The health and sustainability of left-behind places and distressed neighbourhoods: Advances through applied geography
The HASP team will be heading to Uppsala in Sweden for this year’s Applied Geography Commission of the International Geographical Union (IGU) conference.
About this year’s conference
Left behind places and distressed neighbourhoods represent complex geographical and social realities often discussed using similar terms but carrying distinct meanings across disciplines such as geography, urban planning, sociology and public policy. Despite their differences, these spaces share common challenges: economic hardship, social disadvantage, disinvestment by both public and private sectors, stigmatization in media and public discourse and political marginalization while at the same time demonstrating examples of community building, resilience and solidarity practices.
These places vary significantly in their spatial and demographic characteristics – located in urban versus rural settings, population trends and historical development – all of which shape the nature and effectiveness of policy interventions. They are not merely zones of deprivation but are lived environments rich in social interaction, cultural heritage, and natural assets. Often referred to as neighbourhoods or ruralities, they play a crucial role in shaping individuals’ sense of identity and belonging. Health and sustainability are deeply embedded in these places, both as a set of exposures, e.g., access to green spaces, quality housing, and transport infrastructure, and as outcomes, e.g., physical and mental health, and environmental impact. These domains intersect in complex ways, revealing inequalities not only between places but also within them.
This symposium aims to bring together scholars in population geography and related fields with a broad interest in left behind places and distressed neighbourhood in order to combine our knowledge of these places. We are interested in encouraging a diverse range of expertise, approaches and perspectives which further our understanding of how places are defined, operate, shape people’s life chances and can be improved through better planning and policy.
Topics of interest within health and sustainability include (but are not confined to):
- Housing, segregation and inequalities
- Rural challenges and adaptations
- Accessibility and transport
- Retail and food environments
- AI, ‘Smart Data’ and spatial analytics
- Ageing and wellbeing
- Diversity and demographics
Learn more and submit abstract today:
https://www.uu.se/institution/kulturgeografiska/samverkan/igu-conference
Contact: [email protected]
