Ruth Sepulveda

Ruth Sepulveda

Doctor in Planning Studies

University College London

Biography

Ruth Sepulveda is a Doctor in Planning Studies at University College London. Ruth Sepulveda has research interests in green infrastructure and planning. Her multidisciplinary background has granted her a better understanding of the complexity of cities and expanded her interest to multiple urban problems in the social and environmental areas. She will be available for interviews for the 2022 job market.

Interests

  • Green infrastructures
  • Urban agriculture
  • Planning
  • Governance
  • Sustainability

Education

  • PhD in Planning Studies, 2021

    University College London, The UK

  • MSc in Urban Environmental Management, 2015

    Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands

  • BASc in Forest Resources / Forest Engineer, 2012

    Universidad de Concepción, Chile

  • Student Exchange (Climate Change), Sep 2011 - Dec 2011

    University of Montana, USA

Experience

 
 
 
 
 

Postgraduate Teaching Assistant

University College London

Oct 2020 – Present London, UK

Planning for Sustainability and Inclusion

  • Provided digital support to the students that connected to the online sessions and led the conversations during the small groups discussion in the classroom.

Sustainable Futures by Design (2021 and 2022)

  • Tutored master’s level students in creating four assignments about sustainability in the Wandle Valley
  • Provided weekly verbal and written feedback to students on their progress on assignments.
  • Marked assignments following the criteria determined by the module professor, providing specific feedback on their work following the institution’s teaching standards.
  • Contributed to the module with a lecture on urban agriculture in the session of Nature in Cities.
  • Managed virtual learning environments Moodle and Echo360, updated new content every week, uploaded links and lectures from Echo360 and Zoom, and organised the links for live discussions.
  • Recorded and edited 66 clips in a 35-minute video about Wandle Valley recorded in on-site fieldwork with the module professor.

Case Studies in Implementing Regeneration Projects

  • Edited the transcription of 28 videos to improve the quality of the texts for the students.
  • Experienced the use of Echo360 to edit transcription.
 
 
 
 
 

PhD Academic Representative

University College London

Sep 2018 – Aug 2019 London, UK
  • Organised a weekly digital newsletter to promote relevant events and activities for the doctoral community.
  • Managed the individual student funds, accepted claims, verified information, and coordinated payments with department administration.
  • Participated in departmental meetings to inform about student concerns and requests to improve the department strategies.
  • Coordinated the printing of the booklet “Taking Planning Forward” created by the doctoral community.
  • Reported every two months the representatives' work to the PhD community, explaining the status of the budget and future activities.
  • Organised activities for the PhD community, coordinating rooms and catering with administration; one of the events was ‘Lonely Planner’ and ‘Away Day’.
  • Participated in the arrangement of the doctoral installation in the BSP Expo 2019.
 
 
 
 
 

Young and Adult Leader Group

Hillsong

Dec 2017 – Mar 2020 London, UK
  • Led a group of 15 members between the ages of 18 to 30 from different socioeconomic and educational backgrounds in Bible studies, social events, and activities.
  • Taught members about different topics during the Bible study sessions, led the conversations and invited them to participate with their opinion.
  • Developed innovative and creative teaching strategies to adapt topics using videos, readings, and conversations.
  • Organised fortnightly social events to generate cohesion in the group, coordinating movie nights, games, karaoke, and trips.
  • Provided pastoral care to group members, contacting them regularly to verify their situation and provided support in case of mental and emotional crises.
  • Participated in regular leadership and management training to develop skills to support the group as a leader.
  • Coordinated the participation of the church guests in two conferences, contacting the leaders, arranging their sitting location, and attending to their needs during their participation.
 
 
 
 
 

PhD in Planning Studies

University College London

Sep 2017 – Sep 2021 London, UK
  • Researched networks and discourses formed between actors working on urban agriculture, analysing their perspective on knowledge, territory, and society.
  • Coordinated 42 interviews and meetings with urban agriculture projects, academics and municipality officers in Santiago from London before fieldwork.
  • Presented results in national and international conferences such as RSA and AAG.
  • Developed academic and professional related skills such as project management, critical thinking, subject matter, collaborative working, stakeholders working, ability to quick learn, public speaking, data management, agility, teamwork, communication and presentation.
 
 
 
 
 

Environmental Consultant specialised in Sustainability

SUD-AUSTRAL Consulting

Sep 2015 – Jul 2016 Chile
  • Worked in a team of seven to collect detailed environmental and scientific information for three environmental projects from the Chilean government.
  • Wrote research documents to be included in the technical and methodological sections of projects proposals on the environmental market, electromagnetic waves, and forest legislation for the Ministry of Environment of Chile and forest fund for climate change and vegetation resources for UNDP.
  • Analysed vast amounts of national and international data on the collection and valuation of priority products in a project aimed at establishing a waste and recycling law for the Under Secretary of Environment of Chile.
  • Generated a database about Chilean recycling companies and the number of recycling points distributed in the country, either in public areas or private establishments.
  • Edited chapter 9, 11 and 12 of the final National Forest Inventory of Costa Rica about forest diversity, regeneration and herbs species.
  • Collected, analysed and reported information about the environmental markets after Law N°19.300 in Chile
  • Developed strong time management skills as the project application period were short and documents had to be completed within the period.
 
 
 
 
 

MSc Mentor

Wageninen University and Research

Sep 2014 – Aug 2015 Wageningen, The Netherlands
  • Mentored twelve first-year master’s students from different countries during their start at university.
  • Participated in mentoring training to develop communication and mentorship skills to guide new students and deal with unexpected situations.
  • Contacted students before arrival to provide basic information and consult about their accommodation and travel arrangements.
  • Coordinated visits to the city, accompanied students through the university reception activities and organised meetings on relevant days, such as Sinterklaas, end of terms and finals.
 
 
 
 
 

Urban Agriculture Consultant

LIPOR

May 2014 – Jun 2014 Matosinhos, Portugal
  • Worked on a team of five to analyse the environmental potential of LIPOR’s waste reduction strategies in encouraging organic waste as compost. Identified organisations, educational establishments, and unused spaces in Sao Mamede through an online search.
  • Identified organisations, educational establishments, and unused spaces in Sao Mamede through an online search.
  • Collected data in Sao Mamede and Matosinhos through interviews with stakeholders, questioners to inhabitants, and observations frameworks in the potential urban agriculture areas.
  • Identified areas for urban agriculture in different neighbourhoods in Sao Mamede and Matosinhos through an online search and on-site visits.
  • Presented the results of the evaluation to the company and citizens of Matosinhos.
 
 
 
 
 

Forestry Consultant

SUD-AUSTRAL Consulting

Mar 2012 – Aug 2013 Chile
  • Wrote technical documents about the quantification of AFOLU of carbon credits, deforestation, land use, voluntary markets, exotic forest plantations, dendrometry of antecedents and allometric equations of species and climate change in Chile and Centro America.
  • Translated two sections of REDD+ technical documents to Spanish that were published as a booklet.
  • Edited grammar and spelling in the document about the national action programme against desertification
  • Worked on two projects about carbon credits in Chile for the government.
 
 
 
 
 

Forestry and Environmental Consultant

Universidad de Concepción

Mar 2012 – Aug 2013 Chile
  • Wrote technical and methodological documents about typologies of carbon capture forest projects consistent with the Voluntary Carbon Market Standard in AFOLU in Chile for REDD+ and LULUCF.
  • Wrote methodologies and project about Afforestation/Reforestation focused on indigenous populations at world level.
  • Collected socioeconomic information, geographical location, cultural background on the indigenous communities in Region del Bio Bio and Region de la Araucania, Chile
  • Wrote a document about the territorial identities, historical demands, and characterisation of indigenous communities in the Region de la Araucania, Chile.
  • Wrote documents about growth and efficiency about Pinus contorta, Pinus radiata, Pinus ponderosa, Pseudotsuga menziesii and Eucalyptus nitens in Chile.
 
 
 
 
 

Student Representative

Universidad de Concepción

Mar 2010 – Mar 2012 Los Angeles, Chile
Achieved university funding for accommodation and food during two internships of fifteen days each.

Teaching

BPLN0064: Case Studies in Implementing Regeneration Projects

PTA, Online: Term 1 2020/2021

BPLN0034: Sustainable Futures by Design

PTA, Online: Term 2 2020/2021

BPLN0102: Planning for sustainability and inclusion

PTA, In Person: Term 1 2021/2022

BPLN0034: Sustainable Futures by Design

PTA, In Person: Term 2 2021/2022

Accomplishments

The Bartlett Conference Fund

Conference fund for £750

Becas de Doctorado en el Extranjero Becas Chile 2017

Full tuition and allowance for an international doctoral degree

Beca Presidente de la República

Full tuition for a bachelor’s degree

Becas de Magister en el Extranjero Becas Chile 2013

Full tuition and allowance for an international master’s degree.

Best student of the generation

Awarded full tuition for a national master’s degree at the same university

Dean’s List

Nominated as Scholar of the College of Arts and Sciences

Fund

1.000.000 Chilean pesos for exchange programme to The University of Montana