HighlightsThese highlights are AI-generated using the faculty's CV and Google Scholar profile
Orlando Woods is an internationally recognised scholar in urban geography and religion, whose research bridges smart cities, migration, digital cultures, and the politics of space, with impactful leadership and prolific interdisciplinary contributions.
Combines methodological innovation in urban and religious geography with applied impact in policy, governance, and social inclusion; leads large-scale interdisciplinary research projects; recognised among Stanford University's World Top 2% of Scientists; emphasises comparative, critical, and integrative approaches; extensive engagement with academic, governmental, and industry stakeholders.
Focused research areas include Urban experiences and governance in Asian cities; the intersections of religion, migration, and space; digital and smart city transformations; ecological citizenship; infrastructural politics; social diversity and inclusion; comparative urbanism; affective and embodied geographies.
Combines methodological innovation in urban and religious geography with applied impact in policy, governance, and social inclusion; leads large-scale interdisciplinary research projects; recognised among Stanford University's World Top 2% of Scientists; emphasises comparative, critical, and integrative approaches; extensive engagement with academic, governmental, and industry stakeholders.
Focused research areas include Urban experiences and governance in Asian cities; the intersections of religion, migration, and space; digital and smart city transformations; ecological citizenship; infrastructural politics; social diversity and inclusion; comparative urbanism; affective and embodied geographies.
Areas of Expertise
CitiesInfrastructureGovernanceBodiesAsia
Past Awarded Grant
- 2026 - 2029 'Autonomizing Environmental Governance in Asian Cities: AI, Climate Change, and Frictional Urbanisms', MOE Academic Research Fund (Tier 2), S$803,738. Principal Investigator.
- 2025 - 2027 'Infrastructures of Care and Everyday Elderly Mobilities in Singapore', MOE Academic Research Fund (Tier 1, Partnerships Edition with SUTD), S$200,000. Principal Investigator.
- 2023 - 2024 'Education Infrastructures and Migrant Un/Belonging: Indian Students in Singapore', MOE Academic Research Fund (Tier 1, Partnerships Edition with the University of Toronto), S$69,750. Principal Investigator.
- 2022 - 2025 'Technocratic Regionalism in Southeast Asia: The Translational Politics of Smart City Knowledge Transfer', MOE Academic Research Fund (Tier 2), S$653,978. Principal Investigator.
- 2022 - 2025 'SPACE: Shaping Public Adaptive Capacity for Environmental Infectious Diseases', National Research Foundation Singapore, S$3,846,150. Co-Investigator.
Latest Publications
Showing up to 6 latest publications from the past 5 years.
- O Woods, C ConnollyAnnals of the American Association of Geographers, 1-18, 2026
- N Chen, O WoodsGeoforum 169, 1-10, 2026
- P Das, O Woods, L KongGeoforum 170, 1-10, 2026
- E Grimley, P Das, O Woods, L KongTourism Geographies 28 (1), 102-121, 2026
- O Woods, B MahBrill's Encyclopedia of Global Pentecostalism Supplements Online, 1-10, 2026
- AI and the City [2026]P Das, O WoodsThe Routledge Handbook of Critical Urban Research, 2026
Orlando Woods joined SMU in 2017. He holds BA (First Class Honours) and PhD degrees in Geography from University College London and the National University of Singapore respectively. His interdisciplinary research agenda spans social, cultural and political geography; urban studies; new media and communications; and critical infrastructure studies. Empirically, his work focuses on South and Southeast Asia. Currently, he serves as Associate Dean (Research and Postgraduate Programmes) at the College of Integrative Studies, and Director of the SMU Urban Institute.
Qualifications
- PhD in Geography, National University of Singapore, 2012
- BA in Geography, University College London, 2006
Research Interests
- Religion
- Cities & Urban Landscapes
- Digital Technologies
- Space
- Social & Cultural Geography
- Critical Infrastructure Studies
- Smart Cities
- The Belt and Road Initiative
Course(s) Taught in SMU
- Big Questions
- Digital Cultures
- Introduction to Interdisciplinary Study
