Benedikt Straňák

In the Czech Republic, town planning and urbanism are traditionally seen as part of the realm of architects. My undergraduate studies of Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) at University College London helped me realize that a good planner also needs to understand urban economics and related social issues, as well as local politics. Thanks to the support of the family foundation of Zdenek and Michaela Bakala, I can pursue a prestigious master’s degree in Regional and Urban Planning Studies at the London School of Economics. After finishing my studies, I would like to help address the issues of environmental unsustainability and social exclusion in central European towns and cities. These issues are especially pressing in the context of the global climate crisis, deepening inequalities and increasing number of socially excluded areas thirty years after the economic transition in the Czech Republic. Alongside my studies, I am also involved in fighting homo-, bi- and transphobia at London’s schools.