DICAAR, Univesity of Cagliari - Italy
Author Profile
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🌟 Early academic pursuits
Chiara Garau’s academic journey began with a passion for urban planning and architecture. she earned dual degrees, graduating with 110/110 summa cum laude, first in architectural engineering (december 2003) and later in communication science (february 2013), from the university of cagliari, italy. driven by a thirst for knowledge, she furthered her studies by obtaining a phd in land engineering and urban planning in 2008, coupled with a ii-level master’s degree in business intelligence (2005). her early academic foundation laid the groundwork for her distinguished career in urban and regional planning.
💼 Professional endeavors
Garau’s career flourished as she became an associate professor at the university of cagliari’s department of civil and environmental engineering and architecture (dicaar). she gained national recognition in june 2021, obtaining the qualification as a full professor in urban and regional planning (icar/20). over the years, she held various prestigious fellowships and roles, including scientific and technical adviser for observatory smart cities of rome and serving on the scientific committee of the young academics aesop. garau has also delivered lectures internationally, from the netherlands to south africa, ireland, and beyond, emphasizing her global academic influence.
📊 Contributions and research focus
Garau’s research interests revolve around sustainable urban development, smart cities, and spatial planning. she played a key role in coordinating phd courses on “smart and sustainable cities,” which influenced urban planning curriculums in italy. her work spans innovative Urban and regional planning smart mobility strategies and urban sustainability, with a significant focus on european cohesion policies and regional development. she also contributed to projects like benchmarking urban mobility and evaluating proglacial lakes' future in collaboration with international institutions.
🏆 Accolades and recognition
Garau has received numerous accolades for her outstanding work in urban planning. she won the best paper award at the iccsa 2015 for her study on smart urban mobility in italian cities. her expertise was further recognized by the european commission in 2019 when she was selected as the only italian jury member for the prestigious regostars awards. her participation in the “science tour 2016: city of the future” program in Urban and regional planning germany, selected by the german federal ministry of education and research, is another testament to her international recognition.
🌍 Impact and influence
Garau’s impact extends beyond academia into the realm of policy and urban development. she was recognized by the european commission for her contributions to regional and urban policy and regularly collaborates with international bodies to shape smart city initiatives. her work has Urban and regional planning influenced urban mobility, sustainability, and spatial development strategies across europe and beyond. her role in global conferences such as the nobel x conference in urbanism, alongside notable scholars, underscores her influence in the global academic community.
📚 Legacy and future contributions
as a forward-thinking academic, garau continues to shape the future of urban planning. her work on smart cities, regional development, and sustainable urban design paves the way for future generations of scholars and practitioners. she remains a prominent figure in the academic and urban planning worlds, with numerous publications and collaborative projects to her name. garau’s involvement with global institutions, such as trinity college dublin and the university of malta, ensures her research and teachings will continue to inspire and impact urban policy worldwide.
Notable Publications