Dr. Marielle Papin is researching what it means to be well for people who live in cities. The Tier 2 Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Urban Wellness (Urban Policy and Governance) will use the next five years to look at all the networks, including those in other cities around the world, that impact urban wellness.
In a conversation on the Office of Research Services Research Recast(ed) podcast, the assistant professor of political science explained there are different elements that help one feel well in an urban setting.
“Maybe you feel well in a city when you feel connected to a certain community, or when you feel connected to nature or to land,” she says. Ultimately, she explains, having one or several of these connections is really important for people to have a feeling of wellness in cities.
While Dr. Papin’s past research focused heavily on environmental policy – greening initiatives, like creating more parks and making cities more walkable – her CRC research will look more broadly at what might impact urban wellness. This includes governance frameworks and transnational city networks, where cities work together to share best practices.
“Many cities don't have enough resources,” says Dr. Papin. “But that's not only about economic resources. [It’s] also about the need for more knowledge and more understanding of global issues to be able to tackle them at the local level.” She explains that those issues can range from climate change to supporting refugees.
“It's not just about information,” she says. “It's really about sharing ways to do things.”
A piece of urban wellness advice that she graciously shares: “Find space to do something that is just for you… that makes your day worth it.”
Learn more about Dr. Papin’s research, including how influential people motivate citizens to be environmentally active, in the full episode of Research Recast(ed).