dr. ir. S. (Suzan) Christiaanse

I am a transdisciplinary researcher, specialising in co-creative and visual methods of spatial development. Using insights from geography, environmental psychology, behavioural economy and sociology I try to understand how people cope with changes in their direct living environment. I am particularly interested in the interaction between people and places of consumption (such as shops and cafe's) but also the meaning and role of public facilities (such as schools, sports facilities, libraries and community centers) for community resilience.

As Assistant Professor Spatial Planning and Design at the University of Groningen I teach and supervise PhD Students. Current research projects include a visual ethnographic study on perceived experiences of accessibility in every day lives in rural North Netherlands, for which I collaborate with scholars from Transport Geography. We are working towards a report with policy insights as well as a documentary. 

As a postdoctoral researcher I was affiliated with the Erasmus Social Design Hub, and studied how municipal policy can promote sustainable consumption practices. We should not only investigate the 'competences' and 'materials' that are needed to consume more sustainable, but also the emotional and cognitive 'meaning' that we attach to these practices. Using co-creative methods I work on scientific research with direct societal impact. This has resulted in output that varies from Dutch reports, a website, exhibition, documentary and a conversation tool for collective retrofitting (het Woonwaardengesprek).

For my PhD at the faculty of Cultural Geography (RUG), I studied the impact of facility-decline on people’s everyday lives. Next to my phd I have also managed several research projects, of which the last one resulted in ‘Facility-Wise’ (Voorzieningen-Wijs), an analogue serious game to support the planning process of local and regional issues regarding facilities and services.

I have a background in architecture and urban design, specialising in co-creative methods for urban development. However, the focus of my current research is more rural: I look at both practical implications (such as accessibility) and psychological effects of the closure of small local facilities and services. I have mostly worked on research projects that are commissioned by local or regional governments, in which stakeholder engagement and impact are key aspects.

I use both qualitative and quantitative research methods, but I am particularly interested in the use of visual and co-creative methods that empower citizens to influence the sustainability and liveability of their own living environment and bridge the gap between science and practice.