He joins Loughborough from the University of Birmingham, where he is currently Professor of Human Geography and Deputy Head of the College of Life and Environmental Sciences.
Professor Kraftl is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and the Royal Society of Arts, and a recipient of the Murchison Award from the RGS-IBG, presented for ‘publications judged to contribute most to geographical science’.
His research looks broadly at children and young people’s environmental experiences and learning. Although a geographer by background, most of his work explores the opportunities and challenges of inter- and trans-disciplinary approaches to children and young people’s environmental interactions.
His recent research projects have looked at: children’s multiple entanglements with plastics; equity-led and applied approaches to public health for children and families; marginalised young people’s experiences of COVID-19 in Brazil, South Africa and the UK; and children and young people’s knowledges and learning about treescapes. He also has longer-standing interests in working with policymakers to plan child-friendly cities, and in the geographies of alternative education.
Commenting on his appointment, Professor Kraftl said: “I am delighted to be joining the Department of Geography and Environment. I have previously worked with many colleagues at Loughborough, and I am looking forward to continuing previous and exploring new collaborations. I am particularly excited about the opportunities for interdisciplinary research about children, young people and the environment that exist across campus – whether in terms of children’s rights to and learning about a clean and safe environment, or opportunities to create cities that enable their physical movement, play and wellbeing.”
Head of Geography and Environment, Professor Michael Hoyler, commented: “I am delighted to be able to welcome Professor Kraftl to the Department. With Peter joining us there is really nowhere else to rival our concentration of talent and leadership in the fields of geographies of children, youth and families and geographies of education.”