Centre for Place
Exploring the complex relationships between people and place
The Centre for Place is an interdisciplinary research hub that tackles contemporary societal and global challenges through place-based inquiry.
The Centre's research addresses the complex relationship between place and people, combining advanced quantitative methods within robust humanities and social science frameworks.
Our research impact reaches from local to global, through partnerships with the civic sector, industry, policymakers and government.
The Centre for Place seeks to become a world leader in place-based research, emphasising the importance of place in shaping communities and individuals, and providing innovative, interdisciplinary solutions to urgent global research challenges.
Professor Katharine Willis
Co-Director of the Centre for Place
Nudge Community Builders
Centring the role of place
The Centre explores how place shapes people's lives – not only through physical environments, but through cultural, historical, and emotional connections.
Our research examines how place influences health, education, social cohesion, resilience, and the role of arts and culture in placemaking.
We combine innovative quantitative methods (including longitudinal, big data and geospatial analysis) with qualitative, co-design and creative approaches.
How we work
Addressing global challenges
The Centre contributes to global conversations on place-based research, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the priorities of UKRI, AHRC, and ESRC.
Global partnerships and regional impact
Partnerships are central to our work. We collaborate globally with organisations such as UN-Habitat and European research institutes, and nationally with networks and partners.
Place-based evidence and data
We generate robust evidence to inform policy on inclusive, sustainable, and resilient communities, with a focus on health, climate change, social justice, and the evaluation of public interventions and funding impact.
Living labs and co-design
Co-creation and living labs methods sit at the heart of our approach. We work alongside place-based communities to deliver sustained, evidence-led impact, contributing directly to Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Future Neighbourhoods
In partnership with
Nudge Community Builders , Professor Katharine Willis explored why we need to develop future neighbourhoods from the ground up to create truly inclusive environments for all of our citizens. During this hands-on workshop, we worked with community members to highlight how we can build strong and sustainable communities using technology as a driver for change.
The workshop was part of
FUTURES , a festival of discovery that explores the past, creates the present, and imagines the future.
Showcasing the creative industries' growth and potential
The University of Plymouth contributed to 'The Creative Industries in the Great South West', a landmark report examining the region's distinctive strengths, emerging trends, and future potential across the creative industries.
The study spans sectors including arts, design, digital media, performance, and wider cultural enterprises throughout the South West.
UN-Habitat's partnership with universities worldwide
The University of Plymouth is proud to be a member of UN-Habitat's University Network Initiative (UNI), showcasing our commitment to promoting sustainable urban development worldwide.
As part of this esteemed network, we work with universities, policymakers, and communities around the globe to tackle significant urban challenges, aiming to create a better future for cities and their residents.
Research team
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![Professor Katharine Willis Professor of Smart Cities and Communities]( "Professor Katharine Willis")
Professor Katharine Willis
Professor of Smart Cities and Communities
Co-Director of Centre for Place
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![Professor Clive Sabel Professor of Big Data and Spatial Science]( "Professor Clive Sabel")
Professor Clive Sabel
Professor of Big Data and Spatial Science
Co-Director of Centre for Place
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![Professor Chris Bennewith Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education & Student Experience & Executive Dean]( "Professor Chris Bennewith")
Professor Chris Bennewith
Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education & Student Experience & Executive Dean
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![Professor Misha Myers Head of School of Art, Design & Architecture]( "Professor Misha Myers")
Professor Misha Myers
Head of School of Art, Design & Architecture
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![Professor Alessandro Aurigi Professor of Urban Design]( "Professor Alessandro Aurigi")
Professor Alessandro Aurigi
Professor of Urban Design
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![Dr Alejandro Veliz Reyes Associate Professor in Digital Design]( "Dr Alejandro Veliz Reyes")
Dr Alejandro Veliz Reyes
Associate Professor in Digital Design
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![Dr Ricky Burke Lecturer in Architecture and the Built Environment]( "Dr Ricky Burke")
Dr Ricky Burke
Lecturer in Architecture and the Built Environment
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![Dr Heidi Morstang Associate Professor in Photography]( "Dr Heidi Morstang")
Dr Heidi Morstang
Associate Professor in Photography
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![Dr Angela Piccini Associate Professor in Art, Media and Spatial Practice]( "Dr Angela Piccini")
Dr Angela Piccini
Associate Professor in Art, Media and Spatial Practice
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![Ms Inés Rae Lecturer in Media Arts]( "Ms Inés Rae")
Ms Inés Rae
Lecturer in Media Arts
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![Mr John Kilburn Lecturer in Illustration]( "Mr John Kilburn")
Mr John Kilburn
Lecturer in Illustration
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![Dr Zoe Latham Lecturer]( "Dr Zoe Latham")
Dr Zoe Latham
Lecturer
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![Professor Paul Simpson Associate Head of School - Research]( "Professor Paul Simpson")
Professor Paul Simpson
Associate Head of School - Research
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![Dr Mark Holton Associate Head of School (Graduate Outcomes)]( "Dr Mark Holton")
Dr Mark Holton
Associate Head of School (Graduate Outcomes)
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![Dr Simon Dickinson Lecturer in Geohazards and Risk]( "Dr Simon Dickinson")
Dr Simon Dickinson
Lecturer in Geohazards and Risk
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![Professor Kayleigh Wyles Professor of Environmental Psychology]( "Professor Kayleigh Wyles")
Professor Kayleigh Wyles
Professor of Environmental Psychology
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![Professor Jon Shaw Head of School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences]( "Professor Jon Shaw")
Professor Jon Shaw
Head of School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
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![Mr Nick Smith Lecturer in Spatial Planning]( "Mr Nick Smith")
Mr Nick Smith
Lecturer in Spatial Planning
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![Dr Clare Pettinger Associate Professor in Public Health Dietetics]( "Dr Clare Pettinger")
Dr Clare Pettinger
Associate Professor in Public Health Dietetics
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![Dr Ivan Tacey Lecturer in Sociology, Criminology and Anthropology]( "Dr Ivan Tacey")
Dr Ivan Tacey
Lecturer in Sociology, Criminology and Anthropology
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![Professor Daniel Maudlin Professor]( "Professor Daniel Maudlin")
Professor Daniel Maudlin
Professor
In the news
Report explores challenges in delivering £5.8bn Pride in Place programme
Research from our Centre for Place has informed how to empower communities
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![Diverse group of people participating in a workshop]()
Project explores creative ways of combining community stories and data to shape regenerationThe Stories for Us project will see academics working with organisations across Plymouth and Hastings
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![Submergence is an immersive installation on display in The Levinsky Gallery]()
University supports Plymouth’s bid to be UK City of CultureA successful bid would unlock £10million in funding for a year-long cultural celebration of what makes the city so special
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![Key Cities Innovation Network - Culture, Place and Development report launch]()
University contributes to report focused on driving development through culture, creativity and placeProfessor Chris Bennewith and Professor Katharine Willis are among the authors of a publication produced by the Key Cities Innovation Network
- More related news
Related courses
Undergraduate
Supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals
