New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities

Karen is a social scientist with research interests that centre on interactions between the physical characteristics of cities and neighbourhoods and the social relationships, transport choices and well being of the people living in them. Much of her recent work has involved the application of GIS to examine spatial inequities in access to services and amenities and the impact of differential access on health outcomes and transport choices; and relationships between neighbourhood urban design, public transport accessibility and residents physical activity for transport and leisure. She has also conducted research on the place of schools in neighbourhood social environments and the impacts of school closure on the wellbeing of children, families and communities.

An additional research interest in recent years has related to the social science workforce. In 2006 and 2009 Karen led national surveys of the University-based social science workforce in New Zealand on behalf of the BRCSS network to build an understanding of its demographic features, capacity and capabilities, areas of research activity and translation as well as the personal, professional and institutional incentives and barriers to research participation.

Karen is currently a member of the National Heart Foundation Scientific Advisory Group and the Public Health Research Committee of the Health Research Council.