Dr Robert Cowley
Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Cities
Research interests
- Sustainable cities & communities (SDG 11)
- Geography
Contact details
Biography
Dr Robert Cowley joined the Department of Geography in 2015. His research interests relate to visions of the urban future, and the processes through which these are implemented in particular places.
He worked as Project Coordinator on a three-year research project 'Smart Eco-Cities: A Comparative Study of Europe and China'. Previously, he was Network Coordinator for the Leverhulme Trust-funded international research consortium 'Tomorrow’s City Today – an International Comparison of Eco-City Frameworks'.
More recently, he has led research exploring governance questions around future settlements on Mars, and is currently working with Westminster City Council to facilitate ongoing collaboration with King’s on local urban sustainability initiatives (as part of a five-country project led by the State University of Portland).
His PhD thesis, completed at the University of Westminster, explored the governance of ‘eco-city’ initiatives around the world. Before that, he took an MA in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Westminster (2010). His first degree was in Modern Languages and Literature (Russian and Modern Greek) at the University of Oxford.
Research
- ‘Smart’ and ‘eco’ urban initiatives
- Governance of urban sustainability
- Publics and public space
- Sustainability transitions
- Urban experiments
Robert’s research focuses on the proliferation of diverse ‘eco’ and ‘smart’ urban initiatives and policies around the world. In particular, he is interested in the way that these ideas travel and are translated into varying practices in different settings, the conceptual and practical tensions between the ‘eco’ and the ‘smart’, and the significance of these experimental approaches to urban development for traditional modes of planning.
Teaching
Undergraduate
- 4SSG1008 Geography Tutorials: Critical Thinking and Techniques
- 4SSG1016 Geography in Action
- 5SSG2058 Urban Geography: Exploring the City
- 5SSG2065 Cities and Citizenship
Postgraduate
- 7SSG5002 Practising Social Research
- 7SSG5179 Understanding the Sustainable City
- 7SSG5180 Governing the Sustainable City
Further details
Cities, regions and built environment: Advancing climate action in the places we live
Cowley, R., 11 Nov 2021, King's College London.Research output: Other contribution
Design, control, predict: Logistical governance in the smart city
Cowley, R., 4 Feb 2022, In: REGIONAL STUDIES. 56, 6, p. 1056-1057 2 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Book/Film/Article review › peer-review
Eco-cities
Cowley, R., 28 Jun 2019, Handbook of Urban Geography. Cheltenham, p. 725-750 26 p. (Research Handbooks in Geography).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Building transformative city-university sustainability partnerships: the Audacious Partnerships Process
Withycombe Keeler, L., Beaudoin, F., Cid, A., Cowley, R., Fahy, S., Lerner, A., Moran, C. & Torney, D., 20 Jan 2023, In: Urban Transformations. 5, 1.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Urban transformation through national innovation competitions: Lessons from the UK’s Future City Demonstrator initiative
Cowley, R. & Joss, S., 15 Oct 2022, In: JOURNAL OF URBAN AFFAIRS. 44, 10, p. 1432-1458 27 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Yes, We Earthlings Should Colonize Mars if Martian Rights Can be Upheld
Cowley, R., 3 Jul 2019, In: Theology and Science. 17, 3, p. 332-340 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
A Manifesto for Governing Life on Mars
Cowley, R. M., Jan 2019, King's College London. 10 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book
Posthumanism as a Spectrum
Cowley, R. M., 29 Jan 2019, Digital Objects, Digital Subjects: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Capitalism, Labour and Politics in the Age of Big Data. London: University of Westminster, p. 95-100Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Varieties of smart urbanism in the UK: Discursive logics, the state and local urban context
Caprotti, F. & Cowley, R. M., 10 Jan 2019, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Transactions of the institute of british geographers.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Smart City as Anti-Planning in the UK
Cowley, R. & Caprotti, F., 10 May 2019, In: Environment and Planning D: Society and Space. 37, 3, p. 428–448 21 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Preface
Joss, S. & Cowley, R., 31 Aug 2017, Sustainable Cities in Asia. Caprotti, F. & Yu, L. (eds.). Taylor and Francis, p. xviii-xixResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Foreword/postscript › peer-review
Ordinary Chinese Smart Cities: The Case of Wuhan
Cowley, R., Caprotti, F., Ferretti, M. & Zhong, C., 12 Sept 2018, Inside Smart Cities : Place, Politics and Urban Innovation. Karvonen, A., Cugurullo, F. & Caprotti, F. (eds.). London: Routledge, p. 45-64 20 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
What Can Urban Sustainability Experiments Do?
Cowley, R. M. & Phillips, J. L. H., 2018, 8 p. University of Exeter (SMART-ECO project).Research output: Other contribution
Future cities: Renarrating human agency
Cowley, R. M., 10 Apr 2018, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Palgrave Communications. 4, 4 p., 41.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Preface
Joss, S. & Cowley, R. M., 2017, Sustainable Cities in Asia. Caprotti, F. & Yu, L. (eds.). London: RoutledgeResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
中国与欧洲的智慧生态城市：2016年发展趋势与城市摘要
Translated title of the contribution: Smart-Eco Cities in Europe and China: Trends and City Profiles 2016Cowley, R. M. (Editor) & Caprotti, F. (Editor), Oct 2017, Exeter: University of Exeter (SMART-ECO project). 32 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book
Forum: Resilience & Design
Cowley, R., Barnett, C., Katzschner, T., Tkacz, N. & De Boeck, F., 14 Jul 2017, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Resilience, International Policies, Practices and Discourses. p. 1-34Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
National policies for local urban sustainability: a new governance approach?
Joss, S. & Cowley, R. M., 2018, Retrofitting Cities for Tomorrow's World. Eames, M., Dixon, T., Hunt, M. & Lannon, S. (eds.). WILEY-BLACKWELL, p. 227-246 20 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Interrogating Urban Experiments
Caprotti, F. & Cowley, R. M., 9 Dec 2016, (E-pub ahead of print) In: URBAN GEOGRAPHY. p. 1-10Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Smart-Eco Cities in the UK: Trends and City Profiles 2016
Caprotti, F., Cowley, R., Flynn, A., Joss, S. & Yu, L., Aug 2016, Exeter: University of Exeter (SMART-ECO project). 94 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book
The smart city and its publics: insights from across six UK cities
Cowley, R., Joss, S. & Dayot, Y., 7 Mar 2017, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Journal of Urban Research & Practice. p. 1-25Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
The New Urban Agenda: key opportunities and challenges for policy and practice
Caprotti, F., Cowley, R., Datta, A., Broto, V. C., Gao, E., Georgeson, L., Herrick, C., Odendaal, N. & Joss, S., 9 Jan 2017, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Journal of Urban Research & Practice. p. 1-12 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research
Urban Futures research group
Examining urban futures through a conceptual, analytical and methodological lens that questions what cities are and how they work.
King's Climate Research Hub
Studying climate change through the relationship between science, policy and culture, particularly in the developing world.
News
Collective climate action needed, King's experts tell London Climate Action Week
As part of London Climate Action Week, King’s experts demonstrated the value of partnership to address policy gaps and improve climate change adaptation plans.
King's experts contribute to Lambeth's new Climate Action Plan
King’s local borough Lambeth launches Climate Action Plan after an extensive process of collaboration with a range of stakeholders, including King’s experts.
King's experts to work with Lambeth Council and its residents on climate change
Local representatives and residents will be guided by King’s advisors as they investigate solutions and barriers to Lambeth becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
Manifesto urges us to consider realities of living on Mars
The notion of humans living on Mars is no longer purely a fantastical and distant sci-fi aspiration.
Events
Incorporating climate into governance: Perspectives from multiple industries
Join experts from across Social Science & Public Policy in discussing the importance of incorporating climate into governance.
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Cities, regions and built environment: Advancing climate action in the places we live
Dr Robert Cowley from the Department of Geography looks at transformative solutions at more local levels and how these can support our cities adapt to climate...
Cities, regions and built environment: Advancing climate action in the places we live
Cowley, R., 11 Nov 2021, King's College London.Research output: Other contribution
Design, control, predict: Logistical governance in the smart city
Cowley, R., 4 Feb 2022, In: REGIONAL STUDIES. 56, 6, p. 1056-1057 2 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Book/Film/Article review › peer-review
Eco-cities
Cowley, R., 28 Jun 2019, Handbook of Urban Geography. Cheltenham, p. 725-750 26 p. (Research Handbooks in Geography).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Building transformative city-university sustainability partnerships: the Audacious Partnerships Process
Withycombe Keeler, L., Beaudoin, F., Cid, A., Cowley, R., Fahy, S., Lerner, A., Moran, C. & Torney, D., 20 Jan 2023, In: Urban Transformations. 5, 1.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Urban transformation through national innovation competitions: Lessons from the UK’s Future City Demonstrator initiative
Cowley, R. & Joss, S., 15 Oct 2022, In: JOURNAL OF URBAN AFFAIRS. 44, 10, p. 1432-1458 27 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Yes, We Earthlings Should Colonize Mars if Martian Rights Can be Upheld
Cowley, R., 3 Jul 2019, In: Theology and Science. 17, 3, p. 332-340 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
A Manifesto for Governing Life on Mars
Cowley, R. M., Jan 2019, King's College London. 10 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book
Posthumanism as a Spectrum
Cowley, R. M., 29 Jan 2019, Digital Objects, Digital Subjects: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Capitalism, Labour and Politics in the Age of Big Data. London: University of Westminster, p. 95-100Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Varieties of smart urbanism in the UK: Discursive logics, the state and local urban context
Caprotti, F. & Cowley, R. M., 10 Jan 2019, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Transactions of the institute of british geographers.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Smart City as Anti-Planning in the UK
Cowley, R. & Caprotti, F., 10 May 2019, In: Environment and Planning D: Society and Space. 37, 3, p. 428–448 21 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Preface
Joss, S. & Cowley, R., 31 Aug 2017, Sustainable Cities in Asia. Caprotti, F. & Yu, L. (eds.). Taylor and Francis, p. xviii-xixResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Foreword/postscript › peer-review
Ordinary Chinese Smart Cities: The Case of Wuhan
Cowley, R., Caprotti, F., Ferretti, M. & Zhong, C., 12 Sept 2018, Inside Smart Cities : Place, Politics and Urban Innovation. Karvonen, A., Cugurullo, F. & Caprotti, F. (eds.). London: Routledge, p. 45-64 20 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
What Can Urban Sustainability Experiments Do?
Cowley, R. M. & Phillips, J. L. H., 2018, 8 p. University of Exeter (SMART-ECO project).Research output: Other contribution
Future cities: Renarrating human agency
Cowley, R. M., 10 Apr 2018, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Palgrave Communications. 4, 4 p., 41.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Preface
Joss, S. & Cowley, R. M., 2017, Sustainable Cities in Asia. Caprotti, F. & Yu, L. (eds.). London: RoutledgeResearch output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
中国与欧洲的智慧生态城市：2016年发展趋势与城市摘要
Translated title of the contribution: Smart-Eco Cities in Europe and China: Trends and City Profiles 2016Cowley, R. M. (Editor) & Caprotti, F. (Editor), Oct 2017, Exeter: University of Exeter (SMART-ECO project). 32 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book
Forum: Resilience & Design
Cowley, R., Barnett, C., Katzschner, T., Tkacz, N. & De Boeck, F., 14 Jul 2017, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Resilience, International Policies, Practices and Discourses. p. 1-34Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
National policies for local urban sustainability: a new governance approach?
Joss, S. & Cowley, R. M., 2018, Retrofitting Cities for Tomorrow's World. Eames, M., Dixon, T., Hunt, M. & Lannon, S. (eds.). WILEY-BLACKWELL, p. 227-246 20 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
Interrogating Urban Experiments
Caprotti, F. & Cowley, R. M., 9 Dec 2016, (E-pub ahead of print) In: URBAN GEOGRAPHY. p. 1-10Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Smart-Eco Cities in the UK: Trends and City Profiles 2016
Caprotti, F., Cowley, R., Flynn, A., Joss, S. & Yu, L., Aug 2016, Exeter: University of Exeter (SMART-ECO project). 94 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book
The smart city and its publics: insights from across six UK cities
Cowley, R., Joss, S. & Dayot, Y., 7 Mar 2017, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Journal of Urban Research & Practice. p. 1-25Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
The New Urban Agenda: key opportunities and challenges for policy and practice
Caprotti, F., Cowley, R., Datta, A., Broto, V. C., Gao, E., Georgeson, L., Herrick, C., Odendaal, N. & Joss, S., 9 Jan 2017, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Journal of Urban Research & Practice. p. 1-12 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Research
Urban Futures research group
Examining urban futures through a conceptual, analytical and methodological lens that questions what cities are and how they work.
King's Climate Research Hub
Studying climate change through the relationship between science, policy and culture, particularly in the developing world.
News
Collective climate action needed, King's experts tell London Climate Action Week
As part of London Climate Action Week, King’s experts demonstrated the value of partnership to address policy gaps and improve climate change adaptation plans.
King's experts contribute to Lambeth's new Climate Action Plan
King’s local borough Lambeth launches Climate Action Plan after an extensive process of collaboration with a range of stakeholders, including King’s experts.
King's experts to work with Lambeth Council and its residents on climate change
Local representatives and residents will be guided by King’s advisors as they investigate solutions and barriers to Lambeth becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
Manifesto urges us to consider realities of living on Mars
The notion of humans living on Mars is no longer purely a fantastical and distant sci-fi aspiration.
Events
Incorporating climate into governance: Perspectives from multiple industries
Join experts from across Social Science & Public Policy in discussing the importance of incorporating climate into governance.
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Cities, regions and built environment: Advancing climate action in the places we live
Dr Robert Cowley from the Department of Geography looks at transformative solutions at more local levels and how these can support our cities adapt to climate...