Media & Research Communication
Research associated with the Urban Design Science for Health Lab and the wider programme underpinning it has received coverage in international science media, news outlets and research communication platforms. The coverage spans urban design, population health, active living, workplace environments and emerging approaches to health-supportive design.
Media engagement provides an additional route for communicating scientific findings beyond specialist academic audiences. The examples below present selected research coverage rather than an exhaustive archive.
Selected Recent Coverage
Parametric Urban Design and Population Health
Research proposing parametric urban design as an approach for moving from observed associations between environments and health towards design alternatives received media attention in 2025.
EurekAlert, 2025
Parametric urban design: A promising method to create daily environments supporting health
The associated research examined how parametric urban design could support more systematic translation of evidence on cardiometabolic health into spatial design alternatives.
Active Workplace Design
Research examining how physical workplace environments may support more active patterns of behaviour received international science media coverage in 2024.
ScienceDaily, 2024
Moving beyond cubicles: How an active workplace design can drive workers’ behaviors
EurekAlert, 2024
Moving beyond cubicles: How an active workplace design can drive workers’ behaviors
The underlying work identified major research gaps and future directions for understanding relationships between workplace design, physical activity and sedentary behaviour.
Built Environments and Sports Science
Research extending built environment perspectives into sports science received international coverage in 2024.
EurekAlert, 2024
Focusing on built environments over muscles and gears can boost athletic performance
This work highlighted the potential relevance of training, competition and recovery environments to research traditionally focused on individual athletes and physiological factors.
Urban Design and Cardiometabolic Health
Research examining neighbourhood environments and metabolic health received international coverage in 2023.
ScienceDaily, 2023
Study reveals link between neighborhood environments and likelihood of metabolic syndrome
EurekAlert, 2023
Study reveals link between neighborhood environments and likelihood of metabolic syndrome
The underlying research examined relationships between neighbourhood environmental characteristics and cardiometabolic health.
Neighbourhoods, Walking and Place Attachment
Research on neighbourhood attachment and walking received international coverage in 2023.
ScienceDaily, 2023
Walking on familiar streets: Insights on how neighborhood attachment may promote people’s walking behavior
The coverage highlighted research examining how attachment to neighbourhood environments may help explain relationships between perceived walkability and walking behaviour.
Virtual Environments and Public Health
Research on virtual environments and public health received international coverage in 2023.
ScienceDaily, 2023
How Can the Metaverse Improve Public Health?
The coverage highlighted research examining how virtual environments might contribute to built environment and public health research while also identifying important uncertainties surrounding their application.
Physical Activity and Sleep
Research examining physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep quality received international coverage in 2023.
ScienceDaily, 2023
Moderate and Intense Physical Activity Favors Good Sleep
The associated study examined relationships between physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep quality.
Urban Design and Mental Health
Research examining neighbourhood design and depression received international coverage in 2022.
EurekAlert, 2022
Research in Japan Suggests Using Built Environment Design to Fight Depression
The coverage highlighted research examining relationships between neighbourhood design characteristics and depressive symptoms among middle-aged adults.
Earlier International Coverage
The wider research record has attracted media attention over more than a decade. One of the most widely reported studies examined relationships between time spent driving and cardiometabolic risk.
ScienceDaily, 2016
One hour of driving a day = 2.3 kg more weight and 1.5 cm wider waist
Tech Times, 2016
Time Spent On Driving Your Car Linked To Belly Size
Earlier research on park use, street connectivity and traffic conditions was also communicated through planning and public health channels, including Smart Growth Online and the American Public Health Association’s Transportation and Public Health newsletter.
Research Communication
In addition to independent media coverage, research findings have been communicated through university news services, scientific dissemination platforms and public research announcements. These communications have addressed urban design and cardiovascular health, mental health, workplace design, walkability, public space and emerging methods for health-supportive urban design.
These activities help communicate research findings beyond academic journals while maintaining a clear connection with the underlying peer-reviewed evidence.
Media Enquiries
Media and interview enquiries concerning urban design, built environments and population health are welcome. Requests should identify the organisation or outlet, intended audience, proposed topic, format and relevant deadline.
For enquiries, please use the contact information provided on the Contact page.