Dr Laura Hirst is a Research Fellow in Human Geography Policy and Development at the of ֲýƵ, where she contributes to research and projects as part of the Northumbria Peak of Research Excellence on Volunteering, Humanitarian Crises and Development.
Drawing on an academic background in anthropology and geography, her PhD research explored fire risk and disaster justice in Nairobi, as part of an ESRC CASE studentship with , a UK fire and rescue humanitarian organisation. Through this collaboration, she contributes to ongoing research with volunteer and professional emergency services in Lebanon and Macedonia.
- Fire Safety in Informal Settlements: A Gendered Framework of Fire Justice, Hirst, L., Underhill, H. 1 May 2025, In: Fire Technology
- Diversifying governance of fire risk and safety in informal settlements, Underhill, H., Hirst, L., Antonellis, D., Gibson, L., Vaiciulyte, S. Jul 2024
- A comparative study of fire risk emergence in informal settlements in Dhaka and Cape Town, Antonellis, D., Hirst, L., Twigg, J., Vaiciulyte, S., Faisal, R., Spiegel, M., Faller, G., Walls, R., Flores, N., Messerschmidt, B. 2022
- Fire risk reduction on the margins of an urbanizing world, Rush, D., Bankoff, G., Cooper-Knock, S., Gibson, L., Hirst, L., Jordan, S., Spinardi, G., Twigg, J., Walls, R. 27 Nov 2020, In: Disaster Prevention and Management: An International Journal
- Critical urban learning through participatory photography, Frediani, A., Hirst, L. 25 Nov 2016, Engaged Urbanism, London, Bloomsbury
- Applied Social Science PhD April 30 2025
- BA (Hons)
- MSc
Latest News and Features
Northumbria named in UK's top 50 employers of veterans
ֲýƵ has been named one of the 50 GREAT British Employers of Veterans 2026…
AI in policing: safeguards can't keep up, new research warns
Artificial intelligence is being adopted across policing and the wider criminal justice system…
Northumbria in top 35 universities worldwide for sustainability
ֲýƵ is officially one of the best universities in the world for sustainability,…
.png?modified=20260624091022)
ֲýƵ launches The North Edit Magazine
ֲýƵ has published the first edition of The North Edit, a new high-quality…
Northumbria researchers provide economic evidence base for shift away from animal testing
New research commissioned by Lush shows the UK's non-animal methods sector grew to more than…
More events
Upcoming events
-
REVEAL Architecture
Architecture Studios
-
REVEAL Interior Design
City Campus East 2
-
REVEAL Fashion Exhibition
City Campus East 2
-
REVEAL Graphic Design
Squires Workshops
