Luna Khirfan (She/Her)

Dr. Luna Khirfan is an Associate Professor (Full Professor effective July 1, 2026) in the School of Planning at the University of Waterloo. Her research sits at the intersection of public engagement, placemaking, and climate change adaptation, advancing climate justice by examining how participation, governance, and knowledge shape planning outcomes and whose priorities are reflected in climate action.

Dr. Khirfan’s signature research program advances urban stream daylighting (de-culverting) as a nature-based solution for the climate crisis. This work investigates how restoring buried waterways—and reintegrating them into the urban landscape—can support climate adaptation and mitigation while strengthening ecological function, ecosystem services, and the lived experience of urban public space. She supports the field through sustained knowledge mobilization via the Stream Daylighting research website, which shares publications and public-facing research resources.

Dr. Khirfan’s scholarship has informed global urban-climate agendas. She was invited to author “Mapping the Solution Space for Climate Action: The Role of Urban Planning and Design” (Chapter 5) in UN-Habitat’s World Cities Report 2024: Cities and Climate Action, and she served as a Lead Author for Chapter 6 (Cities, Settlements and Key Infrastructure) of the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (Working Group II).

Dr. Khirfan welcomes inquiries from prospective graduate students and research partners interested in working at the leading edge of climate adaptation, nature-based solutions, stream daylighting, and participatory approaches that center justice and inclusion.

• Urban stream daylighting / de-culverting

• Nature-based solutions for climate adaptation

• Climate resilience and climate justice

• Ecological design and ecosystem services

• Participatory planning and community engagement

• Urban governance and inclusive planning

• Urban design and urban morphology

• Water-sensitive urban design

• Green and blue infrastructure planning

• Heritage planning and cultural resource management

• Knowledge transfer and mobility in planning

• Deliberative and sociocultural valuation methods

My scholarly research sits at the intersection of urban planning, urban design, and socio-ecological systems. I examine how cities can respond more justly and effectively to climate change through work on urban stream daylighting, nature-based solutions, ecological design, ecosystem services, climate adaptation, and climate resilience. I am also deeply interested in participatory planning, urban governance, and the role of local and experiential knowledge in shaping more inclusive and equitable planning outcomes. Across this work, I study how ecological systems, urban form, and community voices interact, and how planning and design can support more resilient, just, and transformative urban futures. My research combines theoretical, empirical, and methodological contributions. It includes scholarship on climate justice, sociocultural valuation of ecosystem services, deliberative and participatory methods, urban morphology, and the long-term spatial effects of the loss and restoration of urban streams. My work is geographically wide-ranging, with projects grounded in Canada, the Middle East, and the Caribbean, and it also contributes to global climate knowledge through my role as a Lead Author for the IPCC Working Group II report on Cities, Settlements and Key Infrastructure and my chapter in UN-HABITAT’s World Cities Report 2024.

My research is closely tied to professional planning practice because it addresses real planning and design challenges faced by municipalities, communities, and public institutions. I develop frameworks, methods, and evidence that can support planners in areas such as climate adaptation, green and blue infrastructure planning, nature-based solutions, urban design, heritage-sensitive redevelopment, and public engagement. By focusing on issues such as stream daylighting, flood adaptation, ecosystem services, and community-based design, my research contributes directly to how planners assess options, structure decisions, and balance environmental, social, and spatial priorities. This connection between scholarship and practice is also reflected in my contribution to UN-HABITAT’s World Cities Report 2024, a policy- and action-oriented global report through which I helped articulate the role of urban planning and design in advancing climate action. This relationship to practice is also reflected in my work beyond academia. My research has informed consultancy and advisory roles with municipalities and public agencies on stream daylighting, urban design, heritage management, community accessibility, and climate-related planning initiatives. More broadly, I see my research as a bridge between scholarly inquiry and professional planning practice: it is intended not only to advance theory, but also to equip practitioners and decision-makers with conceptually strong yet practically useful tools for building more resilient, just, and ecologically responsive cities.

• 2008, Graduate Certificate, Museum Studies, University of Michigan, USA

• 2007, PhD, University of Michigan, USA

• 2000, MA, Heritage Management, University of Birmingham, UK

• 1995, MA, Archaeology, University of Jordan, Jordan

• 1991, BSc, Architecture, University of Jordan, Jordan

• 2020, Faculty of Environment Outstanding Achievement Award, Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo.

• 2019, Outstanding Reviewer Award, International Development Planning Review, Liverpool University Press.

• 2015, Winner, second category, Planetary Urbanism – Critique of the Present in the Medium of Information Design, UN-HABITAT and ARCH+.

• 2010, Visiting Fellowship, Columbia Global Centres, Amman.

• 2001–2003, Fulbright Scholarship, University of Michigan.

• 2025–ongoing, School representative, Collaborative Water Program Committee

• 2025–ongoing, Committee member, Master’s Program and Curriculum Review, School of Planning

• 2026, Judge, Impact Alliance SDG Impact Challenge

• 2026, Chair, JPER Chester Rapkin Best Paper Committee

• 2025, Committee member, ACSP FWIG Marcia M. Feld Leadership Award Committee

• 2025, Committee member, JPER Chester Rapkin Best Paper Committee

• 2024–ongoing, Scientific Committee member, Symposium of Urban Design History and Theory

• 2024–ongoing, Expert consultant, City of Waterloo

• 2024, Expert consultant on stream daylighting, City of Waterloo Sustainable Advisory Subcommittee

• 2024, Expert reviewer, MITACS Accelerate grants

• 2024, External doctoral examiner, Dalhousie University

• 2024, External doctoral examiner, University of Hertfordshire

• 2024, Climate Risk Workshop participant, Waterloo Climate Institute

• 2024, Advocate for School of Planning participation, Collaborative Water Program

• 2023–2024, Committee member, MA/MES Ad Hoc Committee, School of Planning

• 2023–ongoing, Doctoral dissertation committee member, School of Planning

• 2023, Expert reviewer, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority

• 2023, Book reviewer, Edward Elgar Publishing

• 2023, External doctoral examiner, University of Edinburgh

• 2022–2024, Governing Board member, Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning

• 2022–2024, Co-chair, ACSP Urban Design Track

• 2021, Doctoral comprehensive examination chair, School of Planning

• 2021, External reader, Master’s thesis, School of Planning

• 2021, Reviewer, IPCC Scholarships

• 2020–2022, School Tenure and Promotion Committee member, School of Planning

• 2020–2022, Performance Evaluation Committee member, School of Planning

• 2020, Committee member, Campus Wayfinding Advisory Group, University of Waterloo

• 2020, Expert reviewer, Environment and Climate Change Canada

• 2020, Reviewer, Senior College, University of Toronto

• 2020, Book proposal reviewer, Routledge

• 2020, Climate Change Student Innovation Grants video contributor, Waterloo Climate Institute

• 2019, Outstanding Reviewer Award recipient, Liverpool University Press

• 2019, Lunch & Learn organizer, Dillon Consulting

• 2019, Jury panelist, City of Kitchener Urban Design Awards

• 2019, Book proposal reviewer, Springer

• 2019, Reviewer, Ernst Herzfeld Gesellschaft Conference proceedings

• 2018–2022, Expert reviewer and coordinator, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

• 2018–2019, Committee member, PhD Program Review Committee, School of Planning

• 2017, Scientific Committee member, Silk Cities Conference

• 2017, Hiring committee member, Community and Cultural Heritage position, School of Planning

• 2016, Book proposal reviewer, Springer

• 2015–2019, Research Ethics Committee member, Human Research Ethics Committee, University of Waterloo

• 2015–2016, STPC and PEC member, School of Planning

• 2015, Doctoral dissertation examination chair, University of Waterloo

• 2015, External reader, Master’s thesis, University of Waterloo

• 2014, Doctoral dissertation examination chair, University of Waterloo

• 2014, Reviewer, MITACS Accelerate grants

• 2013–ongoing, Library Liaison, School of Planning

• 2013, Hiring committee member, School of Planning

• 2013, Doctoral dissertation examination chair, University of Waterloo

• 2012–ongoing, Journal reviewer, academic journals

• 2012–ongoing, Reviewer, conference proceedings, grants, book proposals, and scholarships

• 2012, Jury member, Crossing Borders Design Competition

• 2011, Expert consultant on heritage management, UNESCO Office, Amman

• 2010–ongoing, Guest lecturer and guest critic, Canadian and international universities

• 2009–2013, School of Planning representative, Faculty Council

• 2009–2010, Committee member, University of Waterloo–Birzeit University Committee

• 2009, Panel Chair, Ontario Graduate Scholarships Committee 207

• 2008–2009, Faculty Committee member, Rosen Award

• 2008–2009, Workshop/charrette/exhibition organizer, Region of Waterloo accessible community gardens initiative

• 2008–2009, Committee member, Region of Waterloo Walkability Charter

• 2008–2009, Contributor, City of Kitchener Station Area Design Guide

• 2008, Hiring committee member, International Development Search Committee

• 2007–2010, Academic advisor, Cabbagetown Regent Park Community Museum

• 2007–ongoing, Guest critic, design studios and final reviews, School of Planning

• 2022–2024, Governing Board member, Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning

• 2022–2024, Urban Design Track co-chair, Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning

• 2025, FWIG Marcia M. Feld Leadership Award Committee member, Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning

• 2025, Chester Rapkin Best Paper Committee member, Journal of Planning Education and Research

• 2026, Chester Rapkin Best Paper Committee chair, Journal of Planning Education and Research

• 2024–ongoing, Scientific Committee member, Symposium of Urban Design History and Theory

• 2020 and 2022, Academic Committee member, International Seminar on Urban Form

• 2017, Scientific Committee member, Silk Cities Conference

• 2009–2019, Founding member, Council for Canadian Urbanism

• 2017–ongoing, Editorial Board member, Journal of Urban Morphology

• 2016–ongoing, Editorial Board member, Journal of Korean Living Environment System

• 2021–ongoing, Editorial Board member, Revista de Arquitectura

• 2025–ongoing, Editorial Board member, Journal of Planning Education and Research

• 2025–ongoing, Editorial Board member, City, Territory, and Architecture

• 2020–2023, Editorial Board member, Urban Planning

• 2020–2021, Editorial Board member, Regional Environmental Change

• 2025–ongoing, School of Planning representative, Collaborative Water Program

• 2024–ongoing, Member and contributor, Waterloo Climate Institute

• 2024–ongoing, Member and contributor, Water Institute, University of Waterloo

• 2024–ongoing, Expert consultant, City of Waterloo

• 2024, Expert consultant, City of Waterloo Sustainable Advisory Subcommittee

• 2024, Participant, Climate Risk Workshop, Waterloo Climate Institute

• 2024, Advocate for School of Planning participation, Collaborative Water Program

• 2021, Panel moderator and discussant, Waterloo–Ryerson Undergraduate Planning Conference

• 2020, Panelist, Association of Graduate Planners Speaker Series

• 2020, Video contributor, Climate Change Student Innovation Grants, Waterloo Climate Institute

• 2019, Lunch & Learn organizer, Dillon Consulting

• 2019, Jury panelist, City of Kitchener Urban Design Awards

• 2017, Participant, Waterloo–York Career Development Workshop in Urban Studies and Geography

• 2015, Keynote speaker, School of Planning Induction Ceremony

• 2012–2016, Volunteer tutor, Leading to Reading initiative, Toronto Public Library

• 2011, Expert consultant, UNESCO Office, Amman

• 2009–2019, Founding member and contributor, Council for Canadian Urbanism

• 2008–2009, Organizer, Region of Waterloo accessible community gardens workshop, charrette, and exhibition

• 2008–2009, Committee member, Region of Waterloo Walkability Charter

• 2007–2010, Academic advisor, Cabbagetown Regent Park Community Museum

• PLAN 300 - Planning Theory
  • Taught in 2023
• PLAN 309 - Site Planning and Design Studio
  • Taught in 2025
• PLAN 313 - Community Design Studio
  • Taught in 2022, 2023
• PLAN 409 - Urban Design Studio
  • Taught in 2026
• PLAN 646 - Site Planning and Design Studio
  • Taught in 2025
• PLAN 647 - Community Design Studio
  • Taught in 2022, 2023

* Only courses taught in the past 5 years are displayed.

• Luna Khirfan, editor (2017). Order and disorder: urban governance and the making of Middle Eastern cities. McGill-Queens University Press: Montreal.

• Luna Khirfan (2014). World Heritage, Urban Design and Tourism: Three Cities in the Middle East. Routledge: London.

• Luna Khirfan and Anya Ingram (in press). Revealing the Stream, Reconnecting the City: The Impact of Zürich’s Bächkonzept on Pedestrian Networks and Active Living. Journal of Urban Morphology, vol 30(2).

• Luna Khirfan (In press). Advancing Climate Justice through Deep Inclusion: Adaptation Planning for Nature-Based Solutions to Climate-Induced Hazards. Chapter in “Climate Justice in the Earth: Research, Movements, and Institutions in Actions for Empowerment”, under contract with CRC Press. Edited by Francesca Peroni and Massimo De Marchi, Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence on Climate Justice, the University of Padova. Word count: 8056. Page numbers: 16. Letter from editors confirming unconditional acceptance is appended to this CV.

• Luna Khirfan (2025). Is climate change relevant? Mainstreaming the dialogue on ecosystems and their services for adaptation and mitigation in Amman, Jordan: a survey of a societal segment. Environmental Research: Climate 4 (4) 045018. https://doi.org/10.1088/2752-5295/ae1b2d

• Shahad Kashmiri and Luna Khirfan (2025). Cultural ecosystem services and sense of place: Post-rehabilitation assessment of Wadi Hanifah’s performance from a socio-cultural lens. Journal of Urbanism: International Research on Placemaking and Urban Sustainability, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/17549175.2025.2607109

• Luna Khirfan (2025). Urban stream daylighting as a nature-based solution: Transformative or incremental? A scaffolded review of Seoul’s Cheonggyecheon and Zürich’s Bächkonzept. The Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. 1-34. https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2025.2526614

• Luna Khirfan (2025). Deliberative methods for cultural ecosystem services: Lessons from the field. Chapter 24 in ““The Routledge Handbook of Cultural Ecosystem Services”, edited by: Pamela D. McElwee, Karen Allen, Rachelle K. Gould, Minna Hsu, and Jun He. Pages: 310-326

• Luna Khirfan (2020). The new climate urbanism: a physical, social, and behavioural framework. Chapter 11 in Climate urbanism: towards a critical research agenda, edited by Vanesa Castán Broto, Enora Robin, Aidan While. Palgrave MacMillan: London, UK. Pages: 171-193.

• Luna Khirfan (2019). Planning and unplanning Amman: Between formal planning and non-traditional agency. In The Palgrave Handbook of Bottom-Up Urbanism, edited by Konrad Kickert and Mahyar Arefi. Palgrave McMillan: Cham. Pages: 201-208

• 2024-04-03, CBC News, “Discover where ancient rivers flow under Canadian cities,” Jaela Bernstien and Emily Chung — Interactive investigative feature on buried urban rivers and streams in Canadian cities, highlighting stream daylighting and drawing on your research, data, and background expertise.
• 2024-04-14, CBC’s What on Earth, “Buried under cities, rivers are a climate wonder in waiting,” Laura Lynch — National CBC radio documentary on buried urban rivers and their potential as climate adaptation infrastructure, featuring urban stream daylighting as a way to restore ecological functions, reduce climate risks, and reconnect cities with hidden waterways.
• 2022-03, Iowa Chapman and The Last Dog, young-adult audio book / podcast, chapter 4 “Junktown,” Soundsington Media — Public science communication contribution to a young-adult climate-themed audio story/podcast, where you explained the history of urbanization in accessible language for younger audiences.
• 2022, The Conversation, “Ontario’s Bill 23 proposes more homes built faster, but this comes at an environmental cost,” Michael Drescher and Luna Khirfan — Public scholarship article examining Ontario’s housing legislation and its environmental implications, especially the trade-offs between rapid housing development, planning policy, and ecological protection.
• 2025-07-05, CTV News, “Here’s how Canadian cities can prepare for hotter summers, according to urban planners,” Kamil Karamali — National news story on how Canadian cities can adapt to increasingly hot summers, with urban planning perspectives on heat mitigation, climate adaptation, and design/policy responses.
• 2024, Canvas8, Expert Outlook Report — Expert commentary contribution to a public-facing trends/reporting platform, drawing on your expertise in climate adaptation, cities, and urban environmental change.
• 2022-11-22, Hamilton Radio 900CHML, radio interview — Radio interview connected to urban planning, climate change, and environmental impacts in cities, drawing on your expertise for a public audience.
• 2022-10-29, The Record, “Waterloo opens ‘woonerf’ shared street in university district,” Cheyenne Bholla — Local news story on Waterloo’s shared street/woonerf design, with your expertise contributing to public understanding of people-oriented street design, urban design, and mobility.
• 2022-06-13, The Globe and Mail, “In Canada’s biggest cities, vulnerability to rising temperatures may depend on your neighbourhood,” Matt McLearn and Kathryn Blaze Baum — National feature on uneven vulnerability to extreme heat across Canadian neighbourhoods, connecting climate risk to urban form, equity, and neighbourhood-level planning.
• 2022-06-07, Salon, “Too hot to handle: Crumbling US infrastructure melts under excessive heat,” Jon Skolnik and Eric Schank — International media story on how extreme heat affects urban infrastructure, with your expertise contributing to broader discussions of climate adaptation and resilient urban systems.
• 2022-03-19, Popular Science, “Why some climate change adaptations just make things worse: Short-term and poorly thought-out solutions are hardly solutions at all,” Sara Kiley Watson — Popular science article on maladaptation, explaining how poorly designed climate adaptation interventions can produce unintended harms or deepen vulnerabilities.
• 2022-03-05, CBC, “What the new IPCC report says climate change could — and is — costing Canadians,” Nicole Mortillaro — CBC story explaining the implications of the IPCC report for Canada, including climate costs, adaptation needs, and risks to cities and infrastructure.
• 2022-03-03, CBC, “UN climate report warns of ‘rapidly closing’ window for action,” Enayat Singh — CBC news segment on the urgency of climate action following the release of the IPCC report, drawing on expert interpretation of urban climate risks and adaptation pathways.
• 2021-08-02, La Presse, “Piscines et jeux d’eau à Montréal : Des arrondissements plus choyés que d’autres,” Clara Gepner and Khaoula Chehbouni — French-language news story on unequal access to pools and water play infrastructure in Montréal, connected to heat resilience, environmental equity, and neighbourhood-level adaptation.
• 2021-03-17, Guelph Mercury Tribune, “#LoveLocal: A look at a future downtown Guelph,” Graeme McNaughton — Local feature on future visions for downtown Guelph, engaging your expertise in urban design, public realm planning, and climate-responsive city-building.
• 2021-01-20, The Record, “Work in Waterloo Park highlights the importance and vulnerability of our urban streams,” Susan Koswan — Local opinion/news story on urban streams in Waterloo Park, highlighting the ecological and climate significance of urban waterways and the importance of protecting and restoring them.