Prof Rich Mitchell

Rich Mitchell is Professor of Health and Environment at the University of Glasgow and is also co-director of the Centre for Research on Environment, Society and Health (CRESH), an inter-institution and interdisciplinary centre focused on how physical and social environments  influence population health, for better and for worse. In his early career Rich focused on monitoring and exploring social and geographical differences in health. Over time however, he became more interested in how health can be protected than in what damages it, and in how social and geographical gaps in health might be addressed. He subsequently developed an extensive programme of research on the health benefits of urban green spaces and is author and co-author of multiple key studies in this field. 

After a degree and PhD in geography at the University of Southampton, Rich moved to London for post-doc work and training in public health and epidemiology. Following a research jobs at the Universities of Bristol, Leeds, Sheffield and Edinburgh, he joined the University of Glasgow in 2007, eventually leading the Public Health group. In 2017 he joined the Social and Public Health Sciences Unit to lead the Places and Health programme. Rich also served for several years on the board of Paths For All, a charity which champions everyday walking for a happier, healthier Scotland.