Dr. May Newisar

Profile

I am a Lecturer in Architecture and Urbanism at the University of Leeds. I have held several academic posts in several international schools of Architecture in the Middle East and the UK.

My PhD from the University of Manchester focuses on understanding the politics of technical decision-making in the World Heritage sites. 

Prior to joining Civil Engineering in Leeds, I worked with Mela Social Enterprise as a research associate focusing on raising the awareness of public about Historic England’s heritage values within their place identity. At the same time, I worked as an Associate research consultant leading a research team that won the mentor’s award team at the best research and business reports.

I am also working as a researcher and co-secretary at the Association of Collaborative Design.  I have 10 years' experience in teaching and delivering courses in architecture and urban design at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

I am an Associate Fellow in recognition of attainment against the UK Professional Standards Framework for teaching and learning support in higher education.

Research interests

I am an architect, urbanist, and researcher working at the intersection of theoretical exploration of cultural heritage and professional practice of heritage conservation. Through an active community engagement, my interdisciplinary research advocates social-constructivist approaches to studying the politics of tehcnical desicionmaking and its impact on shaping the tangible and intangible cultural heritage. In particular how the technical and managerial tools in the heritage conservation process are used as soft power in negotiations, forming cultural politics that framed the nexus between heritage conservation and urban regeneration.

I am currently working on the research project Creative Economies Through Youth- led Arts and Craft in Jordan (CEARC) with Professor Gehan Selim which focuses on deploying a 3-stage methodology to offer a breakthrough in developing an arts and crafts hub in Umm Qais (Jordan). In addition to building capacity in digital and manual arts and crafts, delivering a host of new skills, from art design to entrepreneurship and understanding marketing and retail on which to establish community-led heritage-based arts and craft enterprises.

Building on this knowledge and experience, I am now working on ‘Women's perception of safety in public open spaces’ with Leeds City Council on developing the supplemnatry planning document on communities’ safeties and exploring the relation between cultural identity and women’s safety. I am working with local artists on exploring the perception and emotions expressed during the research investigation.

• Women’s Safety and Security in Public open spaces (WesafSpace)

Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy in Planning and Environmental Management (University of Manchester)
• MSc in Architecture Engineering and Environmental Design, Alexandria, Egypt
• BSc in Architectural Engineering and Environmental Design, Alexandria, Egypt

Professional memberships

• Associate Fellow in Higher Education Academy (AFHEA)

Student education

She is currently co-supervising PhD students in Architecture and Urbanism Group.

She is also supervising undergraduate students in their individual research projects which is focusing on  “Designing cities for women: towards Gender-Equal cities” and “City Branding through Culture “European Capital of Culture”

Current postgraduate researchers

• Fatma Seila
• Dwi Hatmojo Danurdoro
• Mohammad S. QutbAldeen
• Zainab Alhajji
• Tika Hasan
• Saja Zeadeh