Sue Huang
Doctor of Philosophy candidate
Urban Planning, Political Ecology
Biography
I am a PhD candidate in urban planning at the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, the University of Melbourne. I am interested in how urban waste is revalued in the context of the circular economy, particularly the landscapes, ecologies, natures and labour that allow (or not) such valuation to happen. My current work on food waste recycling in Malaysian cities feed into my broader interests in urban sustainability, political ecology, social-ecological justice, and human-environment relations.
Prior to undertaking my PhD, I have degrees in biomedical science, international development and natural resource management, and work experiences in healthcare, research in geography, and academic publishing. As part of my PhD, I am a student member of the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course (the Life Course Centre).
Thesis
Food waste recycling and urban processes in a circular economy
The circular economy concept is increasingly used by governments, policymakers, and businesses to tackle the significant issue of food waste. What remains under-theorised is the actual processes of valuation of waste, and the socio-spatial conditions and processes that enable or hinder this valuation. This thesis will examine cases of urban food waste recycling in Malaysian cities, with an eye on the actually-existing practices and geographies of waste and value. It will seek to understand the processes of value creation from waste and how these are shaped - and reshaped - by urban processes, and ultimately contribute theoretical understandings and empirical evidence towards strategies for enacting equitable and sustainable (circular) economies.