Dr. Gideon Spanjar

Position: Professor
Professorship: Innovation & Urban Green Space
Email: g.spanjar@aeres.nl
Social media: LinkedIn, X

Dr. Gideon Spanjar has been associated with Aeres University of Applied Sciences as the professor of Innovation & Urban Green Space since 1 October 2020. The professorship occupies itself with designing urban green spaces, focusing on three specific subjects: climate change adaptation, biodiversity and the circular economy. Gideon also works part-time as a project leader and a senior researcher at the ‘Construction Transformation’ and ‘Water in and around the City’ professorships of Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. As the project leader of the European Cool Towns project, Gideon is researching how to climate proof cities, and as the project leader of Sensing Streetscapes, he is researching how eye tracking technology can be applied to test design solutions for inner city construction.

Gideon obtained his doctorate at Essex University in the field of Urban Ecosystem Service Assessments (UESA); the governance and design of healthy and liveable home environments. From 2016 to the summer of 2020, he helped to set up the theme Inclusive Area Development for the Centre of Urban Governance and Social Innovation of Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences. He also worked as a senior researcher together with the Amsterdam City Council on an integral approach to assignments and the innovation of participation processes in planning the development of so-called Ontwikkelbuurten (development neighbourhoods).

At present, Gideon also works as an associate fellow for the Centre for Econics and Ecosystem Management, a research institute in the field of adaptive ecosystem management. In addition, he is also a member of the editorial board of Rooilijn, a Dutch platform for science and policy in spatial planning.