About
Katja Rackow is a Scientific Associate at the Institute for Gerontology (IfG) at the University of Vechta. Her research focuses on social aspects of aging, particularly in rural contexts, including neighborhood dynamics, solidarity mechanisms, and social inequality. Rackow has contributed to projects like 'Regiopart' exploring neighborhood development in Eastern Germany and media literacy initiatives for seniors in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
She teaches courses on quantitative and qualitative research methods, gerontology, and social inequality at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Rackow has published extensively on rural aging, social support networks, and emotional dimensions of social inequality. Her work bridges sociological theory with applied research, addressing topics like pet ownership in later life and intergenerational relations.
Rackow collaborates actively in interdisciplinary projects and has presented at major conferences such as the European Society for Rural Sociology and the German Society for Gerontology. Her teaching spans methodological training (e.g., SPSS/PSPP analysis) and thematic courses on aging in society.
