Project outline
Understanding Health Equity from an Environmental Exposures Perspective
Good quality, safe and accessible green infrastructure enables and supports healthy lives, through both promoting good health and preventing ill health. Some population subgroups are likely to benefit disproportionately from access to good quality green space; for example, disadvantaged communities facing life challenges such as overcrowded and poor-quality housing, and mental health issues.
This project will examine how perceived environmental exposures in green spaces affect restorativeness and health-related Quality of Life. The hypotheses are:
- 1) Perceived environmental stressors influence the restorative potential of green spaces;
- 2) Certain population subgroups experience differential health benefits from access to good quality green space.
The research method will be co-designed through Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE). Neighbourhoods within a large metropolitan area will be selected to represent a diverse range of environmental and deprivation scenarios. Data collection includes sound recordings, community interviews and questionnaires, and assessments within simulated environments. The study will abide with ethics governance protocols from both sponsoring organisations.
Further project information
How can urban green spaces be designed to maximise health and wellbeing benefits for different population groups, particularly communities facing greater environmental and social challenges?
This PhD project will investigate how environmental experiences, including sounds, air quality, and other perceived environmental factors, influence the restorative benefits of urban green spaces and contribute to health equity. The research will examine why some green spaces provide greater wellbeing benefits than others and how these benefits vary across different communities.
The project will combine field studies, community engagement, environmental measurements, soundscape assessment, interviews, questionnaires, virtual reality simulations, and data analytics to explore the relationships between environmental exposures, perceived environmental quality, and health-related quality of life. Working across public health, environmental science, acoustics, psychology, and urban planning, the student will develop practical evidence-based tools to support the design of healthier and more inclusive green spaces.
The project is a collaboration between the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the University of Salford. The student will work closely with researchers, policymakers, local communities, and public stakeholders throughout the project. The industry/public-sector partner, UKHSA, will provide expertise in environmental public health, health inequalities, and evidence-based policy, helping ensure that the research addresses real-world challenges and informs future guidance for local authorities and government agencies.
Selected references:
- Gomm, S. & Bernauer, T. (2023). Are actual and perceived environmental conditions associated with variation in mental health? Environmental Research, 223, 115398.
- European Environment Agency (2025). Environmental Noise in Europe 2025.
Subject Areas
- Acoustics
- Psychoacoustics
- Urban Planning
- Social Sciences
- Public Health
- Psychology
- Environmental Health
- Environmental Epidemiology
- Environmental Inequalities
Required technical skills/academic qualifications/experience
Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain prior to project commencement, a BSc or MSc in acoustics, urban planning, psychology, social sciences, public health, environmental health sciences, or a closely related discipline. The project is particularly suited to candidates interested in environmental quality, public health, urban sustainability, and community wellbeing, approached through an interdisciplinary research approach.
We are committed to building a diverse research community and particularly welcome applications from women and other groups under-represented in academia. All appointments are made on merit. The project offers a supportive supervisory team, mentoring opportunities, and a collaborative research environment. If you are enthusiastic about the topic but unsure whether you meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply.
Mode of attendance
This project is only available on a full-time basis.
Supervisors
Project Partners
This project is hosted at the University of Salford
