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Matthew Gandy

    Matthew Gandy is a Professor of Geography at Cambridge University whose work explores the intricate relationship between urbanization, the environment, and human experience. He often focuses on how nature and society mutually reshape each other within urban landscapes. His writings delve into the complex interplay between physical space and social forces, offering profound insights into the making of modern cities.

    Natura Urbana
    • This study of urban nature integrates various aspects of urban ecology alongside insights from feminist, posthuman, and postcolonial thought. The fascination with urban biodiversity has grown due to postindustrial transitions and shifting cultural perceptions of nature. The "other nature" thriving in marginalized urban areas challenges the traditional divide between urban and rural environments, highlighting their interconnectedness. The exploration of urban nature is presented as a complex material and symbolic entity, informed by global perspectives on diverse cultures of nature. The author investigates alternative and often overlooked sources of knowledge about urban nature, contributed by artists, writers, scientists, and engaged citizens, emphasizing voices typically absent from environmental discussions. The narrative is fueled by a fascination with spontaneous urban ecosystems, from vibrant postindustrial wastelands to the resurgence of predators like wolves and leopards at the urban edge. The author seeks to create a critical synthesis of urban ecology, contemplating how "urban political ecology" can be expanded to encompass the historical context of ecological sciences and insights from contemporary feminist, posthuman, and postcolonial theories.

      Natura Urbana