Tech-driven research: Digital tools & decision-making

This session explores how digital solutions enhance evidence-based decision-making and amplify research impact. From managing large-scale projects to developing essential research skills, this discussion will provide insights into navigating the challenges and opportunities of research in a tech-driven world.

Our invited speakers are: Dr. Kelly Turner, Associate Director of the Luskin Center for Innovation, and Dr. Richard Kingston, Director of UoM's Digital Futures Platform. Moderation by: Xirong Li, PGR Manchester Urban Institute.

Dr. Kelly Turner (she/her) is an Associate Professor of Urban Planning and Geography and serves as Associate Director of the Luskin Center for Innovation (LCI) at the University of California Los Angeles. She leads research on Heat: providing evidence-based approaches to protect people, especially vulnerable populations, where they live and work. She also serves as Director of the Center for Heat Resilient Communities, a National Integrated Heat Health Information Systems (NIHHIS) Center for Excellence. Dr. Turner’s current research encompasses heat governance and policy, planning for climate resilient communities, and producing actionable data for heat-health equity.

Dr. Richard Kingston (he/him) is a Professor of Urban Planning and GISc, Director of the NERC Digital Solutions Programme, Director of UoM's Digital Futures Platform and Deputy Director of the Spatial Policy Analysis Lab at The University of Manchester. Dr. Kingston involvement in the Digital Solutions Programme has focused on the development of an online platform and set of toolkits that will exploit environmental and other data to create innovative digital services that deliver economic, societal and environmental benefits across the United Kingdom.

Xirong Li (she/her) is a third-year PhD student at the University of Manchester and a PGR committee member of the Manchester Urban Institute. In her doctoral project, she works closely with Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), to develop a sustainable urban transport strategy with a particular focus on cycling infrastructure, policy implementation, and public engagement in Greater Manchester.

This is the first of three discussion-themed webinar series organised by PhD students from Manchester Urban Institute in collaboration with the Luskin School of Public Affairs (UCLA). This webinar series is supported by the Global Scholar Fund from The University of Manchester.

For questions, comments or collaboration, please email mui@manchester.ac.uk