StreetSmarts PhD Collaboratory
Overview
The StreetSmarts PhD Collaboratory is a three-year interdisciplinary research and training initiative supported by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (G+PS) through the UBC PhD Collab pilot program. Led by faculty affiliated with Rethinking the Right-of-Way (ReROW), the collaboratory brings together PhD students, faculty, and civic partners to advance research and practice related to the transformation of urban streets and public rights-of-way ReROW.
Urban streets are complex social-ecological-technical systems. They support mobility, public life, economic activity, ecosystem services, and civic expression, while also reflecting inequalities and environmental challenges. Addressing these intersecting issues requires interdisciplinary collaboration, new research methods, and stronger pathways between academic knowledge and real-world action.
Research Focus
The StreetSmarts Collaboratory explores how different disciplines and sectors understand, study, and intervene in the right-of-way. The research has two interrelated objectives:
- Developing an integrative conceptual framework for understanding the right-of-way, grounded in shared language, assumptions, evidence, and methods across disciplines.
- Studying how transdisciplinary knowledge is produced and mobilized, using participatory action research to examine how academic and practitioner perspectives come together to inform policy, design, and implementation.
This work supports innovative approaches to street transformation that are more sustainable, equitable, and responsive to local contexts.
Program Structure
The StreetSmarts Collaboratory unfolds over three years and combines collaborative research, structured learning, and applied case development:
- Year 1: A series of facilitated workshops involving ReROW faculty, PhD students, and civic partners to co-develop a shared conceptual model of the right-of-way and identify priority research questions.
- Years 2-3: A selected cohort of approximately 4-5 PhD students participates in advanced collaboratory programming, including stipend-supported research, case study development linked to dissertation work, and structured opportunities for interdisciplinary learning and knowledge mobilization ReROW.
One additional PhD student focuses specifically on studying transdisciplinary research processes and learning outcomes within the collaboratory.
Outcomes and Outputs
Key outcomes of the StreetSmarts Collaboratory include:
- A shared conceptual model and evolving glossary of right-of-way concepts
- Interdisciplinary case studies linked to student dissertations
- Co-authored scholarly publications on collaborative and transdisciplinary research
- Tools and resources to support teaching, professional practice, and policy engagement
- Publicly accessible research outputs hosted on the ReROW website
Faculty and Partners
The StreetSmarts Collaboratory is led by ReROW-affiliated faculty from multiple disciplines, including planning, civil engineering, forestry, environmental systems, and psychology, in collaboration with regional and civic partners across Metro Vancouver.
Commitment to Inclusion
ReROW is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in research and training. The collaboratory supports the recruitment, retention, and success of students from under-represented groups and aligns with UBC’s Indigenous Strategic Plan through continued learning and engagement
Learn More
For more information about the UBC PhD Collab program, visit the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies website. To learn more about ReROW’s research and activities, explore the rest of the site.