Research group

Population, Health and Wellbeing (PHeW)

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Our group specialises in the spatial analysis of census and population data. We study geographical population trends and future population measurement systems.

About

Our research group works in areas like population modelling, population health cultures, and global practices of care and wellbeing. This helps us understand the different challenges facing people across the world. 
 
To support our insights into care for vulnerable and marginalised groups, we have hosted the WorldPop Project. This provides spatial demographic data to support development, health and disaster response applications. 

We work alongside GeoData - an enterprise group that researches social and environmental challenges. We focus on areas like food and water security, poverty alleviation and climate change adaptation.  
 
Some of our recent projects have explored: 

  • livestock's threat to human health through contact with drinking water 
  • disproportionate access to vaccination against disease 
  • how to provide clean, affordable water to those in need 

 
By working with major social survey companies, national statistical organisations and health organisations, we've developed expertise in geographical referencing, catchment definition, zone design and policy analysis. 

We also do consultancy work for organisations in social statistics, health and welfare across the public and private sectors. 

Research highlights

People, projects and publications

People

Professor Andrew Power

Professor

Research interests

  • Geographies of social care and support for disabled people including personalisation, peer-support and residential care.
  • Relational geographies of the voluntary sector particularly within the social care landscape
  • Family caregiving and the interdependency between care givers and recipients 

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Dr Dianna Smith

Associate Professor

Research interests

  • Small-area estimation for policy analysis

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Dr Edson Utazi

Lecturer

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Professor Emma Roe

Professor of More-Than-Human Geographies

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Professor Jim Wright

Professor in GIS & Int Development

Research interests

  • Safe water access and public health in Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Environmental applications of GIS
  • Geospatial analysis for public health, particularly via routine health management information systems

Accepting applications from PhD students

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Dr Ortis Yankey

Research Fellow

Research interests

  • Population Modelling
  • Spatial Epidemiology
  • Health/Medical geography
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Dr Paul Hurley

Snr Teaching Fellow in Academic Practice

Research interests

  • Participatory research
  • Inclusive academic practice
  • Creative methodologies

Accepting applications from PhD students

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I help develop innovative methods for high-resolution mapping of populations in countries with limited or no census data.