Dr. Isabelle Thomas

Biography

Isabelle Thomas is a full professor at the School of Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture within the Faculty of Environmental Design at the Université de Montréal. Her research focuses on sustainable urbanism, environmental planning, vulnerability issues, risk management, and adaptation to climate change to build resilient communities against natural and anthropogenic risks. Since joining the Université de Montréal in 2007, she has been involved in numerous research projects, particularly in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Security. Significant contributions include developing a method for analyzing social and territorial vulnerability to urban flooding and creating a resilience analysis tool, RésiliAction, recognized by the Université de Montréal. Her expertise encompasses strategic planning for resilient neighborhoods and action-oriented research that merges practical solutions with fundamental studies. Her recent co-directed book, "La ville résiliente: comment la construire?" (PUM), elaborates on essential conditions for establishing resilient communities. Thomas has also established the ARIAction research team to connect local and international experts focused on sharing best practices in resilient land management. With a diverse academic and professional background, including a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Louisville and faculty positions in Houston and New Orleans, she has supervised numerous master’s and doctoral theses related to urban resilience and climate adaptation.

Research Interests

Experience