Tine Buffel Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and Professor of Sociology and Social Gerontology at the University of Manchester, and founding director of the Manchester Urban Ageing Research Group

Tine Buffel is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (FAcSS) and Professor of Sociology and Social Gerontology at the University of Manchester, where she is the founding director of the Manchester Urban Ageing Research Group (MUARG) (opens new window). MUARG is an interdisciplinary group that brings together scholars from sociology, geography, anthropology, political science, and architecture, focusing on research and action, innovation, and co-production to address the challenges associated with population ageing in urban environments.

She has published widely in the field of ageing, addressing social and environmental issues affecting ageing populations, with a particular focus on inequality, exclusion, and spatial and social justice. Renowned for her participatory and co-production methodologies, she collaborates with older people, local authorities, and community groups to study and develop age-friendly communities.

In 2024, Tine Buffel published two significant books: Reimagining Age-Friendly Communities: Urban Ageing and Spatial Justice offers a new approach to understanding the opportunities and challenges of creating age-friendly communities in the context of urban change, focusing on social justice, equity, diversity, and co-production to enhance urban life and exploring a range of age-friendly community projects. Ageing in Place in Urban Environments: Critical Perspectives, co-authored with Chris Phillipson, considers the dual trends of population ageing and urbanisation to examine how cities can better meet the needs of an ageing population, drawing on interdisciplinary approaches to emphasise the role of local environments in promoting ageing in place.