Making a global agenda work locally for healthy, sustainable living in tropical Australia
Silvia Tavares, James Cook University and David Sellars, James Cook University
Life in the tropics is often seen as “living in paradise”, a place where everything grows and flourishes. This picture-postcard environment is not the year-round reality. At certain times of year, intense heat, humidity and the wet season affect liveability, making outdoor activity unattractive and thereby reducing social cohesion. Read more…
Uruguay, or the ‘Switzerland of South America’
On our way to the south of Brazil last November, we flew from Australia to Chile and then to Montevideo in Uruguay. When friends in this part of the world ask me what is the best place in South America I always say the same: Uruguay is its best kept secret. Read more…
News: PhD Thesis available
In the past four years I have been talking to many different people and in many different places about the research I was doing, the questions I was pursuing, the fieldwork, the challenges… So many things. Read more…
Article published on The Press: ‘The case for cultural connection in city’
With the note “Christchurch is being urged in consider[sic] urban comfort in the city’s rebuild”, The Press – Christchurch’s main newspaper – published yesterday an article about my doctorate research at Lincoln University.
A medieval city, its legends, and the making of ‘who we are’
As some of you might know, last year I spent five months in Aachen, Germany. My stay in Aachen was related to a Visiting Researcher position at the ILS. I have previously written about this research, which was an extension of my doctorate and aimed at investigating the Urban Comfort concept in an European and culturally-mixed context. Read more…
Sustainability and higher density vs cultural identity in New Zealand
Density has been seen as a good solution for cities. We know higher density saves distances. More people living in the same place implies more environmental, social and economic sustainability. There is also the need to preserve land, and therefore save space. The more the cities grow horizontally, the larger the impact on natural systems. But does this also take into account cultural sustainability? And what is the importance of urban culture after all? Read more…
Human aspects of climate
Approaching the end of a long research project certainly puts the researcher in a delicate position of ‘where to’ next. Read more…
How the landscape around us affects who we are and how we see the world
If you live close to the beach you probably like the sound of the sea and the humidity of the air, and maybe you even go surfing every now and then. If you are from a high latitude country and live close to mountains and rivers you probably like hiking – or tramping as we call it here in New Zealand – and maybe pay visits to ski fields in colder seasons. Read more…
Libraries exposed: a frank assessment
What a difference it makes in your life to have a good and accessible library. Read more…
how talking about it can help your research
Is there anything more interesting in a research presentation than that moment when you look at the presenter and think: “that is great, and makes absolute sense, but how did he or she come up with that brilliant idea?!” Read more…
SILVIA TAVARES 