CV Summary

Duncan Crowley is an Irish architect exploring Community-Led Ecocities through an action research PhD in Lisbon, Portugal (Architecture of Contemporary Metropolitan Territories / ISCTE-IUL). A climate activist for a quarter-century, his work builds bridges between different communities, languages, movements, and peoples. Assistant Researcher in the Cities and Territories research group of DINÂMIA'CET (Centre for Socioeconomic and Territorial Studies) at ISCTE and External Collaborator at CE3C Research group in FCUL (Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes / Lisbon University Faculty of Science). Co-president of the European Network for Community-Led Initiatives on Climate Change and Sustainability (ECOLISE) (2021-2022) & team member (2022-2024). Worked on H2020 (UrbanA: Urban Arenas for Sustainable and Just Cities & FLIARA) & Erasmus+ (WAVE, Regen4all, ETiA) projects. Work involved collaboration with Global Ecovillage Network (GEN).

Lived in Barcelona (2006-13), co-founded Transition group, gained Permaculture Design Certificate (2010) and participated in 2011’s Indignado square occupations. Also worked with Eco Intelligent Growth (EIG) on LEED and Cradle to Cradle certification, collaborated with William McDonough and contributed to a White Paper for Sustainable Urban Development of Barcelona for the Catalan Government (CADS). Lived in Curitiba, Brazil (2014-18), attained Master in Environment and Development from UFPR’s multidisciplinary PPGMADE course at UFPR, focusing on Urban Sustainability & Citizen Participation. Living in Portugal since 2018, active in Portuguese Regenerative movements and member of the Portuguese Degrowth Network.

Ecocity activist since Banja Luka, Bosnia (2003), set up “Ecocity Groups” in Dublin, Curitiba and Lisbon. Set up the Curitiba Ecocity Festival during the 2017 Ecocity World Summit, supported Ecocity Builders online conference in 2020 and participated in the 2021 (online) and 2023 Ecocity World Summits. Part of the Climate Social & Climate Justice Caravan, with indigenous groups, during COP15 in Copenhagen 2009 and co-created the 1st Curitiba Indigenous Week in 2016. Elected part of ECOLISE delegation to COP25 in Madrid 2019. Facilitated October 12th event between Indigenous groups and Climate Action groups 2020.

Work to create community gardens and develop an urban bicycle greenway in Dublin mentioned at Venice Art Biennale (2005). Invited resident at the French pavilion METAVILLA at the 2006 Venice Art Biennale. Active in Irish and UK Climate Camps 2007-09 and many subsequent Climate Justice activist movements. River lover, Gaelic footballer, comic book enthusiast and big fan of adventures. VIVA LA PACHAMAMA (Long live Mother Earth).

Academic Qualifications
University/Institution Type Degree Period
ISCTE-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa Escola de Tecnologias e Arquitectura
Portugal - Lisbon
PhD Architecture of Contemporary Metropolitan Territories 2018 - 2025
The Whole Partnership
(Online) - Portugal - Lisbon
Other type of qualification Conflict Transformation: A Systemic Approach 2022
Regenesis Institute for Regenerative Practice
(Online) - Portugal - Lisbon
Other type of qualification Regenerative Development Practioner 2020 - 2021
Municipalities In Transition (MiT)
(Online) - Portugal - Lisbon
Other type of qualification Municipalities In Transition, Training of Tutors 2020 - 2021
Global Ecovillage Network (GEN)
(Online) - Portugal - Lisbon
Other type of qualification Regenerative Urban Communities 2020
Universidade Federal do Paraná
Brazil - Cuiaba
M.Sc. Environment and Development (PPGMADE / UFPR) 2016 - 2018
Federal University of Paraná (UFPR)
Urbanism - Brazil - Curitiba
Other type of qualification Ecological Urbanism 2017
Institute of Social Ecology
(Online) - United States of America - Vermont
Other type of qualification Ecology, Democracy, Utopia: Introduction to Social Ecology 2017
SDG Academy, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network
(MOOC - Online) - Portugal - Lisbon
Other type of qualification Sustainable Cities 2017
TU Delft
(MOOC - Online) - Netherlands - Delft
Other type of qualification Rethink the City: New Approaches to Global and Local Urban Challenges 2017
Instituto de Arquitetos do Brasil (IAB)
Brazilian Council of Architecture and Urbanism - Brazil - Curitiba
Other type of qualification Creation and Management of Areas of Conservation in Urban Areas 2016
Cornell University
(MOOC - Online) - United States of America - Ithaca, NY
Other type of qualification Reclaiming Broken Places, Civic Ecology 2015
Richard Wade / Mas Franch
Spain - La Garrotxa
Other type of qualification Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) 2010
Technological University Dublin
Ireland - Dublin
Bachelor of Science Architecture Degree (B.Arch) 2005
Research Interests
Ecocities
Degrowth
Sustainable Cities
Urban Transitions
Citizen Participation
Community-led Initiatives
Action Research
Regenerative Development
Social Movements
Communities of Practice
Earth and related Environmental Sciences Natural Sciences
Political Science Social Sciences
Social and Economic Geography Social Sciences
Other Social Sciences Social Sciences
Other Humanities Humanities