Beatriz Pineda Revilla

In my current research and teaching as a Senior Researcher and Lecturer at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences I focus mainly on two areas: citizen participation and behavioural change in the context of the energy transition. In my work, I combine approaches from Sociology, Urban Planning, Psychology, Anthropology and Critical Geography to the study of socio-spatial change around city-regional environmental issues. In previous research, conducted in between New York, Berlin and Amsterdam, I have addressed among other topics the role of the urban community in shaping energy norms, self-organization in urban agricultural projects and the ritualization of household food practices and its impact in preventing food waste. I consider myself a qualitative researcher with a special affinity for ethnographic action research.

My inner drive to contribute to the sustainability field, my love for cities and my eagerness to understand change from a socio-spatial perspective have guided my academic education: I hold a PhD in Sociology and Urban Planning from the University of Amsterdam (2020) and a MSc in Urban Studies (2014) from the same university. I also have a Master of Architecture with a specialisation in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Navarra (2007). Before starting my academic career, I practiced for three years as an urban planner/ designer in multiple projects located in the Netherlands, UK, the Dominican Republic and Curaçao.

In this dance between being a technical practitioner and an academic, I have become a "bridge" between the two worlds realizing that my strengths lie in this hybrid identity. I know how to speak the language of different disciplines, I understand their different ontological foundations, methodologies and ways of working. This plus my ability to empathize with colleagues' needs and approaches has been an asset in the international projects I worked on.

After 10 years of research experience, over 13 years living abroad, and speaking 4 different languages on a daily basis, currently, where I feel most comfortable is working in international applied research projects/consortiums, on topics related to sustainability with partners from different disciplinary and cultural backgrounds. A great example of such a project is ATELIER, an Horizon 2020 project that keeps me busy these days. If you would like to exchange ideas, experiences and/or to collaborate, please do not hesitate to contact me: [email protected]