I'm a human geographer with a deep interest in social science research methods. Cities have always fascinated me as complex environments full of opportunities and challenges. Why can cities be places of both well-being and social isolation? What factors within a particular place contribute to loneliness?

I joined The University of Manchester in March 2023, where I've observed a recent surge in research that looks beyond individual characteristics to understand the broader, place-based influences on loneliness and social isolation. This trend has fuelled my passion for exploring how places shape these experiences.

My time here at UoM has taken me on a multifaceted journey, from hosting international workshops to analysing longitudinal data from the UK. Through these endeavours, I try to navigate the intricate connection between physical environment and loneliness. Additionally, I've been commissioned by the World Health Organization to review national loneliness policies of all UN member states. This will foster a more comprehensive understanding of how governments around the world are addressing loneliness. In addition, it offers a series of key questions that policymakers wishing to develop a loneliness policy should consider.

You can find some of my initial thoughts on urban loneliness in this blog post and the first scoping review of national policies of 52 countries here.

My collaborative research with Prof. Pam Qualter at the Manchester Institute of Education has yielded a consulting engagement with a prominent US-based multinational corporation for a global loneliness survey and to collaboration with the World Health Organization.

If you're interested in including a focus on loneliness and social isolation in your research, please get in touch. I'd be happy to exchange some ideas over a coffee/tea (in person or online): [email protected]