Personal Statement
Jon is an environmental historian of modern Britain. His research explores how people experience, adapt to and shape urban environments in a changing climate. His work spans urban and environmental history, childhood studies, climate adaptation and policy engagement.

His first book, Designed for Play (2024), explored the social and environmental history of the children's playground. In examining the evolution of play space design, the book shows that the ideal playground has long represented a space where changing conceptions of nature, health, childhood, commerce and technology have all been played out.

Jon is an Honorary Fellow at the University of Liverpool on the Melting Metropolis project. He is investigating everyday experiences of extreme heat in London using archival research and oral history methods. He is developing his second book exploring experiences of and responses to extreme heat in postwar London.

His research has featured on BBC Radio, The Conversation, BBC History Magazine and The Big Issue. He has provided expert evidence to Parliament, contributed to policy development for local and regional authorities, and led a wide range of public and community engagement activities. His work has been supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, Wellcome Trust, British Academy, the Royal Historical Society and the Scouloudi Foundation.

Before entering academia, he worked in the heritage sector as a practitioner and project manager, securing and managing more than £15 million in funding for research, landscape restoration and community engagement projects across the UK.