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Integrated Researcher

Maria Assunção Gato

research interests

Urban studies, Social recompositions, Territorial dynamics, Culture and creativity, Tourism carrying capacity, Territory and real estate reconfigurations

Short Bio

Maria Assunção Gato is a researcher at the DINÂMIA’CET–IUL, integrating the "Cities and Territories" research group. The main research interests have been focused on the fields of Urban Anthropology and Sociology, exploring topics such as spatial consumption, values and meanings, social recompositions, lifestyles and residential dynamics in urban territories. In parallel, she has been developing a second line of research focused on cultural, participative and creative dynamics, taking into account socio-economic change and its impacts on the territory and local communities. Maria Assunção Gato is an anthropologist, holds a PhD in Cultural and Social Anthropology and a Master in Geography-Territorial Management from the Nova School of Social Sciences and Humanities, NOVA University of Lisbon. She is currently the editor of the academic journal Cities, Communities and Territories.

research project at dinâmia'cet-Iscte

The identification of tourism as one of the most pressing and cross-cutting issues in contemporary Lisbon suggests the exploration of new themes and methodological approaches to complement the knowledge of the many problems and challenges that the city faces today. In a main plan, the effects of tourism on housing and its reconfigurations in the real estate market, the structure of property, residents, urban uses and experiences are highlighted. At a secondary level, other complementary effects - such as mobility and the urban environment, functional management and the use of public space - and possible mitigation measures in terms of public policies will have to be considered. In line with the cross-cutting objectives of the Cities and Territories research group of DC, this project also responds to the strategy of strengthening the metropolitan vocation intended by ISCTE-IUL.

Link to DINÂMIA'CET-IUL identifying mission:

This program aims to consolidate an investigation focused on the observation and analysis of the new challenges facing the city of Lisbon. Despite a thematic framework centered on tourism, it is considered appropriate to open the focus to further questions and articulation with two of the research areas of the center: territory, governance.

Main publications

Cruz, A. R.; Perestrelo, M.; Gato, M.; Costa, P. (2018), "Connecting the dots: Contributions to the Creative Tourism Dynamics in Portugal", Tourism and Management Studies, Special Issue - Encontros Científicos

Gato, M.A. (2016), “Adding value to urban spaces: two examples from Lisbon”, Etnoloska Tribina, nº39, vol.46, 126-138.

Gato, M.A. (2015), “O consumo de espaços residenciais para além dos valores económicos”, Sociologia – Revista da Faculdade de Letras da Universidade do Porto, Número temático – Práticas de Consumo: valores e orientações, 67-92.

Gato, M.A. (2014), Viver no Parque das Nações: Espaços, consumos e identidades, Imprensa de Ciências Sociais, Lisboa.

Gato, M. A. (2014), “Living in an (Un)gated Community: Neighbourhood Belonging in Lisbon’s Parque das Nações” in, Mobilities and Neighbourhood Belonging in Cities and Suburbs, Paul Watt and Peer Smets (eds), Palgrave Macmillan, England.

Main projects

CREATOUR – Desenvolver Destinos de Turismo Criativo em Cidades de Pequena Dimensão e Áreas Rurais”, projecto coordenado pelo Centro de Estudos Sociais da Universidade de Coimbra e financiado pelo Portugal 2020.

4H-CREAT - Quadruple Helix to Stimulate Innovation in the Atlantic Cultural & Creative SMEs, european project coordinated by Glasgow Caledonian University, co-financed by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), through the Interreg Cooperation Programme INTERREG Atlantic Area | 2014-2020.

Um Monumento para o Lousal - Arte Pública e Participação Cidadã (Câmara Municipal de Grândola)

Atlas da Avenida Almirante Reis (CEAT-UAL/CICS.Nova)

Estudo de Avaliação do Programa Português Para Todos 2011-2012 (co-coordenadora) (Alto Comissariado para as Migrações)

Last update

23 de maio de 2023
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