Dr Ana Peric Momcilovic receives Swiss National Science Foundation grant for research on healthy communities

Dr Ana Peric Momcilovic has secured funding from the Swiss National Science Foundation to lead the research project "The role of social inclusion in a transition from healthy cities towards healthy communities: a case study of Zurich's Tueffenwies area." The project, which commenced on June 1, 2025, is being conducted at the Swiss Federal Institute for Water, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL).

The research addresses a critical shift in urban development thinking - moving beyond the traditional 'healthy cities' focus on environmental measures toward 'healthy communities' that prioritise genuine social cohesion. While environmental improvements are relatively straightforward to implement, fostering authentic community connections presents far more complex challenges.

Using Zurich's Tueffenwies neighborhood as a case study, the project examines how institutional planning frameworks affect meaningful public participation, analyses the influence of social norms on community engagement, and identifies innovative strategies to transform top-down planning into inclusive models.

The study employs a comprehensive 'planning culture model' that investigates individual attitudes, collective practices, and broader societal environments through qualitative documentary analysis, interviews, and field research. By empirically bridging the gap between healthy cities and healthy communities concepts, this research aims to illuminate collaborative methods essential for inclusive urban governance and challenge conventional planning approaches.