• Affiliate Associate Professor, Global Health
  • Affiliate Associate Professor, Landscape Architecture
  • Director, Design Action Nepal
  • Co-Founder, Traction Design Action Research

348 Gould Hall
Seattle, WA 98195
United States

Phone Number: 
206-569-8508
Fax: 
Email: 
bspen@uw.edu
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Biography 

Benjamin Spencer is an Affiliate Associate Professor in the University of Washington, Departments of Landscape Architecture and Global Health and the co-founder of the non-profit, Traction Design. Ben’s work is collaborative and interdisciplinary. It integrates human centered design, research and teaching and explores the relationship between technology, the built environment and human health in developing communities. Ben teaches design and digital fabrication and directs community-based projects and study abroad programs. His recent publications include book chapters, “Whole-Systems Public Interest Design Education” and “Engaging the Field Experience: Integrated, Interdisciplinary, On-Site, Enduring” in Public Interest Design Education Guidebook (Routledge 2018). His recent projects include the participatory design and implementation of small-scale public space interventions in Kathmandu, Nepal and the development of innovative personal protection technologies in response to COVID-19.

Education 
  • MArch (University of Virginia)
  • MLA (University of Virginia)
  • BA (University of Virginia)
Country Affiliations 
Languages 
  • Nepali
  • Spanish
  • Tetum
Health Topics 
  • Community-Based Participatory Research
  • Digital Media
  • Education and Training
  • Environmental Health (incl. Climate Change)
  • Health Disparities
  • Poverty
  • Social Enterprise and Innovation
  • Social Justice and Human Rights
  • Urban Health
Publications 

Spencer, Ben. 2018. “Engaging the Field Experience: Integrated, Interdisciplinary, On-Site, Enduring” In Bryan Bell and Lisa Albendroth (Eds.). Public Interest Design Education Guidebook: Curricula, Strategies, and SEED Academic Case Studies. Routledge, UK. pp. 55-57.

Hou, Jeff, Ben Spencer and Daniel Winterbottom. 2018. “Whole-Systems Public Interest Design Education: Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Washington” In Bryan Bell and Lisa Albendroth (Eds.). Public Interest Design Education Guidebook: Curricula, Strategies, and SEED Academic Case Studies. Routledge, UK. pp. 8-21.

Korn, Abigail, Susan M. Bolton, Jorge A. Alarcon, Leann Andrews, Ben Spencer, and Joachim G. Voss. 2018. Physical and Mental Health Impacts of Household Gardens in an Urban Slum in Lima, Peru. International Journal of Environment and Public Health. pp 2-11.