Clio Andris, celebrated by her peers for her mathematical model research of social networks, will deliver the next Hyde lecture, “Interpersonal Relationships in Urban Space,” at 4 p.m., Jan. 28 via Zoom.

Andris is assistant professor in the School of City and Regional Planning and the School of Interactive Computing at Georgia Tech. Her research interests are geographic information systems, social networks, urban planning, urban analytics, information visualization and complex systems. She is also the director of the Friendly Cities Lab at Georgia Tech.

During the lecture, Andris will explore the various ways designers and planners can combat the negative social impacts of COVID-19 through the creation and planning of thoughtful, shared spaces. Historically, urban planning and urban design philosophies support planning for altruism and social well-being and have built on a legacy of architecture and urban design for public good. Amid emergent paradigms of planning for happy neighborhoods, mental health and the cultivation of social capital, Andris advocates for a future where community stakeholders and professionals plan to support strong interpersonal relationships and social networks by choosing helpful amenities, infrastructures and green spaces. This is important in today’s increasingly virtual, lonely world and especially in the midst of the global pandemic. As such, this vision supports strategies to re-introduce public, shared spaces as society emerges from the pandemic.

Using GIS data, Andris will explain how planners and designers can create spaces to support interpersonal relationships and social life. With the latest research, she will share creative approaches for capturing social life and relationships in different ways as well as how the data can be integrated into fundamental planning tools and quantitative methods using a pilot and case study on romantic relationships. With these new techniques, urban designers and planners can foster a stronger, healthier social lifestyle for community residents.

This presentation is part of the College of Architecture’s 2021-2022 Hyde Lecture Series featuring speakers from across disciplines that are united under the common theme of “Emerging Opportunities for Equality in Planning and Design.” The series focuses on the anticipated “new normal” and looks to draw insight and explore what solutions planners and designers can offer in the Post-Pandemic Future.

Sponsored by the College of Architecture, the Hyde Lecture series is a long-standing, endowed, public program. Each year the college hosts compelling speakers in the fields of architecture, interior design, landscape architecture and planning that enrich the ongoing dialog around agendas which are paramount to the design disciplines and our graduates.