Meet Orly Linovski, 2023 Rh Award Winner in the Interdisciplinary category

Orly Linovski, an associate professor in the Department of City Planning, investigates the intricacies of urban planning practice and transportation equity.

Linovski is the 2023 recipient of the Terry G. Falconer Memorial Rh Institute Foundation Emerging Researcher Award in the Interdisciplinary category, in recognition of her research on the impacts of private-sector planning and her work on making transportation systems more equitable.

UM Today caught up with Linovski to learn more about her and the research she is undertaking.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your research.

I am an associate professor in the Department of City Planning at the University of Manitoba. My research focuses on two broad areas. The first is professional practice, specifically understanding how planners work in different contexts, particularly in large private sector and publicly traded firms.

The second area is transportation equity, which involves understanding the barriers and opportunities people have with different modes of transportation. I focus on how planning can ensure that people can access the activities and destinations they need, regardless of their chosen mode of transportation.

Why is this research important?

Transportation equity is crucial because access to transportation significantly impacts people’s lives, including their ability to access education, employment, health care and recreation. In Canada, people face significant barriers if they are unable to drive or afford a car.

So, I think it’s really important to understand transportation from a social perspective and work towards making it equitable for everyone.

What does winning the Rh Award mean to you?

It’s a huge honour for me, especially knowing that so many of my colleagues put a lot of time into preparing the application. I really appreciate all the effort that went into it.

What do you hope to achieve in the future?

There is growing attention to equity in transportation, and it’s important to understand how we can move forward from a policy perspective. I plan to continue working on the policy side and collaborating with elected officials, who are key decision-makers in the transportation planning process. That’s where my future research is heading.

What about you might people find surprising?

I have a twin sister. Also, I don’t love to drive, which might have influenced my research area. But anyone who knows me wouldn’t be surprised by that.

Any advice for early career researchers and students?

As a scholar, you often have the opportunity to do something you’re passionate about. It’s exciting to see new research focused on improving the world, especially in planning. Keep working persistently on research that has a meaningful impact on the world around us.

Spenser Smith