The International Handbook of Research on Learning Environments offers a comprehensive, interdisciplinary synthesis of how learning environments shape teaching, learning, and wellbeing across diverse global contexts. Bringing together research spanning spatial design, pedagogy, and psychosocial dimensions, the Handbook advances an ecological understanding of environments as dynamic, co-constructed systems. It engages pressing contemporary challenges, including climate-responsive design, cultural and Indigenous perspectives, biophilic and health-focused environments, and trauma-informed and inclusive practices. Central to the volume is the role of co-design, spatial competency, and teacher professional learning in bridging the gap between design and practice. By integrating theoretical foundations, empirical evidence, and practice-based innovations, the Handbook serves as both an authoritative reference and a catalyst for future research, policy, and educational transformation.

Marian Mahat is Associate Professor of Learning Environments in the Faculty of Education at the University of Melbourne. She leads a sustained and impactful research program addressing critical issues at the intersection of physical and pedagogical learning environments, with a particular focus on spatial literacy and competency, and spatialised professional learning and development. Her contributions include more than 100 publications and over AUD$3 million in external research funding and contracts. Marian leads a series of micro-credentials on Leading Change in Learning Environments, serves as series editor for Linking Theory and Practice in Learning Environments (Emerald), and is Associate Editor of Learning Environments Research.

Jill Aldridge is a Professor in the School of Education at Curtin University, Western Australia. Her research in learning environments uses stakeholder data within participatory action research to improve student outcomes at classroom, school, and system levels, including cross-cultural contexts. Jill has led programmatic, high-impact research supported by over $2.3 million in external funding and more than $300,000 in contracted projects and working closely with HDR students. A strong focus of her work is translating research into practice through professional learning, mentoring, and accessible publications. She has over 170 publications, more than 4,000 citations in the past five years, and is Editor-in-Chief of the Q1 journal, Learning Environments Research.

Kenn Fisher is an Associate Professor in Learning Environments at the University of Melbourne. As a 50:50 research/teaching academic and learning/health environments consultant he follows Donald Norman’s concept of translational design. He was formerly Head of the OECD Centre for Effective Learning Environments and consults in the Middle East, Europe, Australia/NZ, Asia and the USA. In 2009 he co-founded the Learning Environments Applied Research Network which has since won over $7million in grants. His research focusses on evidence-based biophilic design for health and wellbeing and he has authored 50 peer reviewed Journal articles and edited/co-edited 6 books.