Professor Elizabeth Burton
Professor Elizabeth Burton MA Cantab DipArch DipUD PhD
Elizabeth (also known as Libby) is Professor of Sustainable Building Design and Wellbeing and founder director of the WISE (Wellbeing in Sustainable Environments) research unit. Having qualified as an architect and urban designer, Elizabeth took up a research career, with the aim of developing an evidence base for architectural practice. Her research interests are in the social aspects of sustainability and how the built environment (architecture and urban design/form) influences people’s wellbeing, quality of life and mental health. She has particular expertise in ageing research, including dementia-friendly design. WISE recently developed the Neighbourhoods for Life concept, which has been referenced in the National Strategy for Housing in an Ageing Society: Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods (DCLG, 2008). To facilitate her research, Elizabeth has devised and tested research instruments for quantifying and recording design features. For example, the BESSC (Built Environment Site Survey Checklist) tool has been published in eminent journals and is widely used by other researchers. She has won close to £4.7 million in research grants, mainly from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. She is partner in an EPSRC Research Consortium, Inclusive Design for Getting Outdoors (I'DGO), which is investigating how the outdoor environment should be designed to optimise older people’s wellbeing.
PhD degrees in ‘health and wellbeing and the built environment’
The University of Warwick can now offer PhD study in this area. Elizabeth Burton has recently moved to Warwick as Professor of Sustainable Building Design and Wellbeing and, with her WISE (Wellbeing in Sustainable Environments) research unit team, can provide expert supervision. Professor Burton has supervised over 20 PhD students, including 7 now to completion. She also acted as Head of the Doctoral Programme within the Department of Architecture at Oxford Brookes University for 6 years. Professor Burton has a joint appointment between 2 Schools at Warwick – the School of Health and Social Studies and the School of Engineering. This means that students wishing to study in this field can choose either School as their base.
There has been much interest recently in the role that built environments – buildings, streets and neighbourhoods – play in people’s health and wellbeing. For example, evidence suggests that there is a link between obesity and the design of the neighbourhoods, and between depression and the physical form of housing. The built environment could affect the following aspects of health:
· Obesity and general fitness
· Mental health and wellbeing
· Ageing and dementia
· Respiratory health and allergies
· Health related to diet
· Injuries and accidents
· Pain tolerance, recovery from operations and general effectiveness of healthcare facilities
· Access to healthcare
· Climate change risks
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There is a strong focus on the built environment in attempting to achieve more sustainable communities. There are, however, big gaps in knowledge in this area. We have very little convincing evidence of what design features are influential for the different aspects of health. So there is growing demand, from policy makers, planners, healthcare providers, designers, developers and other practitioners for research on health and wellbeing and the built environment.
Who can study for this PhD?
This is a multi-disciplinary research area and is therefore suitable for candidates from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds, including:
· Built environment (architecture, interior design, planning, urban design)
· Health
· Social sciences
· Psychology
What can you study?
Candidates are welcome to come with their own ideas for research. Professor Burton is happy to review and advise on draft PhD proposals or to help develop initial ideas. Alternatively, the WISE team can offer ideas for research projects. Research methods and approaches in this area are wide ranging and varied, allowing scope for PhD candidates to choose ones suited to their own expertise, skills and preferences.
Contact information
If you are interested in studying for a PhD degree in health and wellbeing and the built environment, please contact Elizabeth Burton e.burton@warwick.ac.uk.
