Michael Brauer named 2017-2018 Wall Scholar

Professor Michael Brauer is one of 10 Peter Wall Institute Wall Scholars for 2017-2018.

From August, Dr. Brauer will spend a year in residence, researching the relationships between health and the design of cities, and the delivery of city services. Wall Scholars are provided with office space and $20,000 in funding, as well as an interdisciplinary environment, something Dr Brauer says he is looking forward to the most.

“I want to go in with a totally open mind. I’m sure I’ll learn a lot.”
2017-18 Wall Scholar Professor Michael Brauer

He will spend two days a week at the Institute, and his work there will look into how cities can be designed better for health, be it through transportation network design, park planning, or the services provided, for instance, mental health support at community centres. Dr. Brauer will look at the literature behind healthy city design, as well as case studies and best practices around the world.

One of the projects on which he will work is in its initial phase, and will examine six cities of varying income levels, located around the world, and model the health impacts of their planned policy actions, he said.

At the end of the program, he hopes to contribute evidence to support those wanting to build cities better, he says, by being able to point towards successful examples around the world.

Research about healthy cities is important given more than half the population of the world lives in cities, a figure that is only increasing, Dr. Brauer says.

“If we make the environment we live in health promoting, that’s a much better way of getting everybody healthier than focusing on treatment of diseases after they occur.”
2017-18 Wall Scholar Professor Michael Brauer

Students interested in speaking with Dr. Brauer about his work and research opportunities can email SPPH Communications.

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