Dr Rachel Sara Associate Professor of Architecture, Department of Architecture & Built Environment, University of the West of England

Dr Rachel Sara is Associate Professor in Architecture and Programme Leader for the Master of Architecture degree. Her research particularly explores ‘other’ forms of architecture, particularly through hands-on, community based architectural activism. She is the founder of Hands-on-Bristol, a collective that brings together architecture students and practitioners with local communities through collaboration in live community-based projects (see http://www.hands-on-bristol.co.uk). Through these projects she explores the civic role of the University in engaging with local communities and international communities. Since its inception, Hands-on-Bristol have undertaken over 57 community-based projects and involved 240 students, undertaking over 2300 hours of work with community groups in Bristol and the South West. She is also link tutor for the Sri Lanka Colombo School of Architecture, where she has established an international extension to the hands-on project.