Dr Grace Wood PhD

• PhD in Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences. University of Birmingham, UK

• MSc in Environmental Management and Sustainable Development. Manchester Metropolitan University, UK.

• BSc (Hons) Conservation Ecology. University of Worcester, UK.

Grace joined the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Birmingham in June 2019. Since joining, she has completed a PhD on optimising urban environments to promote active and healthy ageing using a citizen science method to actively engage older adults and community stakeholders. She now works as a research fellow for the SMART Schools Study. Previously, she completed an MSc at Manchester Metropolitan University, focusing her dissertation on planning accessible urban parks for older adults with and without dementia. 

Grace’s PhD research has received the following awards and grants: 

• The Alice Roberts PGR Award for Excellence in Public Engagement 2022. Public Engagement Team, University of Birmingham (September 2022) - Awarded for the ‘Improving Your Local Area’ public engagement study.
• Light of Understanding Award 2022. Public Engagement Team, University of Birmingham (September 2022) - Commended for the ‘Improving Your Local Area’ study.
• Centre for Urban Wellbeing Animated Video Fund. Centre for Urban Wellbeing, University of Birmingham (March 2022) - Awarded £6000 to produce an animated video of the ‘Improving Your Local Area’ study.
• Public Engagement with Research Funding Scheme. Public Engagement Team, University of 

Grace is co-supervising MSc, MRes and MPhil students.

Grace’s research interests include participatory and community-based community research, with a specific focus on strengthening citizen science co-production and co-creation methods. Alongside this, her interests include age-friendly cities, promoting healthy ageing and intergenerational activities in urban environments, collaborative governance and user-friendly dissemination of academic research.