Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Lecturer in Rural Planning and Environmental Assessment
Currently teaching on Environmental Management and Wildlife Conservation Management streams, across a variety of topics (see those listed below). I have a real desire to accomodate for all learning styles, and a passion for flipped classrooms, my delivery of materials in an active and blended manner allows all students to feel engaged with deeper learning and discussion. On top of a full teaching contract, research across green and blue infrastructure spaces is also a really important part of my worklife (see research topics below).
Prior to this post, my PhD study examined the relationship between natural environments in urban spaces and the link to health and wellbeing improvements, including physical and mental indicators (blood sampling, physical activity and psychology). I also have a master’s degree (MSc) in Environmental Sustainability from the University of Edinburgh, and a Bachelors of Science in Sustainable Environmental Management, from Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) which is awarded by The University of Edinburgh.
Teaching
I am currently module lead and independantly teaching on several modules including:
- Planning and Development (year 1)
- Professional Software Applications (year 1)
- Rural Land Use (cross programmes, environment and business, year 1)
- Environmental Management Systems (year 2)
- Graded Unit 3 (year 2)
- Rural Planning and Environmental Assessment (year 3)
- Action for Biodiversity (year 4, team taught)
- Alongside supervising a number of Honours and Masters students across topics of community gardening, food security, blue infrastructure, socio-environmental injustice, just energy transitions, carbon management, environmental education and behaviour change.
Previous modules where I was module lead include:
- Ecology and Ecosystems (year 1)
- Environmental Awareness (year 1)
- Biodiversity Conservation (year 1)
- Biology (year 1)
- Conservation Site Management (year 3)
In 2023 - 24, I was part of the cross-campus group fomulated to make our courses SEEDABLE (Sustainable, Active and Blended and Enterprising), and in 2025 will be involved in revalidation. In 2024, I also took on the role of coordinating materials across campus, and programmes, for external validation by the examiner.
Also holding an Associate Fellowship from the Higher Education Academy and awarded a PGCert in Tertiary and Higher Education (with Distinction). Prior to this institution I taught across Human Geography, Wildlife and Archeology streams at the University of Salford.
Research interests
Current research work:
- In partnership with the British Science Association on the Community Buddies programme (£4,000). Written the grant to work with the Senior Milan Welfare Association, allowing co-development of a package to engage with older adults in gardening and learning about wider science topics.
- Alongside undertaking a supportive role in a qualitative research project about use of coastal landscapes.
Research interests:
My research interests are multi-disciplinary and surround the broad area of sustainable environments, with a focus on community empowerment and public health. Specialising in the use of Qualitative research (through co-development of surveys, interviews, and focus groups), but also linking out to specific quantatitive methods (through Q-sorts and SROI). I am particularly interested in aspects of:
- Human-environment interactions
- Health and wellbeing changes arising from environments
- The adoption and validity of social prescriptions
- Conservation opportunities arising from planning/green infrastructure
- Socio-environmental issues
- Behaviour change for sustainability
- Social cohesion
- Reducing inequalities, empowerment and activism
- Improving access to knowledge on green environments
- Planning for sustainable cities (bridging the gap to rural, assessment and 20 minute neighbourhoods)
- Methodological innovations across geography
Previous research projects:
- Peel Land and Property Research Grant
- Co-Principle Investigator (Co-PI), with £52,000 to lead data collection across Social Value and Investment,
- Seedcorn Funding Grant, The University of Manchester
- Co-Principle Investigator (Co-PI), gaining a research grant (approx £3,00) to lead data collection across the concept of 'Ageism in the pandemic', focusing on the vaccination programme roll-out.
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, Identifying the health, wellbeing and social impacts in older adults using nature-based projects: a case study of care farming and community gardening interventions in Greater Manchester., University of Salford
Award Date: 29 Jul 2022
Master, Environmental Sustainability, School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh
Award Date: 29 Nov 2018
Bachelor, Sustainable Environmental Management, Scotland's Rural College
Award Date: 1 Aug 2017
External positions
Treasurer, Landscape Geography Research Group, The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
2024 → …
Communications Officer, Scottish Universities Green Infrastructure Research discussion group (SUGIR)
2022 → …
Member, Geography of Health and Wellbeing Research Group, The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
2018 → …
University of Salford
2018 → 2021
Keywords
- GF Human ecology. Anthropogeography
- Human geography
- Social science
- Health geography
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 1 Active
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Opportunities and Challenges for Community-led Marine Citizen Science
Lowe, E. (PhD Student), Marley, S. (Supervisor), Wall, E. (Supervisor), Grist, H. (Supervisor) & Mitchell, L. (Supervisor)
1/10/23 → 30/09/27
Project: PhD project
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Mind, Body and blood: advancing green care through innovative methodologies within the field of health geography.
Mitchell, L., Hardman, M., Howarth, M. & Cook, P., 30 Jan 2024, (First published) In: Cities and Health. 8, 2, p. 261-271 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
1 Citation (Scopus) -
Social return on investment: reflections on advancing the method within cities & health
Mitchell, L., Hardman, M., Goodspeed, T., Atkinson, L. & Howarth, M., 1 Sept 2023, In: Cities and Health. 7, 5, p. 677-681Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus)45 Downloads (Pure) -
Burden of non-communicable disease studies in Europe: a systematic review of data sources and methodological choices
Charalampous, P., Gorasso, V., Plass, D., Pires, S. M., Von Der Lippe, E., Mereke, A., Idavain, J., Kissimova-Skarbek, K., Morgado, J. N., Ngwa, C. H., Noguer, I., Padron-Monedero, A., Santi-Cano, M. J., Sarmiento, R., Devleesschauwer, B., Haagsma, J. A. & The COST Action CA18218 Participants, 1 Apr 2022, In: European Journal of Public Health. 32, 2, p. 289-296 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access19 Citations (Scopus) -
Identifying the health, wellbeing and social impacts in older adults using nature-based projects: a case study of care farming and community gardening interventions in Greater Manchester.
Mitchell, L., 2022Research output: Types of Thesis › Doctoral Thesis
Open Access -
Enabling Urban Social Farming: the need for radical green infrastructure in the city
Mitchell, L., Houston, L., Hardman, M., Howarth, M., Cook, P. & Kwame Boatend, J. (Guest editor), 27 Sept 2021, (First published) In: Cogent Social Sciences. 7, 1, 1976481.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open Access16 Citations (Scopus)
Prizes
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Landscape Geography Research Group, The Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) (External organisation)
Mitchell, L. (Member)
2024 → …Activity: Membership types › Membership of committee
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Academic Women Neurodiversity Group (External organisation)
Mitchell, L. (Member)
2024 → …Activity: Membership types › Membership of network
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Invited Judge: Junior Young Farmer Of The Year
Mitchell, L. (Participant)
2024 → …Activity: Other activity types › Other
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Community buddies programme
Mitchell, L. (Participant)
2023 → 2025Activity: Other activity types › Other
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Scottish Universities Green Infrastructure Research discussion group (SUGIR) (External organisation)
Mitchell, L. (Member)
2023 → …Activity: Membership types › Membership of committee
Press/Media
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'I think it's something that the university would love to keep going' - TedXUniversityofSalford look to future following success of event
12/03/21
1 Media contribution
Press/Media