William Hilliard

Hi! I am PhD student at the Division of History of Science, Technology and Environment,

My research concerns Stockholm's environmental history and considers the emergence of sustainable urbanism, city branding, and unequal access to outdoor spaces. I have a background in sustainable urban planning and am interested in active mobility (namely walking and cycling), mental health and wellbeing, and equitable access to social infrastructure. I'm always happy to talk cities (or anything else for that matter...) and never refuse the opportunity for a coffee and a chat - please get in touch!

I am also part of the KTH Environmental Humanities Laboratory and look forward to welcoming you to one of our events or collaborations soon!

Former Projects

Pedestrian Expertise in Historical Perspective: The Science-Policy Nexus around Walking in Sweden and the UK

VREF-funded project critically examining the historical interplay between walking-related research and policy in Sweden and the UK, shedding light on how scientific knowledge has shaped - and been shaped by - urban transport planning since the 1950s.

EmbedterLabs: Better Embedded Labs for More Synergistic Sustainable Urban Transformation Planning

JPI Urban Europe project in collaboration with Stockholms Stad and Sweco Architects exploring street experimentation in Stockholm.

Gångbart: Techno-Politics of Walking: Continuity and Change of Streets as Public Space in Urban Europe

Exploring and better understanding of walking in the creation of public space and the potential for its revival in European cities. Guided and stewarded throughout by the fantastic Martin Emanuel.

Mistra Sustainable Consmption - From niche to mainstream

Exploring sustainable consumption in Sweden and beyond by generating in-depth knowledge on how niche sustainable consumption practices can become mainstream in the areas offood,home-making ndvacation practices.

Publications

Emanuel, M., Karimzadeh, N., Hilliard, W., Karvonen, A., & Normark, D. (2026). Experimental Logics of Street Transformations.,Urban Planning,vol. 11, Article 11313. https://doi.org/10.17645/up.11313

Emanuel, M. and Hilliard, W. (2025) Capturing the Socio‐Spatiality of Walking : A Historical Coding of Stockholm’s Street Life.,Urban Planning, vol. 10, https://doi.org/10.17645/up.9631

Bradley, K., Hilliard, W., & Parekh, V. (2025). Buy, Use, Make—A taxonomy of sustainable consumption practices. Frontiers in Sustainability, 6, https://doi.org/10.3389/frsus.2025.1659040.