PhD, Dip Com Psych
Head of Department and Director of HePPRU
Teaches PUBH713 Society, Health & Health Promotion, PUBH744 Healthy Public Policy
Contact details
Tel +64 4 385 5541 ext 6477
Email louise.signal@otago.ac.nz
Research interests and activities
Professor Louise Signal is currently Head of the Department of Public Health. Louise is also a Director of the Health Promotion and Policy Research Unit at the University of Otago, Wellington as well as Co-Director of Te Rōpū Rangahau ō Te Kāhui Matepukupuku: Cancer Society Research Collaboration. Louise is a social scientist with a PhD in Community Health from the University of Toronto. She has been a member of the Department of Public Health for over 20 years and has previous experience working at central and local government in health promotion and community development.
Professor Signal’s research focuses on identifying and addressing environmental determinants of health. Her research has a strong focus on equity for Māori, Pacific, and low-income communities. Key research areas include the politics of health and health equity, obesity prevention, and addressing harm from alcohol and sun exposure. Her research utilises qualitative research methods, policy research and mixed method research design. Professor Signal was principal investigator on an innovative research project that studied the world children live in – Kids’ Cam, which used automated cameras to record children’s worlds.
