I am a transdisciplinary researcher, urbanist, and architect with expertise in creating space for diverse needs, knowledge, and ideas that inform innovative solutions and strategies, transforming that messy problem space into an inspiring solution space. Whether it's cocreating a project brief that goes beyond merely ticking the boxes, or understanding the root causes of wicked problems, I am passionate about co-producing knowledge and solutions that contribute to a sustainable and inclusive future.As a lateral thinker, I have a rich work experience including research, collaboration facilitation, project management, exhibition curation, and book publishing. My diverse interests and knowledge put me in the right position to collaborate on projects that require creative thinking and participatory approaches to solve complex problems. Currently, I work as a transdisciplinary researcher on a sustainable development project, facilitating the codesign process in a large team hosting workshops, guiding teams, and integrating diverse knowledge. I founded and run LightUp, a community of practice on the impact of public lighting in my spare time, and this experience is teaching me about the power of knowledge sharing and learning by doing.I worked as an architect and interior designer before pursuing a PhD in urbanism, where I learned about critical thinking and the importance of diversity, inclusivity, and participation in projects. I've worked with government departments, NGOs, private sector stakeholders, and researchers, and through developing the skills to work with diverse stakeholders, I became an expert in transdisciplinarity.
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Established ResearcherEth ZürichZurich, Switzerland -
Established ResearcherEth Zürich Jul 2024 - PresentZurich, SwitzerlandMy role as a transdisciplinary researcher at ETH's TdLab, within the Cultural Studies of Science and Technology, is to develop the field of transdisciplinarity specifically in sustainable development, architecture, urbanism, and just energy transitions. I am working on two projects to this end. The first, called DIAMOND, is a horizon-funded project where I lead the co-design process in model improvements with stakeholders and project partners. Secondly, I am working in CoSi, a Swiss energy transition project, where my role is to nourish a community of practice of Social Science and Humanities Energy researchers, through the annual SSH Energy workshop. Beyond these projects, I engage punctually in different events, lectures, and workshops where I contribute with my knowledge of transdisciplinary methods and mindsets in projects related to urbanism, architecture, and sustainable development. -
Postdoctoral ResearcherEth Zürich Jan 2023 - Jun 2024Zurich, SwitzerlandMy role as a transdisciplinary researcher at ETH's TdLab, within the Cultural Studies of Science and Technology, is to develop the field of transdisciplinarity specifically in sustainable development, architecture, urbanism, and just energy transitions. I am working on two projects to this end. The first, called DIAMOND, is a horizon-funded project where I lead the co-design process in model improvements with stakeholders and project partners. Secondly, I am working in CoSi, a Swiss energy transition project, where my role is to nourish a community of practice of Social Science and Humanities Energy researchers, through the annual SSH Energy workshop. Beyond these projects, I engage punctually in different events, lectures, and workshops where I contribute with my knowledge of transdisciplinary methods and mindsets in projects related to urbanism, architecture, and sustainable development. -
Co-FounderLightup Dec 2022 - PresentSouth AfricaConsidering life after dark in informal settlements is a component so often neglected when considering infrastructure provision. Together with communities, LightUp aims to address public lighting inequalities by co-creating lighting strategies to improve everynight life. We consolidate knowledge and promote the use of decentralised solar lighting infrastructure as a means to provide more adequate, bottom-up public lighting that adapts to the unique needs of each community we work with.
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Book AuthorSelf-Employed Sep 2022 - Feb 2023I worked with publishers Jovis Verlag to transform my doctoral thesis about the impact of public lighting on everynight life, into a book titled Infrastructures of Freedom. The book was in launched in May 2023 and is fully open-access online thanks to funding from the Swiss National Science Foundation.
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Project ConsultantFreelance Sep 2021 - Feb 2023I provided expert input on community engagement, stakeholder management and project implementation, particularly in projects involving complexity between various different actors.
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Senior Research AssociateUniversity Of Bristol Feb 2022 - Sep 2022Bristol, England, United KingdomI was a senior researcher in the TRUUD project focusing on how urban planning can reduce non-communicable disease. My focus was on understanding how the research consortium is collaborating and what the benefits and barriers are to working on a large-scale transdisciplinary project. Through this, I offered active course correction in the project, as well as broader learnings on large-scale transdisciplinary research projects -
Film ProducerSelf-Employed Aug 2021 - Feb 2022Cape Town, Western Cape, South AfricaAfter completing my PhD I pursued a creative advocacy project of making a fictional film based on my PhD research results. I co-produced and co-directed a short film, titled Everynight Life. This film was shot in the same informal settlement where we installed solar public lighting. We used only local amateur actors and a local film team.
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Doctoral ResearcherEth Zürich Feb 2017 - Sep 2021Zurich, SwitzerlandMy doctoral thesis investigated the relationship between people and infrastructure, using the impact of public lighting and darkness on everynight life in informal settlements as a lens. The goal was to advocate for more effective public lighting in informal settlements. The research was conducted using participatory action research and transdisciplinary approach. -
Project ManagerEidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich Nov 2018 - Aug 2021Zürich Area, SwitzerlandI am the founder of a wall-mounted solar lighting project, tested in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, where I co-managed the rollout of the project. Together with a development economist, we trained a local team and installed +- 750 wall-mounted solar lights in an informal settlement to test alternative modes of public lighting for informal settlements. -
Publishing CoordinatorUrban-Think Tank Jun 2018 - Apr 2019Zurich, SwitzerlandAs a book coordinator, I administered communication between the graphic designers, editor, and the project lead. I reviewed graphics, text, and layout of the 672-page book and consolidated information streams from collaborators, also delegating the next steps to relevant collaborators. -
Project LeadUrban-Think Tank Jun 2017 - Oct 2017Zurich, SwitzerlandAt MAXXI Urban-Think Tank presented Città Parangolé, a reflection on utopian theories and their consequent development within the ambit of the contemporary urban context. The project was inspired by the concept of Parangolé developed in the Sixties by the artist Hélio Oiticica, extending its cardinal principal – “ life is movement” – from the human body to the urban context. -
Project Manager & Co-CuratorLuyanda Mpahlwa Designspaceafrica Sep 2015 - Dec 2016Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa -
Architect & Urban DesignerLuyanda Mpahlwa Designspaceafrica Jun 2014 - Aug 2016Cape Town, Western Cape, South AfricaAs an architect at an urban design and architecture firm aiming at "design for social change," I worked on several projects and in several roles, ranging from design and project proposals, to report writing and client presentations. Below are some of the projects I worked on. - Valkenberg Psychiatric prescint - iThemba Labanthu children aftercare facility- Radisson Red Hotel
Stephanie Briers Education Details
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Urban Studies/Affairs -
Architecture
Frequently Asked Questions about Stephanie Briers
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Stephanie Briers works for Eth Zürich
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Stephanie Briers's current role is Established researcher.
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Stephanie Briers attended Eth Zürich, Nelson Mandela University.
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