacts our health, wellbeing and behaviours. In this episode, John and Jenny bounce through a number of concepts, including how digital technology, car-oriented planning, green spaces and fascinating buildings are related to our health and well-being.
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How we design our cities impacts how we feel.
From green spaces and tree-lined streets to walkable ‘hoods and lively public places, there are many design considerations that can increase well-being.
And then there are the fifty-storey skyscrapers, ten-lane highways and endless acres of parking lots, which are argued to lead to increased stress and decreased well-being.
This idea of designing cities to maximize well-being has been a hot topic in recent years. But how does one actually measure the relationship between urban design and mental health? Can we quantify and analyze how urban design choices, such as tall skyscrapers, make us feel?
Today’s guest is doing just that.
Robin Mazumder is doctoral candidate in cognitive neuroscience at the University of Waterloo. He is studying the psychological impacts of urban design. His research is inspired by his passion for urbanism, his front-line experience working as an occupational therapist in mental health, and his interest in human-centred design.
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