Silvia Tavares

Biography

I am an urban designer with a background in architecture, urbanism, and building and city science (affiliate member of PIA and registered architect and urbanist in Brazil). I am interested in the production of high-quality well-designed public spaces which enhance the quality of life of the people using them. My research focuses on providing evidence to produce public open spaces that are thermally comfortable and promote the good health of users and the natural environments that surround them. My main focus is, therefore, designing for urban thermal comfort and urban microclimates, the relationship between urban microclimates and people’s health, and the impacts of climate change on them all. Whenever possible, I work with industry, stakeholders and citizens to understand where my research can provide useful evidence for contemporary pressing issues.

I have extensive teaching experience both in studio-based and theory-based subjects in architecture, urban planning, urban design, building and city science and landscape architecture. I am interested in exploring new technologies for effective and efficient teaching and learning of design methods and techniques. I also strive to encourage students’ critical thinking and support them in developing as future professionals.

Before USC, I worked at James Cook University (Australia), Lincoln University (New Zealand), as a visiting researcher at the ILS (Institut für Landes- und Stadtentwicklungsforschung gGmbH) (Germany), and at the UFT (Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Brazil). I have work experience as an architect in Rio Grande do Sul State, in the south of Brazil, where I also undertook my BArch and MSc.

Professional memberships

• PIA – Planning Institute of Australia Affiliate (Acad.) Member
• Laboratório da Habitação e Inovação – Lab+Hab at Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, São Luis, Brazil
• CAU-RS – Architecture and Urbanism Accreditation in Brazil

Awards and Fellowships

• UN-Habitat’s World Urban Campaign Urban Thinkers Campus: Urban livability in tropical Australia through urban diaries and community engagement, 2018
• PIA Queensland Award for Planning Excellence Category: Public Engagement & Community Planning Award Project: Urban Thinkers Campus – Urban Health & Livability in Tropical Australia, 2018
• JCU TropEco Partnerships and Engagement Award (Highly Commended) Project: Urban Thinkers Campus – Urban Health & Livability in Tropical Australia, 2018
• Fulbright Specialist Program (Host Institution) / Project: Promoting urban livability in tropical Australia through urban diaries and community engagement, 2018
• Blended Learning and Innovation Grant (BLING) – JCU, 2017
• Research Writing Grant - Lincoln University – Faculty of Environment, Society and Design (ESD), 2014
• PhD Teacher Fellow Scholarship Lincoln University, New Zealand, 2011-2014
• 48 Hour Design Challenge – Gloucester Street Site Category Award Christchurch City Council, New Zealand, 2011
• PROCEL Masters Scholarship (Brazil), 2005-2006

Teaching areas

• Urban Design Studio (in multiple scales)
• Urban Design and Planning History and Theory
• Landscape Architecture Design Studio
• Landscape Architecture History and Theory
• Building and City Science
• Urban and Landscape Infrastructure
• Architecture Design Studio
• Architecture History and Theory