Michael Brown

About

Michael Brown is a professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Washington. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia, obtained in 1994, and also earned an M.A. in 1990 from the same institution, as well as a B.A. from Clark University in 1988. His fields of interest include cities, critical theory, feminism and feminist theory, health, history, political geography, queer studies, research methods, urban politics, and urban studies. Brown's research focuses on the social relations within urban spaces, with particular attention to issues such as sexuality, health, and political processes. His work explores the geographies of AIDS, queer diffusion, and the intersections of gender, sexuality, and place, contributing to the understanding of social and political dynamics in urban environments. He has advised numerous students and has been actively involved in teaching courses related to urban political geography, research design, and qualitative methods. Brown's scholarly contributions include a range of publications and collaborations that examine the spatial and social dimensions of contemporary urban issues.

Research topics

• Sociology
• Psychology
• Computer Science
• Geography
• Media studies
• Cartography
• Genetics
• Biology
• Social psychology
• Art

Selected publications

• De novo mutations across 1,465 diverse genomes reveal mutational insights and reductions in the Amish founder population

  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2020 · 110 citations

  ), which suggest that variation in DNM rate is significantly shaped by nonadditive genetic effects and the environment.

  DOI

• Travel guides, urban spatial imaginaries and LGBTQ+ activism: The case of Damron guides

  Urban Studies · 2020 · 43 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding

  In this paper we focus on LGBTQ+ travel guides and the creation of a North American LGBTQ+ urban imaginary as forms and facilitators of activism. Specifically, we consider one of the few continuously published sources detailing such an imaginary in the mid-20th century and its construction of an 'epistemological grid' onto which entries were placed. We briefly situate the guides in the context of an emerging (and frequently politicised) mid-20th-century LGBTQ+ media ecosystem, then proceed to a…

  DOI

• The views of parents of children and young people with intellectual disability on relationships and sexuality education: findings from a qualitative study

  Research Portal (Queen's University Belfast) · 2026-02-01

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Background: Parents and primary caregivers recognise the challenges of transitioning to adulthood for children and young people with intellectual disability. They feel unprepared for relationships and sexuality education and recognise evidence-informed programmes are required for safety and healthy relationships.<br/><br/>Aim: To identify the views and experiences of parents of children and young people with intellectual disability regarding RSE programmes.<br/><br/>Methods: Eleven parents parti…

  Publisher

• “One size doesn’t fit all.” The voices of professionals regarding the delivery of relationships and sexuality education to children and young people with intellectual disability: findings from a UK-wide qualitative study

  Research Portal (Queen's University Belfast) · 2026-02-01

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Background: Relationships and sexuality education (RSE) is critical for children and young people with intellectual disabilities yet, is a contentious issue. This study explored the views and experiences of professionals regarding RSE programmes.<br/><br/>Method: Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with 16 health, social care and education professionals. Professionals came from across the UK (England n=5, Scotland n=1, Wales n=2, Northern Ireland n=8). Interview data were subjec…

  Publisher

• Climate Mitigation in the Land Sector of the Global South

  2025-11-19

  book1st authorCorresponding

  This book challenges dominant, top-down approaches to climate mitigation in the land sector, arguing that without genuine negotiation, recognized land rights, and tailored capacity building for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs), most solutions will inevitably fail or do harm. With civil society increasingly acting as a driving force for transparency and accountability around the world, the possibility of achieving feasible, impactful Nature-based Solutions (NbS) is growing. This v…

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• Urban Governmentalities in Local-State Relations with a Marginalized Population

  NSF · $250k · 2011–2016

Frequent coauthors

• Lynne Marsh

  Queen's University Belfast

  57 shared

• Rolf Magnus Grung

  OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University

  38 shared

• Thanos Karatzias

  Edinburgh Napier University

  38 shared

• Sam Abdulla

  37 shared

• Julien‐Ferencz Kiss

  University of Oradea

  36 shared

• Anna Odrowąż‐Coates

  Maria Grzegorzewska Academy of Special Education

  36 shared

• Edward McCann

  32 shared

• Maria Truesdale

  University of Glasgow

  25 shared

Labs

• Department of Geography, University of WashingtonPI

Education

• Professor, Nursing & Midwifery

  Edinburgh Napier University

  2017

Awards & honors

• 2025 Awards, Honors and Achievements (June 11, 2025)
• Professor Emeritus Dick Morrill Honored at Upcoming UW Award…

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