Dr. Catalina Turcu

Biography

Catalina Turcu is a Professor in the Sustainable Built Environment at University College London, affiliated with the Bartlett School of Planning. She is an interdisciplinary scholar with training in public policy, urban planning, and architecture, with expertise in urban sustainability. Her recent research focuses on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), food systems, climate change, and health co-benefits within urban contexts. Catalina regularly advises governments and intergovernmental organizations, including the World Bank, OECD, UN, and EU. She is the Founder and Director of the UCL SDG Research Accelerator, and serves as the Coordinating Lead Author for the UNEP's 7th Global Environment Outlook Assessment, set to be published in 2026. Additionally, Catalina is the Academic Director of the UCL Stockholm City Partnership, which fosters strategic transdisciplinary collaborations between UCL and Sweden. She holds a PhD from the London School of Economics and multiple degrees in housing, urban planning, and architecture. Catalina has over ten years of experience in architecture and planning consultancy prior to her academic career, which began in 2010.

Research Interests

Experience