Lindsay Malbon - PhD Student
My research interests are in the field of human geography with a specific focus on disability geography (universal accessibility design) and urban lighting (dark sky policies, municipal light pollution). I am passionate about researching topics that are essential in our everyday life but are infrequently discussed in academia. My intention is to create a broader awareness and understanding of these important but seldom discussed topics. I completed my Master of Community Planning degree at Vancouver Island University and my thesis focused on municipal lighting, urban light pollution, and dark sky policies. My research enabled me to connect with people all over the world to gain unique and practical insights into the field of municipal lighting, which has inspired me to continue my love of research by working on my PhD in Geography at the University of Victoria. Over the last couple of years, I had the opportunity to work as a Universal Access Project Planner, and my role was to improve the accessibility of the built environment by utilizing universal access design principles and building codes. As someone who has personally experienced mobility challenges and through my work as an accessibility project planner, I have been able to identify a great need for further research in the field of disability geography and universal access design. My goal is to be able to conduct and design my research in disability geography so it can be used in a practical setting to assist planners, engineers, building code experts, and anyone who is working on universal design improvements as well as to raise awareness with the general public about the importance of accessibility in the built environment.
Research Interests
- Disability geography
- Universal access design
- Municipal lighting
- Dark sky policy
- place-making
Publications
Malbon, L. and Ashdown, I. (2019, March/April). “Getting Smart About Light Pollution.” SkyNews, 24(6), 10-15.
Malbon, L., Dixon, A., and Zicong, N. (2018). “Creating a Connected Campus: The Importance of Planning for Universities.” Vancouver Island University Future Plans Online Journal, 1(1), 42-43.
Malbon, L. (2018). “Saving the Starry Night: What Cities Need to Know About Light Pollution (Master of Community Planning Thesis and Guidebook).” Vancouver Island University Space (VIUSpace).
Malbon, L. (2017, Fall). “Lighting Our Cities: Why Municipalities Need to Know About Light Pollution.” Planning West Magazine (Planning Institute of British Columbia (PIBC), 59(4), 14-17.
Malbon, L. (2016). “Protecting the Starry Night: The Effects of Light Pollution.” Essentia Editora, Boletim do Observatorio Ambiental Alberto Ribeiro Lamego.
Presentations
Malbon, L. (2019). “Saving the Starry Night: What Cities Need to Know About Light Pollution.” Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC) All Points West Radio Show.
Malbon, L. (2019). “Saving the Starry Night: What Cities Need to Know About Light Pollution.” Vancouver Island University Science and Lecture Series.
Malbon, L. and Ashdown, I. (2018). “Municipal Light Pollution from a Planning and Engineering Perspective.” Vancouver Island University Master of Community Planning Colloquium.
Malbon, L., Dixon, A., and Zicong, N. (2018). “Creating a Connected Campus: Crafting a Mobility and Public Realm Plan.” Vancouver Island University Mentors Banquet Key Note Speaker.
Malbon, L. (2018). “Saving the Starry Night: What Cities Need to Know About Light Pollution.” Nanaimo Astronomy Society (NAS) May Public Meeting Key Note Speaker.
Media Coverage
Jacobson, J. (2018). “Water-Resistant Stencil Art on Display at VIU.” Nanaimo News Bulletin.
McGarrigle, J. and Hill, C. (2018). “VIU Public Art Promises to Bring Smiles and Inspiration on Rainy Days.” Vancouver Island University News.
Bush, C. (2018). “Nanaimo Astronomy Society Lecture Will Lament Light Pollution.” Nanaimo News Bulletin.