Blog
This blog is my research journal, a living document of my doctoral journey and the fascinating discoveries I make along the way.
Here, you’ll find a mix of:
🎓 Insights and reflections on my PhD journey
🏙️ Observations on urbanism and public spaces
🌍 Thoughts on migration and its impact on cities
🏗️ Discussions on urban planning and design
🤔 Musings on daily life through an urbanist’s lens
Whether you’re a fellow researcher, an urban enthusiast, or simply curious about how cities shape our lives, I hope you’ll find something here to pique your interest. Join me as I navigate the complexities of urban landscapes, both in theory and in the streets around us.
Academia Book Review Critique Emotions Ethnography Fieldwork Migrants Mobility Personal Growth PhD Study Transportation University Urban Belonging Urban Design/Planning
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Four strategies to ask better questions, hear what matters, and build real understanding.
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From Malinowski’s Trobriand Islands to the side streets of modern cities, fieldwork has evolved from anthropology’s “immersive” tradition into a more flexible, diverse method. This article traces early fieldwork practices and explores how researchers balance tradition and modernity to piece together the complex puzzle of human society.
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Universities increasingly rely on short-term, low-wage academic positions, while stable, tenured roles diminish. This precariousness, once unimaginable in the ‘iron rice bowl’ environment, now defines the modern gig economy in higher education.
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Can autonomous vehicles transform car-dependent cities into sustainable, vibrant habitats? This article reviews Evan Shieh’s “Autonomous Urbanism”: a two-volume book with a theoretical framework followed by a graphic novel depicting everyday life in 2057 Los Angeles.
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Martina Bovo’s “Migration landing spaces” offers a detailed analysis of Mediterranean migration processes in Palermo. The book argues for a nuanced understanding of migrants’ experiences, emphasising their material and spatial needs amid rigid governance structures. Through interdisciplinary insights, it critiques traditional migration frameworks and highlights the importance of adaptable urban planning for diverse populations.
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Remember Inside Out, where tiny emotional characters operate a control panel in our heads? As I navigate my PhD journey, I often wonder what my own emotional crew is up to. Here are ten “memory orbs” from my first semester—a colorful blend of emotions familiar to anyone tackling something just slightly beyond their reach.
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The Arsenal of Exclusion & Inclusion is a comprehensive guide by Interboro, detailing policies and practices regulating access in American cities. It highlights historical and contemporary exclusionary tactics, offering insights into the built environment’s impact on racialized landscapes and the subtle mechanisms perpetuating social inequity. The book calls for more inclusive urban planning.
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知识的困境：什么样的研究才是”有用”的？ Last week, I attended a theory seminar organized by our college, where I joined professors from the Geography and Planning Department and other doctoral students to discuss several theoretical papers in human geography. Setting aside the specific theories (partly because I didn’t fully grasp them myself…), an intriguing question emerged during the open discussion
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一个准博士的开题报告 A few days ago, I came across a meme suggesting that the happiest time for a PhD student is the summer before starting their doctoral studies. During this time, you can proudly announce to everyone, “I’m going to start my PhD!” and receive their blessings without actually having to do anything yet. It’s similar
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