Overview
Background
Dr Jon Olsen is an Associate Professor & Deputy Director (Research) at the Institute for Social Science, The University of Queensland. He serves as Director of URBANiQ: Urban Intelligence for Healthy & Equitable Places @ The University of Queensland, the AURIN UQ-Node, and leads research focused on place and health inequalities. His work explores how the built and natural environments, along with urban planning policies, influence health outcomes and disparities. Jon is also committed to advancing understanding of the intersections between human health and planetary health.
He is Co-I of the NIHR Global Health Research Unit in Social and Environmental Determinants of Health Inequalities (SEDHI) and the NIHR Public Health Research (PHR) Programme-funded Orienting Policy Towards Inequality Minimising Actions (OPTIMA) project, a systems science approach to 20-minute neighbourhood policy and evaluation.
Jon is Senior Editor of the new journal Urban Transitions, Editorial Board Member of Wellbeing, Space and Society. He is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow, UK and Honorary Professor at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand.
Availability
- Dr Jonathan Olsen is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy of Epidemiology, Cardiff University
Research interests
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Mobility, Health & Environmental Exposure
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Urban Liveability & Community Wellbeing
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Healthy and equitable places
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Socioeconomic impacts of place-based planning policies
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Social and geographical impacts of climate change on health
Works
Search Professor Jonathan Olsen’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
The impacts of Payment for Ecosystem Services programmes on health and wellbeing: a systematic review protocol
Calderon, Micaela, Campbell, Mhairi, Kopasker, Daniel, Borbor-Cordova, Mercy J., Wells, Valerie, Niedzwiedz, Claire, Rojeab Bravo, Batul, de Sousa Filho, J. Firmino, Broadbent, Philip, Olsen, Jonathan R. and Katikireddi, S. Vittal (2025). The impacts of Payment for Ecosystem Services programmes on health and wellbeing: a systematic review protocol. NIHR Open Research, 5, 1-14. doi: 10.3310/nihropenres.13928.1
2025
Conference Publication
Healthy ageing in place: perspectives on ‘local’ and age-friendliness in the built environment
Tadrous, R., Palmer, V., Olsen, J. R., Anderson, M., Lewis, R., Mitchell, K., Thomson, M., Rigby, B., Moore, L. A. R. and Simpson, S. A. (2025). Healthy ageing in place: perspectives on ‘local’ and age-friendliness in the built environment. British Geriatrics Society Spring Meeting 2025, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 9-11 April 2025. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afaf133.093
2025
Conference Publication
Active and connected: place utilisation to enhance physical and social activity in mid-to-older adults
Tadrous, R., Palmer, V., Olsen, J. R., Anderson, M., Lewis, R., Mitchell, K., Thomson, M., Rigby, B., Moore, L. A. R. and Simpson, S. A. (2025). Active and connected: place utilisation to enhance physical and social activity in mid-to-older adults. British Geriatrics Society Spring Meeting 2025, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 9-11 April 2025. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/ageing/afaf133.098
2025
Journal Article
Social network characteristics associated with mid-to-older aged adults’ co-engagement in physical activity
Anderson, Martin, Letina, Srebrenka, McCann, Mark, Milicev, Jelena, Dibben, Grace, MacDonald, Abi, Mitchell, Kirstin, Moore, Laurence, Olsen, Jonathan R., Palmer, Victoria J., Rigby, Benjamin P., Simpson, Sharon A., Thomson, Meigan and Long, Emily (2025). Social network characteristics associated with mid-to-older aged adults’ co-engagement in physical activity. PLoS One, 20 (5) e0319981, 1-19. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0319981
2025
Journal Article
Coming to terms with climate change: a glossary for climate change impacts on mental health and well-being
Niedzwiedz, Claire L., Olsen, Jonathan R., Rizeq, Jala, Afework, Tsion, Hill-Harding, Chiara K. V., Shaw, Richard J., Thomas, Rhian, Kariuki, Symon M., Katikireddi, Srinivasa Vittal, Weaver, Andrew J., Martin, Gina, Parr, Hester and Papies, Esther K. (2025). Coming to terms with climate change: a glossary for climate change impacts on mental health and well-being. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 79 (4) e222716, 295-301. doi: 10.1136/jech-2024-222716
2025
Journal Article
Associations of built environment features with multimorbidity: A systematic review protocol
Carr, Alistair L., Broadbent, Philip, Ho, Frederick K., Jani, Bhautesh, Olsen, Jonathan R., Wells, Valerie and Mair, Frances (2025). Associations of built environment features with multimorbidity: A systematic review protocol. Journal of Multimorbidity and Comorbidity, 15 26335565251333278, 1-10. doi: 10.1177/26335565251333278
2025
Journal Article
Sociodemographic and geographic inequalities in exposure to projected hot and extreme summer days in England: a nationwide socio-spatial analysis
Olsen, Jonathan R., Niedzwiedz, Claire, Nicholls, Natalie, Wheeler, Benedict W., Ho, Frederick K. and Pell, Jill P. (2025). Sociodemographic and geographic inequalities in exposure to projected hot and extreme summer days in England: a nationwide socio-spatial analysis. Environment International, 197 109351, 1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2025.109351
2025
Journal Article
Linkages between socioeconomic inequalities, pro-environmental behaviours, climate change concerns and experiences, and wellbeing outcomes in England
Olsen, Jonathan R., Niedzwiedz, Claire L., Dundas, Ruth, Rizeq, Jala, Baranyi, Gergő, Katikireddi, Srinivasa Vittal and Pell, Jill (2025). Linkages between socioeconomic inequalities, pro-environmental behaviours, climate change concerns and experiences, and wellbeing outcomes in England. Sustainable Environment, 11 (1) 2500182, 2500182-1. doi: 10.1080/27658511.2025.2500182
2024
Journal Article
How could 20-minute neighbourhoods impact health and health inequalities? A policy scoping review
Pollack, Roxana, Olsen, Jonathan R., Heppenstall, Alison, Hoehn, Andreas, Boyd, Jennifer, Hardy, Vicki Ponce, Littlejohn, Jennifer, Stevenson, Amy, Mitchell, Richard, Meier, Petra and Stokes, Jonathan (2024). How could 20-minute neighbourhoods impact health and health inequalities? A policy scoping review. BMC Public Health, 24 (1) 3426, 1-16. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-20928-5
2024
Journal Article
Individual, social and area level factors associated with older people's walking: Analysis of an UK household panel study (Understanding Society)
Olsen, Jonathan R., Whitley, Elise, Long, Emily, Rigby, Benjamin P., Macdonald, Laura, Dibben, Grace O., Palmer, Victoria J., Benzeval, Michaela, Mitchell, Kirstin, McCann, Mark, Anderson, Martin, Thomson, Meigan, Moore, Laurence and Simpson, Sharon A. (2024). Individual, social and area level factors associated with older people's walking: Analysis of an UK household panel study (Understanding Society). Social Science and Medicine, 358 117083, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117083
2024
Journal Article
Use of natural environments is associated with reduced inequalities in child mental wellbeing: A cross-sectional analysis using global positioning system (GPS) data
Caryl, Fiona, McCrorie, Paul, Olsen, Jonathan R. and Mitchell, Richard (2024). Use of natural environments is associated with reduced inequalities in child mental wellbeing: A cross-sectional analysis using global positioning system (GPS) data. Environment International, 190 108847, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108847
2024
Journal Article
Association between local amenities, travel behaviours and urban planning: A spatial analysis of a nationwide UK household panel study
Olsen, Jonathan R., Nicholls, Natalie, Whitley, Elise and Mitchell, Richard (2024). Association between local amenities, travel behaviours and urban planning: A spatial analysis of a nationwide UK household panel study. Journal of Transport and Health, 36 101784, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.jth.2024.101784
2024
Journal Article
Wildfire, deforestation and health in tropical rainforest areas: a scoping review protocol
Casais, Gustavo, Guimarães, Nathalia Sernizon, Cortes, Taísa Rodrigues, Pescarini, Julia, Rebouças de Magalhães, Poliana, Wells, Valerie, de Sousa Filho, José Firmino, Delgado Neves, Danielson Jorge, Shimonovich, Michal, Olsen, Jonathan R., de Carvalho Neto, Edgar Marcelino, Cooper, Philip, Katikireddi, Srinivasa Vittal, Emanuel, Lucas, Andrade, Roberto F. S., Ferreira dos Santos, Gervasio and Barreto, Mauricio L. (2024). Wildfire, deforestation and health in tropical rainforest areas: a scoping review protocol. BMJ Open, 14 (5) e082381, 1-6. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-082381
2024
Journal Article
Exploring young people’s views of their local area related to the 20-minute neighbourhood policy: a national cross-sectional study
Bulloch, Marissa and Olsen, Jonathan R. (2024). Exploring young people’s views of their local area related to the 20-minute neighbourhood policy: a national cross-sectional study. Cities and Health, 8 (6), 1081-1093. doi: 10.1080/23748834.2024.2315804
2024
Other Outputs
Research and policy agenda on health inequalities and planetary health: a coproduced cross sector vision
Baille, Anna, Olsen, Jonathan, Pearce, Anna, Irwin, Sarah, Pangbourne, Kate, Corcoran, Jonathan, Johnson, Laurel, Lisa McDaid, Reddel, Tim, Robinson, Mark, Wyeth, Stephanie and Glasgow, Queensland and Leeds Health and Equity Initiative (2024). Research and policy agenda on health inequalities and planetary health: a coproduced cross sector vision. Glasgow, United Kingdom: University of Glasgow. doi: 10.36399/gla.pubs.339527
2023
Journal Article
Inequalities in neighbourhood features within children's 20-minute neighbourhoods and variation in time spent locally, measured using GPS
Olsen, Jonathan R., Caryl, Fiona, Nicholls, Natalie, Smith, Melody, McCrorie, Paul and Mitchell, Richard (2023). Inequalities in neighbourhood features within children's 20-minute neighbourhoods and variation in time spent locally, measured using GPS. Wellbeing, Space and Society, 5 100174, 100174. doi: 10.1016/j.wss.2023.100174
2023
Journal Article
Introducing critical accounting for governance as a tool in exploring the commercial determinants of health
Stevenson, Lorna A., Maani, Nason and Olsen, Jonathan R. (2023). Introducing critical accounting for governance as a tool in exploring the commercial determinants of health. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 12 (1) 8128, 8128-1. doi: 10.34172/ijhpm.2023.8128
2022
Journal Article
Neighbourhood natural space and the narrowing of socioeconomic inequality in years of life lost: a cross-sectional ecological analysis of the Scottish Burden of Disease
Nicholls, Natalie, Caryl, Fiona, Olsen, Jonathan R. and Mitchell, Richard (2022). Neighbourhood natural space and the narrowing of socioeconomic inequality in years of life lost: a cross-sectional ecological analysis of the Scottish Burden of Disease. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 76 (12), 976-983. doi: 10.1136/jech-2022-219111
2022
Journal Article
Nationwide equity assessment of the 20-min neighbourhood in the scottish context: a socio-spatial proximity analysis of residential locations
Olsen, Jonathan R., Thornton, Lukar, Tregonning, Grant and Mitchell, Richard (2022). Nationwide equity assessment of the 20-min neighbourhood in the scottish context: a socio-spatial proximity analysis of residential locations. Social Science & Medicine, 315 115502, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115502
2022
Journal Article
Impact of subjective and objective neighbourhood characteristics and individual socioeconomic position on allostatic load: a cross-sectional analysis of an all-age UK household panel study
Whitley, Elise, Olsen, Jonathan and Benzeval, Michaela (2022). Impact of subjective and objective neighbourhood characteristics and individual socioeconomic position on allostatic load: a cross-sectional analysis of an all-age UK household panel study. Health and Place, 78 102930, 1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2022.102930
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Jonathan Olsen is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Jonathan Olsen directly for media enquiries about:
- 20-minute neighbourhoods
- brisbane health inequalities
- global health inequalities
- health geography
- health inequalities
- health inequities
- place-based planning
- queensland health inequalities
- spatial data
- urban liveability
- walkable neighbourhoods
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