Haoyue Guo

I am a PhD Candidate and Teaching Assistant in Human Geography at The University of Manchester. I am supervised by Dr Saskia Warren , Dr Amy Yueming Zhang and Professor Alison Browne.

PhD Research Topic:
The title of my doctoral research is "Child, Place, and Art in Urban Villages: Exploring the Impact of Participatory Artistic Practices for Rural-Urban Migrant Children’s Sense of Belonging and Place Attachment in China’s Urban Villages in Guangzhou." This work is an academic journey into the emotional and spatial narratives of children navigating the complexities of urbanization.

Fieldwork Overview:
The fieldwork unfolded in the vibrant backdrop of an urban village, Guangzhou, where I engaged with 30 rural-to-urban migrant children aged 7–12. Through a series of participatory art activities such as map-making, collage, and architectural design, coupled with pre- and post-activity interviews, I captured the children's perspectives on migration, urban living, and community involvement.

Current Status and Ambitions:
Currently based in Manchester, I am analysing my field data and am enthusiastic about opportunities for academic collaboration and dialogue. My research underscores the need for child-inclusive urban planning and policy-making, aiming to inform strategies that cultivate child-friendly urban spaces.

I welcome discussions, collaborative ventures, or any inquiries about my research. Please feel free to reach out to me via email for any further engagement.

My research interests are centred on the exploration of participatory artistic practices and their impact on the sense of belonging and place attachment among rural-urban migrant children, specifically within the transformative settings of China's urban villages. I delve into the potential of creative methods as a channel for these children to articulate their lived experiences, perceptions, and future aspirations concerning their urban habitats. My aim is to unravel the intricate ties between children's geographies, urban studies, and participatory art, and to understand how these spheres collectively shape the spatial experiences and identity development of young inhabitants.

My research adopts a qualitative approach, emphasizing participatory artistic engagement and semi-structured interviews. I focuse on how participatory art can empower children to communicate their narratives, fostering a deeper comprehension of their emotional geographies.

MEng, Architecture, China Central Academy of Fine Arts, June 2021

BArch, Architectural Design, China Central Academy of Fine Arts, June 2017

I was a visiting critic on April 18, 2024, in the experimental 3rd year BA Architecture studio led by Dr John Zhang and Professor David Porter at the University of Westminster.

I was a teaching assistant in Human Geography at the Univeristy of Manchester, from Feb 2022 to Feb 2023. I contributed to teaching in the following course units:

• 2022/23 1^st Semester GEOG20101 Economic Geography: Understanding the economy creating economic spaces
• 2022/23 1^st Semester GEOG20621 Skills for Geographers
• 2022/23 1^st Semester GEOG10101 Geographies of Globalisation
• 2022/23 1^st Semester GEOG 31041 & 61041 Green Planet: Plant Ecology and Global Change
• 2021/22 2^nd Semester GEOG12012 Tutorials and Profile of a Research Geographer

Associate Fellow, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)

Graduate Member, American Association of Geographers