Description: This seminar introduces students to the nexus of urban design and public health. Starting with an exploration of urban design’s influence on public health, we will discuss research strategies used to assess the impact of the built environment on health outcomes. While recognizing the numerous pathways through which urban design can influence health, this seminar prioritizes the facet of active living. Using local research examples, we will illustrate how urban design can support and promote active lifestyles, subsequently augmenting population health. The seminar intends to broaden students’ understanding of the transformative potential of urban design not only in shaping the built environment but also in influencing the health and wellbeing of populations.
About the speaker: Dr. Gavin McCormack holds a primary faculty appointment as a Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary; he also has adjunct appointments in the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, University of Calgary, and the Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary. Additionally, he holds an honorary adjunct researcher position in the Faculty of Sport Sciences at Waseda University, Japan. Gavin has an MSc in Sports Science (Exercise Physiology; 2003) from Edith Cowan University, Western Australia, and a PhD in Public Health (2008) from the University of Western Australia. Since 2014, he has been an Associate Scientific Editor for the Public Health Agency of Canada’s flagship journal, Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada, and serves as an Editorial Board member for the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity.
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Gavin leads the Built Environment and Healthy Living Lab, which conducts research investigating the links between neighbourhood urban design and health, including physical activity, active living, diet, sedentary behaviour, weight status, and cardiovascular health among adults and children. He has co-authored over 150 peer-reviewed scientific journal articles and over 130 conference presentations and was previously recognized as one of Avenue Magazine’s Top 40 under 40 in 2014.
