Personal profile
Biography
I am anEconomic Geographer lecturing at the University of Galway since 2012. Prior to that I was a researcher at the Whitaker Institute where mywork looked at the location decisions of multinational tech companies. More recently, I haveturned my attention to Creative Economies and Cultural Production. Through a number of EU funded projects, I havesought to better understand the relationship between culture, creativity and production as well as identifying the unique role played by Geography. I contributed to both of Galways designation of UNESCO City of Film and European Capital of Culture. I havepublished over 30 internationally peer reviewed journal articles and three books. I amDirector of the newly formed UrbanLab Galway at the University of Galway. My newest book `Galway: Making a Capital of Culture was published by Orpen Press in 2023.
Research Interests
As an economic geographer, I am interested in the spatial distribution of wealth. How we legislate for the uneven distribution of resources is a common theme in my work. I have published on the location decisions of multinational corporations and in doing so moved the focus beyond financial incentives (in the form of tax relief) to the innate qualities of the places they invest in. In exploring that I have begun to switch my focus on how we make places. Foremost here is the role that Culture plays in an increasingly globalised world. Through a number of projects (Creative Edge, Galways bid for European Capital of Culture) I have been better able to explore the role that Culture plays in the socioeconomic well being of particular places.I have an interest in spatial dispersion of innovative practices. My current projects the SFI funded Cathair Shamhlú: Platform Urbanism and the Horizon Europe funded INSITU project look at the role of culture and creativity in place making as well as exploring spatial computing for firing the geographic imaginary.
Education/Academic qualification
B.A., M.A.
Accepting PhD Students
- Accepting PhD Students
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 4 Quality Education -
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions -
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Cultural and creative ecosystems beyond the city
Collins, P., 25 Mar 2026, Situating Culture: Culture and Creativity beyond the city. University of CoimbraResearch output: Chapter in Book or Conference Publication/Proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
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Galway: Culture in place
Collins, P., 25 Jan 2026, (Accepted/In press) Situating Culture: Culture and Creativity beyond the city.Research output: Chapter in Book or Conference Publication/Proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
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Reflections and emergent insights from across the Labs: Towards culturally vibrant peripheries
Collins, P. & Duxbury, N., 25 Jan 2026, (Accepted/In press) Situating Culture: Culture and Creativity beyond the city.Research output: Chapter in Book or Conference Publication/Proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
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Situating Culture: Exploring Culture and Creativity beyond the city
Collins, P., Rainey, M. & Duxbury, N., 25 Mar 2026, University of Coimbra. 345 p.Research output: Book/Report › Book › peer-review
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Art as activation: Mars on Nuns Island, Galway
Collins, P., 27 Feb 2025, In: Societal Impacts. 6Research output: Contribution to a Journal (Peer & Non Peer) › Article › peer-review
Open Access
Activities
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Utrecht University
Collins, P. (Visiting researcher)
20 Apr 2025 → 3 May 2025Activity: Visiting an external institution › Visiting an external academic institution
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Áras an Uachtaráin
Collins, P. (Visiting researcher)
1 Mar 2024Activity: Visiting an external institution › Visiting an external academic institution
Prizes
Press/Media
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Time to plan for the Galway Arts Festival and the Galway Races, but where is the plan for the citys clogged-up roads?. Irish Times
1/07/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media