OECD field 5.7 · 12 ideas
Social and economic geography
research ideas.
Qualified university research directions mapped to Social and economic geography. These are starting points for further scoping, literature review and supervision—not completed proposals or claims of novelty.
Ideas in this field
Ordered by qualification signalIntegrating Climate Scenarios into Bayesian Models for Long-Term Regional Migration Forecasting
This study utilizes Bayesian hierarchical gravity models to project migration flows under various climate and economic scenarios. It suggests that future research should refine the integration of climate variables into these predictive models.
Where should cities place heat-safe transport stops first?
Informal commuters often wait in the hottest, least shaded parts of a city. This idea asks whether transport traces, surface temperature and health data can reveal the stops where small cooling investments would matter most.
After the flood: how do informal care networks shape recovery?
Formal recovery metrics can miss the unpaid, relational work that gets households back on their feet. This project maps those care networks and the burdens they carry after major floods.
Scalable Urban Energy Modeling for Climate Resilience in Densely Populated Coastal Metropolitan Regions
Urban energy demand is highly sensitive to climate-driven shifts in heating and cooling requirements. This study extends high-performance computing workflows to evaluate energy resilience in diverse urban building stocks.
Longitudinal Analysis of Maladaptation Risks in Indian Agricultural Climate Change Adaptation Strategies
This research explores the long-term impacts of agricultural adaptation strategies implemented by farmers in India. It aims to identify potential maladaptation outcomes resulting from current climate response practices.
Integrating Social Practice Theory into Participatory Backcasting for Sustainable Urban Transport Transitions
This paper demonstrates how social practice theory can enhance the visioning phase of transport backcasting studies. Future research could explore the cross-cultural applicability of these practice-based scenarios in diverse urban environments.
Combining Imaginary Future Generations and Systems Thinking for Long-Term Societal Decision Making Processes
Addressing complex future challenges requires cognitive tools that bridge current policy with long-term impacts. This research examines the integration of systems thinking with future-generation perspectives to improve decision-making quality.
Comparing Energy Justice Outcomes in Individual versus Collective Heating Systems for Just Transitions
The transition to sustainable heating systems presents unique challenges for energy justice and equitable decision-making. This research compares the social and economic impacts of individual versus collective heating solutions to inform a more just energy transition.
Can urban night-light curfews deliver measurable biodiversity gains?
Cities are beginning to dim public lighting, but few programmes connect policy changes to multi-species ecological outcomes over time.
Integrating Household Economic Factors into National Affordable Housing Policy Frameworks for Low-Income Groups
Malaysia's housing policies have struggled to meet affordability needs despite significant supply efforts. This research examines how policy frameworks can be adjusted to better account for household income and economic volatility.
The hidden water footprint of small urban data centres
Hyperscale facilities are studied closely, but small edge and enterprise data centres may create a dispersed water burden that is poorly measured and rarely visible to city planners.
Scenario-Based Approaches for Unlearning Urban Borders in Multidisciplinary Planning and Design Studios
This research investigates the application of scenario planning to address urban segregation and boundary-related challenges. It explores how multidisciplinary studios can use foresight to reimagine urban spaces.