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Karla Santos Zambrano

Doctoral Researcher
University College Cork; MaREI
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Karla Santos Zambrano is a Doctoral Researcher, currently pursuing a PhD under the supervision of Dr Ger Mullaly and Dr Niall Dunphy at University College Cork. With a bachelor’s degree in Architecture (Universidad Central de Venezuela) and a master’s degree in Planning and Sustainable Development (University College Cork), her professional experience encompasses architecture, construction, planning and urban design, in both public and private sectors. Karla has a keen interest in research and has authored several research papers for the European Council of Spatial Planners (ECTP-CEU) as part of the Young Planners Workshop in previous years, consistently focusing on societal aspects pertaining to planning issues and the conservation of the built environment.
Societal engagement methods focussing on improving the resilience of low-income households.

Different definitions of energy poverty draw on different understandings of its causes, which leads to different interventions. Acknowledging the call for clarity in recognizing the multiple aspects of what energy poverty entails and its equally diverse definitions, this research is underpinned by the evolution of its concept and the social dimensions contained within. Energy poverty is also a critical element for the exploration of vulnerability within energy and climate policy at all levels and thus remains a crucial factor in enabling the different approaches to address it, particularly from a sociological context, as it is linked to the notions of energy citizenship, energy justice, and energy democracy. The development, application and evaluation of societal engagement methods targeting low-income households intends to explore the potential solutions for addressing vulnerability from an energy perspective and deliver an overarching framework for engaging with vulnerable groups, aiming to improve their resilience, as well as increase their comfort, health, and overall wellbeing.