An-Sofie Smetcoren

Her research focuses on how urban environments influence the daily lives of their (older) inhabitants (e.g. access to services and care, housing) and how processes of social inclusion and exclusion unfold within communities. She has developed a specific research interest in the Brussels Capital Region, with particular attention to the experiences of socially, politically and economically marginalised populations. In previous projects she has mainly worked for and together with older adults, low-income families and people with a migration background, using co-creative, participatory (action) research approaches. At the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, she teaches courses on societal challenges from an international perspective, participatory action research, and policy and practice of adult education. Currently, she is the VUB promotor of the Strategic Basic Research (FWO-SBO) project HOUSE ‘Innovating housing for older adults and subjective wellbeing’, which she also scientifically coordinates. In the past, she has been involved in several national and European projects on housing and caring neighbourhoods, such as the CALICO (Care and Living in Community) project, Reno-Lab-C and Culturally Sensitive Care Ambassadors.