Dr. Catalina Ortiz is an Associate Professor of Development Planning at University College London. She is a Colombian urbanist and educator with a BA in Architecture and a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning both from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Her PhD is in Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois Chicago where she attended as a Fulbright scholar. She uses decolonial and critical urban theory through knowledge co-production methodologies to study the politics of space production in Latin America and Southeast Asia to foster more just cities and the recognition of multiple urban knowledges. She currently works as Associate Professor and co-Programme Leader of the MSc Building and Urban Design in Development at University College London.

She gave a talk on the Illinois campus on Thursday, September 15th as the inaugural event of the LAC Cities Collective. Her talk was titled "Disobedient Urban Research: Provocations for Setting a Decolonial Agenda."

 

Nikolai Alvarado introducing Catalina Ortiz
Dr. Nikolai Alvarado introducing Dr. Catalina Ortiz and her talk.

 

Opening slide for Ortiz's talk on Disobedient Urban Research
Dr. Catalina Ortiz beginning her talk on Disobedient Urban Research.

 

Ortiz giving her talk
Dr. Catalina Ortiz during her talk on Disobedient Urban Research.

 

Audience image in Ortiz's campus talk
Attendees at Dr. Catalina Ortiz's September 15th talk.

 

Drs. Magdalena Novoa and Catalina Ortiz
Drs. Magdalena Novoa (left) and Catalina Ortiz (right) during the Q&A session following Dr. Ortiz's talk.