C.N.E. Corbin

My research examines the relationship between the natural and the built environment. I seek to understand how aesthetics, functionality, and social responsibility can contribute to urban green space (parks and gardens) creation for climate change mitigation and ecosystem creation. Specifically I have been investigating the rise of the Green City in the United States with a special interest on its impact on low-income communities and communities of color in Oakland, CA. I use media as a tool of investigation to understand how visual media (film, television, internet, billboards, signs and urban murals) represent and influence environmental understandings within urban areas. My interests extends to cities, green cities and mega cities real and imagined, (re)envisioning the urban landscape, green space creation both real and imagined, and concepts of alternative modernity.

I want to develop a green space categorization system for municipal governments to aid in retrofitting cities for climate change mitigation and ecosystems creation while protecting neighborhoods from gentrification and providing access to healthy green spaces for all urban residents.