Dr Mirka Virtanen

Personal statement:

I am an early career researcher and Lecturer in Transport Planning and Mobilities at Cardiff University. My teaching focuses on sustainable transport planning, transport equity and justice, and the politics of infrastructure development, building on earlier experience teaching environmental planning, governance and policy. My research explores how devolution shapes infrastructure and transport development in Wales, with a broader interest in how devolved governance influences pathways toward sustainability and net zero. I also have policy experience with the European Green Party and have supported training local green politicians in the Balkans.

Key topic areas of research or interest:

• Sustainability transitions
• Infrastructure and transport planning
• Devolution and governance
• Discourse analysis

Collaboration opportunities:

I would be interested in any suitable research collaborations

Publications:

“Making sense of exceptional planning decisions: exploring the agonistic dynamics of sustainability in infrastructure planning” https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09654313.2025.2522234?src= . European Planning Studies.