AboutEmployees
Pavel Grabalov

Pavel Grabalov

Researcher

  • Department of Urban and Regional Planning

I am a researcher at SITRAP (Center for Integrated and Transdisciplinary Teaching in Planning), where I explore how learning unfolds in professional practice within the field of spatial planning. My research focuses on how practitioners acquire knowledge in the workplace, how their competencies evolve through higher education and professional experience, and the role of work-integrated learning in shaping both the curriculum and students’ professional identities. The aim of my current research is to contribute to the development of didactical recommendations and to strengthen the connection between education and practice.

In addition to this, I have worked on topics such as public space planning and design, cemetery planning, urban agriculture, and circular economy. I bring strong expertise in qualitative methods, work across disciplines, and have a keen interest in the interplay between research and policy development. I also serve as the managing editor of plaNext – Next Generation Planning and as a member of the editorial board of Urban Planning journal. I hold a PhD from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) and a master’s degree in urban studies from Malmö University. 

I have pedagogical qualifications, including a university pedagogy course completed at Lovisenberg Diaconal University College in 2025, and practical experience in teaching—ranging from course responsibility and lecturing to supervising master’s students. I am a member of the Planning Education thematic group of the Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP).

  • Areas of Work
    • Urban studies
    • Urban Planning
    • Planning education
    • Public space
    • Cemetery research
    • Comparative studies
  • Publications

    List of publications from my research. (Cristin)

    Scientific peer-reviewed journal papers:

    Uteng, T. P., Marino, D. M., Standal, A., and Grabalov, P. 2025. The future of resharing practices in Norwegian neighborhoods: Perspectives from residents and stakeholders. Sustainable Development. Online first. https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.70128

    Grabalov P. 2022. Invisible public spaces: The role of cemeteries in urban planning and development in Moscow. Journal of Urban Affairs. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/07352166.2022.2147434

    Grabalov, P. and Nordh, H. 2021. The future of urban cemeteries as public spaces: Insights from Oslo and Copenhagen. Planning Theory & Practice, 23(1), pp. 81–98. https://doi.org/10.1080/14649357.2021.1993973 (the "most downloaded" article at Planning Theory & Practice in 2023)

    Grabalov, P. and Nordh, H. 2020. “Philosophical park”: Cemeteries in the Scandinavian urban context. Sociální studia / Social Studies, 17(1), pp. 33–54. https://doi.org/10.5817/SOC2020-1-33

    Grabalov, P. 2018. Public life among the dead: Jogging in Malmö cemeteries. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 33, pp. 75–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2018.01.027

    Book chapter:

    Murphy, M. A. and Grabalov, P. 2024. Cultivating publicness through urban agriculture: Learning from Aarhus and Rotterdam. In: Sirowy, B., Ruggeri, D. (eds) Urban agriculture in public space. GeoJournal Library, vol 132. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-41550-0_4 (Norwegian version: Murphy M. A., & Grabalov P. (2025). Å dyrke offentlighet gjennom urbant landbruk: læring fra Århus og Rotterdam. I B. Sirowy og D. Ruggeri (Red.), Urbant landbruk i det offentlige rom: Livskvalitet, planlegging og design (Kap. 4, s. 97–146). Cappelen Damm Akademisk. https://doi.org/10.23865/cdf.228.ch4) 

    Book review:

    Marino, D. M. and Grabalov, P. 2021. Review of the book Companion to Public Space, edited by Vikas Mehta & Danilo Palazzo. Landscape Research, 46(2), 295–297. https://doi.org/10.1080/01426397.2021.1872828

    Conference and seminar presentations (after 2024):

    Grabalov, P. (2025, August 21–23). Practice shock? Professional identity development among Norwegian spatial planners in the transition from education to work. International Conference on Educational and Life Transitions 2025, University of Dundee, the UK. [digital]

    Grabalov, P., Fuglseth, K. S. and Bjordal, S. N. (2025, July 7–11). Dare to speak up when something is wrong: Scope of action, roles and feelings in the reflective narratives of Norwegian planning practitioners. Congress of the Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP), Yıldız Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey.

    Standal, A., Børrud, E. and Grabalov, P. (2025, July 7–11). Design thinking and designing as collaborative competencies in planning education. Congress of the Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP), Yıldız Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey.

    Marino, D. M., Uteng, T. P., Standal, A. and Grabalov, P. (2025, July 7–11). The future of resharing practices in Norwegian neighborhoods: Perspectives from residents and stakeholders. Congress of the Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP), Yıldız Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey.

    Grabalov, P. (2024, November 25). Learning in spatial planning: SITRAPs project of research on practice. Research seminar at the Centre for Practical Knowledge, Nord University, Bodø, Norway. [in Norwegian]

    Grabalov, P. and Bjordal, S. N. (2024, November 27–28). How and what do planners learn? Investigating employee learning in the Norwegian consultancies. Symposium "Matters of Urban Expertise: Who develops the city of the future?", KTH, Stockholm, Sweden.

    Grabalov, P. and Bjordal, S. N. (2024, July 9–12). Knowledge transfer among practitioners: Investigating in-house training in the Norwegian planning industry. Congress of the Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP), Sciences Po, Paris, France.

    Popular scientific dissemination (selection):

    Schøyen, A. 2025. Grav­plass­byråkratene har hårete mål. Morgenbladet. https://www.morgenbladet.no/kultur/gravplassbyrakratene-har-harete-mal/9881065

    Romanova K. and Grabalov, P. 2024. How to properly picnic in a cemetery? Podcast "berlin bones". https://open.spotify.com/episode/0JFbYQa3PXuEapcyxhQPHu

    Grabalov, P. 2023. Multifunksjonelle gravplasser. Fagbladet Gravplassen. https://www.fagbladet-gravplassen.no/artikler/multifunksjonelle-gravplasser

    Grabalov, P. 2022. Urbane kirkegårders framtid. Arkitektur N, 5, 76–81.

    Cogorno, I. R. 2022. "– Vi må tørre å snakke om Oslos gravlunder". Interview. Avisa Oslo. https://www.ao.no/5-128-251713

    Skjelvik, S. 2022. Gravlunder kan bli fremtidens parker: – Brukes allerede til mye annet. NRK. https://www.nrk.no/nordland/urbane-gravlunder-kan-bli-folkeparker-_-ny-by-i-bodo-planlegger-med-gronn-korridor-i-gravlund-1.16056297

  • Teaching

    Previous teaching experience: