Small Cities Lab

Unsolicited calls, door-to-door pitches, and mailers from retail electricity suppliers put Pennsylvania consumers in a tough spot — and new research suggests the decision to switch often isn't in their favor. A multidisciplinary team led by Samantha Fox, assistant professor of anthropology at Lehigh University, is studying the equity, justice, and efficiency effects of retail electric deregulation across the Lehigh Valley and several small Ohio cities. The project unites researchers from Lehigh's College of Arts and Sciences and Ohio State's John Glenn College of Public Affairs to examine how deregulated energy markets affect everyday consumers.

Small Cities Lab Researcher Isabelle O’Toole ’25 Documents Lehigh Valley Conference of Churches, Faith-Based Housing Efforts

Inaugural event gathered researchers and community leaders at Lehigh’s Mountaintop campus.

As climate change intensifies, a Lehigh researcher studies how extreme heat presents troubles as resource-strapped cities race to protect vulnerable residents without formal plans or sufficient funding.

Lehigh Students Reimagine Bus Access and Urban Equity in South Bethlehem.

Kevin Lahoda’s Research Lies at the Intersection of Culture, Technology, and Teaching.

Graduate student Heidi Kline assesses government policies as part of an affordable housing project.

A new interdisciplinary project in the College of Arts and Sciences creates a home for community-facing, action-oriented urban research.

Architect Wes Hiatt leads an effort to create affordable housing options.