Dr Al Mathers
15 Oct – Public Spaces Theatre / 11am – 11:45am
Designing for diversity in public spaces
We know that public spaces are key sites for enabling social connections, cultural expression, recreation and heritage. But not all spaces are welcoming to everyone. Subtle signs and signals can influence whether people feel a place is meant for them. It’s understood that co-design is essential to make public spaces that work for all. What does an actively inclusive space look like? How can place-makers empower diverse ‘authors’ to shape public space? Join us to find out.
BIO
Al Mathers is Director of Research and joined The Young Foundation in July 2023. Prior to this she was Director of Research and Learning at The RSA and Head of Research at Good Things Foundation. Before moving to the charity sector Al worked in academia, where her work focused on research partnerships with underrepresented groups redesigning participatory approaches to landscape architecture and urban design. As an expert in participatory research and digital inclusion, Al holds a number of advisory board positions including steering group membership of the ESRC’s Public Voices in AI programme, INCLUDE+, Developing a minimum digital living standard for households with children, DigiAge: Equity for the Older: Beyond Digital Access and the Oliver Bird Fund. Al is committed to cross sector impact, and improving understanding and collaboration between policymakers, academia, businesses and charities.
