# James Connolly [He/his](https://equity.ubc.ca/resources/gender-diversity/pronouns/) MSc, PhD (Columbia) Associate Professor, Bachelor of Urban Studies Co-Director - Office: WMAX 225 - Email: - Bio - Research - Courses ##### Bio James Connolly joined SCARP as an Assistant Professor in fall 2020, and has also been Co-Director of the Barcelona Lab for Urban Environmental Justice and Sustainability (BCNUEJ) at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Spain since 2016. During his time in residence at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, James was awarded the distinguished Juan de la Cierva Incorporación research fellowship by the Spanish Government; his research was supported by the European Commission; and he served as affiliated researcher with the Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM). Before beginning his current positions, he was Assistant Professor of Urban Policy at Northeastern University in Boston, USA, where he was awarded the Northeastern Humanities Center Fellowship. Prior to that, he earned his Ph.D. in urban planning at Columbia University where his research on planning institutions was supported by a fellowship from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. In the past, he also worked as a staff researcher at the Earth Institute’s Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) and the Spatial Information Design Lab. ##### Research James’ work focuses on how urban planning and policy serves as an arena for addressing social-ecological conflicts in cities. In his research, he uses mixed-methods that combine quantitative spatial analyses with qualitative approaches to understanding how people shape and perceive the city. His current research agenda examines three issues. First, he is part of a team analyzing the extent and causes of green gentrification in 40 cities across Canada, the USA, and Europe. Second, he is studying social-ecological coalitions and conflicts within the politics of urban climate transformations in California and elsewhere. Third, he has a developing project focused on the “riskscapes” experienced by residentially displaced urban residents. In all, his research and teaching proceeds from the conviction that if social and ecological goals are not considered in tandem, then in the long run urban development interventions will likely do more harm than good. ##### Courses ### PLAN 211 : City Making: A Global Perspective **[James Connolly](/directory/james-connolly)** Contemporary city development trends, policies, and practices across the globe as explored against the backdrop of culture and technology. Includes hands-on learning. - Level - Undergraduate - Eligibility - Second-year standing or above in any program ### PLAN 351 : Green Cities **[James Connolly](/directory/james-connolly)** This course will examine green cities as a planning problematic: simultaneously essential for addressing global environmental degradation and part of urbanization processes that have fueled that degradation. We will examine the key historical, conceptual, and applied aspects of urban greening in cities throughout the world, with an emphasis on North America. As we develop our understanding of how, why, and under what conditions green cities take shape, we will examine both process and outcome – questioning overly-simple descriptions of the urban greening agenda. We will uncover through case-based analysis and community-engaged partnership what we mean by green cities; why we need green cities; and how we make green cities, given the challenges and opportunities. ###### Second-year students may be admitted with instructor permission. - Level - Undergraduate - Eligibility - Third-year standing or above in any program ![James, outside large building](/sites/default/files/styles/square_200/public/profile-images/2022-10/James%20Connolly.JPG.webp?itok=TdmNaxbd) ### Affiliations - Barcelona Lab for Urban Environmental Justice and Sustainability ### Research and Specialties - Conflict in social-ecological urban contexts - Urban greening - Urban infrastructure - Urban institutional change