Prof Xiaoqi Feng, Professor of Urban Health and Environment, UNSW, Sydney, Australia
Biography
Xiaoqi Feng is the Professor of Urban Health and Environment in the UNSW School of Population Health, Australia. Professor Feng leads a program of research focused on enhancing population wellbeing through identifying modifiable environmental factors (e.g. green space) that shape health across the lifecourse. She has authored >210 publications, led major research projects (funding >$21 AUD million, including NHMRC), and translated her research into policy. Xiao has won multiple research awards and her research has informed councils urban greening strategies (e.g. City of Sydney). She’s empowering young and diverse communities of scientists as the founding co-director of PowerLab (www.PowerLab.site). Internationally, Xiao is an elected council member and education committee chair for the International Society for Environmental Epidemiology Asia-Western Pacific Chapter.
Prof Roberto Rocco, Planning and Strategy, Delft University of Technology, Netherlands
Biography
Roberto Rocco is an Associate Professor of Spatial Planning and Strategy. Roberto is trained as an architect & spatial planner with a master’s in planning by the University of São Paulo and a PhD by TU Delft. Roberto focuses on GOVERNANCE FOR SUSTAINABILITY TRANSITIONS, as well as issues of governance in regional planning and design. This includes special attention to Spatial Justice as a crucial dimension of sustainability transitions. Roberto has also published extensively about informal urbanisation in the Global South, and he does research on how informal institutions influence and shape planning at the local level. He was a consultant for the Union for the Mediterranean and has recently drafted the UfM Action Plan for Sustainable Urbanisation 2040. https://ufmsecretariat.org/urban-agenda/ He is one of the lead investigators of UP 2030 Urban Planning and Design Ready for 2030, a Horizon Europe project gathering 42 partners seeking to speed up the sustainability transition in European cities. https://up2030-he.eu
Abstract
Sub-Theme :
Title : The Justice in Just Sustainability Transitions
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The concept of ‘Just Sustainability Transitions’ is a pivotal theme in addressing contemporary challenges within the framework of sustainable, fair and inclusive urban development. This lecture delves into the interplay between sustainability transitions and spatial justice, emphasizing the necessity for equitable distribution of urban development’s benefits and burdens, through recognition and fair process. Drawing upon the works of scholars like Amartya Sen, Martha Nussbaum, Edward Soja, Elinor Ostrom, and Patsy Healey, the lecture adresses the complexities of implementing spatial urban visions and strategies that are not only environmentally sound but also socially equitable and democratic. At the core of this discussion is the recognition of the disproportionate impact of environmental degradation and climate change on marginalised communities. This disparity underscores the urgency of integrating principles of social justice into sustainability efforts. The lecture explores how the capabilities approach, as advocated by Sen and Nussbaum, provides a robust framework for evaluating justice in sustainability transitions. This approach emphasizes the importance of expanding individuals’ capabilities and freedoms, allowing them to lead lives they value, which is crucial in the context of environmental policymaking. The lecture further examines the role of spatial justice, as articulated by Soja and Harvey, in shaping sustainability transitions. Spatial justice concerns the fair and equitable distribution of resources and opportunities across different spaces in the city through recognition and fair process in planning. It challenges the traditional notions of sustainability by incorporating the spatial justice dimension, thus highlighting how environmental policies can perpetuate or alleviate spatial inequalities. The lecture argues for a reimagining of sustainability practices that are attuned to the recognition of the needs and aspirations of disadvantaged communities, ensuring that benefits and responsibilities of sustainable living are shared equitably across different regions and communities. In the realm of governance, the lecture underscores the importance of democratic participation in planning and implementing sustainability transitions. Drawing on the ideas of D. Massey and Faranak Miraftab, it advocates for inclusive and participatory approaches that empower local communities and stakeholders in decision-making processes. This ensures that sustainability transitions are not only environmentally sound but also democratically legitimized and socially just. The lecture concludes by addressing the challenges posed political polarization, which threaten the democratic public sphere and, consequently, the governance of just sustainability transitions. It calls for a critical examination of this phenomena and their impact on public discourse, policy-making, and the ability to address societal challenges effectively. The pursuit of just sustainability transitions, therefore, necessitates a holistic approach that integrates environmental, social, and democratic dimensions, fostering a more equitable and sustainable future for all. Keywords : Just Sustainability Transitions, Spatial Justice, Democratic Participation, Capabilities Approach, Democratic sphere
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Prof Junichiro Inutsuka, Jissen Women's University, Director of Japan Society for Recreation and Leisure Studies, Japan
Biography
Professor of Jissen Women’s University in Tokyo, teaching philosophy and mediology. Director of The Japan Society of Leisure and Recreation Studies, and The Japan Society for the Comparative Study of Civilizations.
Dr Shintaro Kono, Assistant Professor of leisure Studies, Faculty of KInesiology, Sport and Recreation, University of Alberta, Canada
Biography
Dr. Kono’s research revolves around the relationship between leisure engagement and subjective well-being. Specifically, he is interested in answering: How does leisure engagement increase participants’ subjective well-being and why? He also examines this issue from a cross-cultural and non-Western perspective, by bringing in non-Western/English concepts such as ikigai (life worth living in Japanese). In addition, Dr. Kono has studied predictors of quality leisure engagement such as leisure constraints and constraint negotiation. He also utilizes a wide range of both qualitative (e.g., grounded theory, photo-elicitation) and quantitative (e.g., experiments, structural equation modeling) methods to address the said topics. Currently, Dr. Kono is interested in mobilizing the knowledge on leisure and well-being to implement online leisure education in accessible media (e.g., YouTube videos) to improve subjective well-being on a large scale.
Abstract
Sub-Theme : Health, Wellbeing, Therapeutic Recreation
Title : Online Leisure Education: A Pathway to Leisure for All
Co-Authors :
- Seung Jin Cho (University of Illinois, USA),
- Shinichi Nagata (University of Tsukuba, Japan),
- John Dattilo (Penn State University, USA), and Mu He (University of Alberta)
Research has identified positive and active leisure engagement as a robust predictor of people’s subjective well-being (Kuykendall et al., 2015). One way to encourage people to participate in leisure activities more frequently and enjoy more positive leisure experiences is leisure education (Dattilo, 2021). Although leisure education is linked to positive life changes across diverse populations, a recent systematic review showed 94% of leisure education interventions were delivered in-person resulting in inaccessibility for many people (Kono et al., in press a). Thus, over the past five years, my research team including Dr. John Dattilo (Penn State University, USA) and Dr. Shinichi Nagata (University of Tsukuba, Japan) has worked to develop online leisure education intervention or ONLEI. The online provision of leisure education makes it possible to make leisure education radically accessible across social classes, regardless of mobility challenges, and around the world. The purpose of the current presentation is to: (1) present the state of ONLEI materials (e.g., online platform, videos); (2) share initial research results from the trials with university students; and (3) discuss future directions and collaborations of ONLEI research. With regard to the first goal, our team has created 3 short videos (a total of 20-30 minutes) for each of eight modules. Each module is designed to be learned within a week, consisting of the three short information videos on YouTube, learning activities, cloud-based reflection journal, and online discussion forum to share learning activity results with other participants. Our ONLEI topics were determined based on a Delphi consensus building study with experts in the field of leisure education, therapeutic recreation, campus recreation, higher education, student counselling, and social work (Kono et al., in press b). Our eight topics are: (a) benefits and costs of recreation; (b) environmental resources; (c) personal resources; (d) constraining norms; (e) reflection and self-knowledge; (f) relationships; (g) emotions; and (h) habits for meaningfulness. We used an open-source learning management system called Moodle as our platform for our trials. As to the second goal, we conducted trials with University of Alberta students in 2022. Our trials were 8-week long, with the main trial having 51 experimental participants and 45 control participants. Our multilevel linear modelling of data from four assessment surveys (i.e., baseline, 4 weeks into the trial, post-intervention, and 4-week follow-up) found significant better trends of leisure participation, leisure satisfaction, life satisfaction, positive affect, negative affect, and chronic stress among ONLEI participants compared to the waitlist control group. The positive trends were sustained and even more pronounced in the 4-week follow-up. In terms of the third goal, our research team is seeking collaborators across the world to create ONLEI for different populations (non-students, people with disabilities, members of non-Western culture). We have a grant proposal submitted to develop a smartphone app to embed ONLEI videos, photo and text posting function like Instagram and Twitter, and “leisure buddy” match-up function.
Keywords : Leisure Education, Online Intervention, Telehealth, Wellbeing
Mr Mzikhona Mgedle, Commuter Cyclsit and Partnering Activist, Cycle Hub, Cape Town, South Africa
Biography
Mzikhona Mgedle, the visionary founder of Langa Bicycle Hub and Consultant at Economic Development Partnerships, has a compelling story of community transformation in South Africa. Hailing from the Eastern Cape, Mzikhona’s life took a turn when he embraced cycling in Cape Town. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he joined Economic Development Partnerships, contributing to community projects and food systems. Now focused on the EDP Mobility project, Mzikhona collaborates to enhance mobility and witnesses the unifying power of cycling in communities. In a nation grappling with transportation challenges, Mzikhona founded the Langa Bicycle Hub to empower township residents for eco-friendly travel through bicycle ownership. He passionately advocates for safer roads for cyclists. Established in 2020, the Langa Bicycle Hub is Mzikhona’s commitment to community welfare. Building on EDP knowledge, he aims to expand the hub into a comprehensive resource for shared mobility in Cape Town. Beyond personal passion, Mzikhona’s dedication is a mission to combat air pollution, address climate change, and make a tangible impact in the community. A fervent cyclist, he completed the 109-kilometer Cape Town Cycle Tour multiple times, inspiring others to join his movement for a biking culture in Africa.
Abstract
The Langa Bicycle Hub in Cape Town’s township of Langa emerged as a small community initiative during the challenging times of the early COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Founded by Mzikhona Mgedle, the hub started by delivering medicine to bedridden individuals in the neighborhood. Within two years, it evolved into a thriving local enterprise, offering cycling classes, bicycle repairs, sales and rentals, tours, and more. This hub serves as a place-making space for employment and mobility innovation, aiming to ignite a cycling revolution in Africa.
Dr Aditya Bhattacharya, Assistant Professor, Architect and Urban Planner, Amity Gwalior University, India
Biography
Aditya Bhattacharya is an Architect & Urban Planner, having a cumulative work experience of 6 years, presently working as an Assistant Professor of Architecture, Interior Design and Urban Planning at Amity University Madhya Pradesh, Gwalior, India.
Abstract
Sub-Theme : Urban design, Planning, Architecture
Title : Visualising residual public spaces differently – the case of Gariahat Flyover
The Gariahat Flyover is a prominent elevated road structure in Eastern India’s bustling metropolis, Kolkata. This flyover acts as a key transportation nodal point with respect to the city’s dynamics at the macro-level. The primary function of this flyover was too ease traffic congestion in the Gariahat junction, which is an extremely busy commercial and residential hub in the city. In addition to decongesting this junction, this flyover also provides connectivity and reduces travel time by streamlining vehicular flow towards locations in the southern direction, notably Golpark and Jadavpur. The induction of this flyover has improved the overall transportation setup in Kolkata to a great extent. While this flyover has been a major boon for the city and its people from an infrastructural and transportation perspective, it can also serve another purpose. The residual public space, created below this flyover can be utilised to its maximum potential to make a striking impact on the quality of life of the people of Kolkata. Presently, the spaces below the flyover, are being used for several varied activities ranging from recreational activities like chess and carrom clubs to food stalls, parking lots, and police check posts. This flyover also houses informal squatters for the homeless people. Thus, the primary purpose of this research will be to understand the residual space below this flyover in greater depths. In this context, this paper will go into documentation of the residual space in detail, understanding the key activities being performed in the space, and the actors involved in this space, namely the people who are involved in daily activities or living below this flyover. In addition to this, the research will delve into some key examples of Indian and South Asian cities like Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Dhaka and Karachi, where these leftover spaces have been developed efficiently through combined efforts of the urban designers, urban planners and the city administration. This research will culminate with suggestions and recommendations in utilising the residual space below South Kolkata’s major flyover to its full potential from the following key perspectives – creation of people-centric and safe urban design spaces which have a scope of providing community engagement which promotes a healthy social and cultural exchange. In addition, suggestions will also be on the financial front with potential revenue generation methods from the space below the flyover.
Keywords : Residual Spaces, Flyover, Urban Design, Kolkata, People Centric.
Professor Erwei Dong, Arizona State University, United States of America
Biography
Erwei Dong received his PhD in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management (Leisure Studies) from Pennsylvania State University in 2006. He is also affiliated with – Arizona State University, Shanghai University of Sport (China), Shenyang University of Sport (China), Shandong University (China), Huanggang Normal University, Xi’an Eurasia University (China), University of Ryukyus (Japan), and Kyung Hee University (Korea), and University of KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa) as research professor, honorary professor, guest professor and visiting professor. He is on editorial board of Leisure Studies, associate editor of Leisure Sciences, special issue editor of Journal of Leisure Research, and associate editor of Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism. He has been a keynote speaker in many international conferences in mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Turkey, South Africa, and United States. He speaks Chinese, Japanese, English, and Korean.
Abstract
Sub Theme : Health, Wellbeing, Therapeutic Recreation
Title : Predicting Leisure Satisfaction in Mainland China, Taiwan, and Brazil
Individuals’ satisfaction with their leisure relates to numerous other aspects of their lives, including life satisfaction, happiness, and quality of life. However, the factors that lead to differences in leisure satisfaction among individuals are not well understood. The purpose of this study is to determine which, among several variables common to samples of individuals from locations in Mainland China, Taiwan, and Brazil best predict leisure satisfaction. These variables include demographics, leisure constraints, frequency of participation in active and in passive leisure pursuits, and cultural consonance in leisure. Cultural consonance refers to the degree to which individuals’ own behaviour agrees with relevant cultural models for those behaviours. Specifically, we examine how frequent individuals report participating in leisure activities agreed upon as either low, medium, or high in importance to a good lifestyle. We hypothesize, first, that more frequent participation in leisure activities agreed upon as low in importance to a good lifestyle entails lower leisure satisfaction while more frequent participation in leisure activities agreed upon as high in importance to a good lifestyle positively predicts leisure satisfaction. Second, we hypothesize that more frequent participation in leisure activities agreed upon as high in importance to a good lifestyle is the strongest predictor of leisure satisfaction among the variables included in the study. An individual participant data meta-analysis indicates that more frequent participation in leisure activities agreed upon as low in importance to a good lifestyle relates negatively to leisure satisfaction while more frequent participation in leisure activities high in importance to a good lifestyle positively predicts leisure satisfaction. Finally, more frequent participation in leisure activities agreed upon as high in importance to a good lifestyle is the strongest predictor of leisure satisfaction among the included variables.
Keywords : leisure satisfaction, cultural consonance, China, Brazil, meta-analysis
Prof Anju Beniwal, Associate Professor Sociology, Government Meera Girls College, Jaipur, India
Biography
Dr. Anju Beniwal has a Ph.D. in Sociology, a Masters in Anthropology and Sociology, a NET in Anthropology and Sociology, and an MBA (HRM). She is currently serving as Assistant Professor of Sociology at Govt. Meera Girls College, Udaipur, Rajasthan (India). Her areas of interest are leisure studies, women’s issues, and tribal studies. She has fifteen books and more than sixty publications to her credit, and has been an active member of the editorial, advisory, and referee of various national and international journals. She has travelled extensively and presented at more than seventy conferences, both in the country and abroad (Hungary, Japan, Vienna, and Canada). She has served as the convenor of numerous national and international webinars and conferences. She has been a board member of RC13 of the ISA and editor of “Global Leisure and the Struggle for a Better World” and “Positive Sociology of Leisure: Contemporary Perspectives,” published by Palgrave, UK. She is an active member of various research associations —ISA, LSA, ISS, IPSA, NWISA, ISTD, Ethnographic & Folk Culture Society, Yale University Art Gallery, etc. She is an academic counsellor at IGNOU in New Delhi. Anju has received many awards for her outstanding scholarship and teaching