“Make Geography Great Again”: Advancing DEI by Bridging Psychological Theories with Spatial-Environmental Principles in Neighbourhood Studies

While the research in diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) is generally well established in the social sciences, the influence of the geography on intergroup relations is neither well understood nor integrated with individual level analysis. Moreover, not much has been theorised on the links between psychological and spatial principles, and how emerging technologies in geographic information systems (GIS) can be harnessed to generate new insights on intercultural contact and change in residential neighbourhoods.

This presentation offers a spatially grounded perspective to comprehending how the built and social environments shape diversity, multicultural inclusion, and psychological wellbeing. Drawing on evidence from psychology, urban studies, geography, sociology, public health, and data science, the presentation will highlight the profound intersection between neighbourhood design (built environment – access and proximity to amenities), demographic composition (social environment – ethnic and immigrant concentration), and psychological processes (platial identity, social comparison, and threat perception), and its eventual impact on social trust, cohesion, and attitudes toward diversity in neighbourhoods.

The presentation will conclude by demonstrating how geocoded survey data, GIS‑based housing information, mobile device data, and transport network analytics can be integrated to map the micro‑ecologies of everyday contact. This multi‑level spatial modelling offers both scholars and policymakers a robust evidence base argument for DEI interventions that align physical planning with social cohesion goals. This interdisciplinary approach offers a holistic analytical lens that moves beyond individual‑level explanations, revealing how physical and social geographies jointly structure multicultural interactions and adaptation.