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Christoph DittrichView profile

Professor

• Human Geography
• Development Geography
• Sustainable Resource Use
• +5 more

Prof. Dr. Christoph Dittrich serves as Dean of the Faculty of Geosciences and Geography at the University of Göttingen since April 2021, Head of the Department of Human Geography since 2011, and previously as Managing Director of the Institute of Geography (2013-2021). His academic career is deeply rooted in human geography with a focus on development issues in global contexts. He completed his doctorate in 1995 researching smallholder food security in northern Pakistan (DFG-funded) and habilitation in 2002 analyzing globalization effects in Bengaluru, India (DFG-funded). His educational trajectory established foundations for his regionally focused empirical work. Dittrich's research centers on sustainable resource use in megacities of developing/emerging economies, conflict-prone human-environment relationships, and rural-urban dynamics. With regional specialization in South/Southeast Asia (particularly India), his work integrates gender perspectives and examines food systems, land conflicts, and sustainability transitions through theory-driven yet practice-oriented approaches. Current investigations focus on rurban spaces and middle-class consumption patterns. No scientific awards were explicitly documented in the source material. He actively supervises student research on public services, health, housing, and sustainability transitions while leading major funded projects including the DFG research group FOR5903 'Sustainable Rurbanity' (2025-2029), prior DFG collaborations in Bengaluru (2016-2023), Hyderabad sustainability studies (2006-2013), and Sumatra land conflict research (2011-2015). His grant portfolio demonstrates sustained competitive funding from DFG and BMBF. Dittrich directs interdisciplinary research teams within the DFG's Collaborative Research Center 990 and FOR2432 frameworks, emphasizing social-ecological systems analysis at rural-urban interfaces. His laboratory approach integrates fieldwork with policy-relevant knowledge production.

• architectural design
• urban planning
• sustainable architecture
• +6 more

Hatice KIRAN ÇAKIR is an Associate Professor at Trakya University Faculty of Architecture, Department of Architecture , with expertise in urban planning, sustainable design, and historical preservation. She has served as Farabi Coordinator since 2013 and held administrative roles including Deputy Head of Department (2007-2012). Educational Background: Bachelor's & Master's in Architecture (Trakya University, 1989 & 1994) PhD in Architecture (Trakya University, 2006) with thesis on social structure in residential area selection Research Interests: Socio-economic factors in urban development Spatial hierarchy and privacy in heritage architecture Ecological approaches to transportation and green areas Disaster management systems and ergonomic design Participatory urban interventions Article Trends: Her recent work focuses on pandemic-driven urban transformation, adaptive reuse of historical structures, disaster resilience in city planning, and cross-cultural analysis of spatial hierarchies. She explores intersections between heritage conservation and ecological sustainability. Advising & Projects: Supervised 6+ doctoral/master's theses on urban transformation, disaster shelters, and spatial accessibility Managed TÜBAB research project (2009) on railway transport sustainability Coordinated Ergene Basin Environmental Plan (2001-2002) Labs & Collaborations: Active in international symposiums (International Sinan Symposium, Paris Congress) and interdisciplinary editorial work for journals like Trakia Journal of Sciences . Participates in multi-author projects with scholars such as Pinar KISA OVALI and Selin ARABULAN.

Brian T. ForschlerView profile

Professor

• Entomology
• Urban Entomology
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
• +4 more

Brian T. Forschler is a Professor in the Department of Entomology at the University of Georgia's College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences. With 26 years as Principal Investigator for the Household and Structural Entomology Research Program, he has taught Urban Entomology and IPM courses for over 16 years and mentored 11 post-doctoral associates, 6 PhD, 12 Master’s, and 18 undergraduate students. He serves on multiple regulatory committees including the Georgia Department of Agriculture Structural Pest Control Commission. International Collaborations: Madihol University (Thailand), RISH Institute (Japan), BAM Institute (Germany), Vietnam Academy for Water Resources Research Themes: Termite biology, IPM strategies, soil insecticides, genetic analysis, urban-rural ecosystem interactions His work includes organizing international symposia on urban pests and authoring over 100 scientific/popular articles. Key contributions involve termite baiting systems, chemotaxonomic studies, and ecological impact assessments of invasive species. Current research explores termite-mediated carbon cycling in forest ecosystems and economic impacts of pest control. Recent Article Trends: Termite management in forests (2018) Chitin synthesis inhibitors in baits (2016) Termite economic impact analysis (2024) Wood decomposition modeling tools (2021) Biological control mechanisms (2019) Urban-natural ecosystem intersections (2018) Scientific Leadership: Chair of Termiticide Scientific Review Panel; member of ASPCRO Termiticide Label Review Committee. Has conducted training for industry/regulatory officials across continents.

Dominic SauerbreyView profile

Researcher

• Refugee Studies
• Social Geography
• Rural Development
• +4 more

Dominic Sauerbrey is a Researcher at the Institute for Migration Research and Intercultural Studies (IMIS) at the University of Osnabrück. He contributes to the DFG-funded Collaborative Research Center 1604 'Production of Migration' as a research associate in Subproject A5 (2024-present), analyzing refugee-related figures since the 1970s. Additionally, he serves as an associated doctoral candidate at the Leibniz Centre for Contemporary History Potsdam (ZZF) , Department V (2024-present), and advises the Refugee Law Clinic Osnabrück (2022-present), including board membership (2024-2025). M.A. in International Migration and Intercultural Relations, University of Osnabrück (2021-2024) B.A. in Cultural Geography, FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg (2016-2020) His research focuses on refugee integration , labor market dynamics , and rural migration , employing discourse analysis and historical methodologies . Recent publications examine refugee chronicles (2022-2025), rural self-employment patterns, and participatory workshop frameworks. Key themes include the evolution of refugee-related data production, rural development challenges, and policy discourse. Scientific awards include the Alumni of the Social Sciences Award for his Master's thesis on refugee labor market integration in Germany. He has collaborated with institutions like the Franconian Geographical Society and contributed to EU H2020 projects such as MATILDE .

Giulio Bianchi PiccininiView profile

Associate Professor

• Road Safety
• Human Factors in Transportation
• Traffic Psychology
• +3 more

Giulio Bianchi Piccinini is an Associate Professor at Aalborg University’s Department of Construction, Urban and Environmental Engineering, leading the research group Data Analysis and Human Factors in Traffic . His career spans academia and industry, including nine years at Chalmers University of Technology’s Crash Analysis and Prevention group and prior automotive industry experience in Italy. Education : PhD in Transportation Systems (University of Porto, 2019); Master’s in Automotive Engineering (Polytechnic University of Turin, 2014); Bachelor’s (2007). Giulio’s research centers on road safety , analyzing accident mechanisms involving drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. His work combines expert assessment and naturalistic data (video, kinematic variables) with theoretical foundations in engineering , cognitive science , and human factors . Recent projects include Safe e-PMvs (electric personal mobility safety) and Computer Vision for Cycling Safety . His articles highlight trends in driver-cyclist interactions , autonomous vehicle safety , and behavioral adaptation to driver assistance systems. Awards include the 2016 Best Presentation Award and 2007 Best Italian Master’s Thesis in Automotive Engineering . Teaching : Supervises undergraduate and graduate students in Civil Engineering and Roads & Traffic Engineering; developing a new Master’s program in Sustainable Road Transportation. Leadership : Served on editorial boards of Journal of Safety Research and European Transport Research Review ; former head of Chalmers’ Human Behaviour competence network.

Jürgen ScheffranView profile

Professor

• Climate Change
• Security and Resource Conflicts
• Renewable Energies
• +4 more

Prof. Dr. Jürgen Scheffran is a Professor of Integrative Geography at the University of Hamburg and leads the Working Group Integrative Geography . His research focuses on the interaction between humans, society, and environment , particularly climate change security risks , resource conflicts , and renewable energy transitions . He specializes in modeling complex systems and technology assessment . Key affiliations : CliSAP Cluster of Excellence, Center for Earth System Research & Sustainability (CEN), International Network of Engineers and Scientists for Global Responsibility (INES) Education : Dr. rer. nat. in agent-based conflict modeling and international security (1986-1989, University of Marburg); Physics studies (1976-1983, University of Marburg) His work bridges climate science and security studies , with a focus on modeling human-environment interactions and conflict resolution in resource-stressed regions . Recent publications analyze climate-induced migration , bioenergy infrastructure , and geoengineering risks . Scientific awards include the Göttinger Friedenspreis (2000) . He has advised on climate policy and nuclear disarmament for institutions like the European Commission , BMBF , and IPCC . Prof. Scheffran actively participates in interdisciplinary research networks , including the DFG-funded CliCCS Cluster of Excellence (2019-2023) and DAAD partnerships on urban energy transitions.

• Urban Morphology
• Regional Planning
• Urban Development
• +4 more

Prof. Dr. Tolga ÜNLÜ, currently serving at Çukurova University's Faculty of Architecture, is a leading scholar in Urban and Regional Planning with a focus on urban morphology and fringe-belt dynamics. His research explores the intersection of urban development, historical geography, and ecological planning, particularly in Mediterranean port cities like Mersin. Academic Rank: Professor Institution: Çukurova University Department: Urban and Regional Planning Email: tunlu@cu.edu.tr His work emphasizes morphological processes in urban transformation, spatial planning frameworks, and sustainable development strategies. Key themes include: Historical evolution of urban form Climate-responsive planning Public space regeneration Policy-practice integration in planning Mediterranean coastal urbanism GIS-based urban analysis Recent publications highlight trends in fringe-belt modeling, historical urban studies, and sustainable development. While no scientific awards or students are explicitly mentioned in the provided text, his contributions to urban morphology through conferences, case studies, and theoretical advancements remain significant.

Niels-Erik ClausenView profile

Associate Professor

• Wind Energy Systems
• Renewable Energy Planning
• Environmental Impact Assessment
• +5 more

Niels-Erik Clausen is an Associate Professor at DTU Wind and Energy Systems , focusing on wind farm planning, social acceptability, and cold climate challenges. With 15 years of industrial experience, he leads Denmark-Ethiopia energy partnerships and teaches in DTU’s MSc program. Expertise: Wind farm planning, turbine icing, environmental impact, circular economy Leadership: Head of MSc study board, project coordinator for SUSTAINOW His research bridges engineering and policy , addressing offshore wind ecosystems, sustainability metrics, and cross-sectoral governance. Recent work explores decommissioning wind turbines in Denmark/Germany and wind resource mapping in Iceland. Publications span renewable energy , climate change resilience , and medical trials (e.g., septic shock treatments). He supervises interdisciplinary projects and contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals. Projects: South Baltic Wind Atlas , IEA Wind Task 19 , EIC Sustainability Calculator Collaborations: Ethiopia, Egypt, Germany, Sweden

Vanessa LevesqueView profile

Professor

• Sustainability Science
• Environmental Planning
• Environmental Policy
• +4 more

Vanessa Levesque is a Professor in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy at the University of Maine, College of Science, Technology, and Health. Her research bridges sustainability science, environmental planning, and policy analysis through interdisciplinary collaboration. Education: PhD in Ecology & Environmental Sciences (University of Maine), MS in Natural Resources Planning (University of Vermont), BA in Environmental & Evolutionary Biology (Dartmouth College) Her research focuses on municipal-level environmental governance, analyzing how co-produced knowledge drives climate adaptation and community resilience. Projects include assessing rural resilience through digital services, evaluating municipal pandemic response capacities, and innovating vernal pool conservation policies via collaborative networks. Key methodologies span quantitative statistical analysis of policy drivers, social network analysis of conservation partnerships, and qualitative interviews with policymakers. Her work emphasizes partnerships with non-academic stakeholders to ensure practical applicability of findings, engaging disciplines like wildlife ecology, economics, and marine policy. Selected publications highlight transdisciplinary approaches, collaborative governance mechanisms, and frameworks for integrating citizen science into natural resource management. Current projects emphasize small community resilience in coastal and rural contexts.

• Environmental Sociology
• Public Perceptions of Science
• Coastal and Marine Resource Management
• +5 more

Thomas Safford is an Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of New Hampshire, specializing in environmental sociology and the social dimensions of science. His work bridges sociological theory with practical applications in coastal and marine resource management. His research focuses on: Public perceptions of environmental science and climate change Social bases of environmental attitudes Inter-organizational dynamics in natural resource management Cross-national studies of water and coastal governance He employs mixed-methods approaches to integrate social and biophysical data for policy development. Recent publications reveal a pronounced focus on aquaculture development, pandemic science communication, and climate adaptation, with significant fieldwork in Maine, Brazil, and Ecuador. His work consistently examines how scientific information flows through social networks to influence policy outcomes. Award Highlights: Fulbright Scholar (2014-2015) at Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Brazil Major research funding includes principal investigator roles on NSF and NOAA grants, including the New England Sustainability Consortium Project and international collaborations studying Amazon Basin water management. His fieldwork spans community-based research in coastal Maine, Puget Sound, and the Brazilian Amazon. He maintains active research partnerships with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), USDA Rural Development, and international institutions in Brazil and Ecuador, focusing on community resilience and environmental governance.

Cynnamon Dobbs-BrownView profile

Assistant Professor

• Urban Forestry
• Urban Ecology
• Ecosystem Services Assessment
• +3 more

Cynnamon Dobbs-Brown serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment at the University of Connecticut since 2022. Her academic career spans multiple continents with positions at Universidad Mayor and Universidad de Chile in Chile, and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, following postdoctoral research and urban forestry practice in Australia. Education: PhD 2014 - University of Melbourne, Australia (Urban Ecology) MSc 2009 - University of Florida (Urban Forestry) Ing. For. 2005 - Universidad de Chile, Chile (Forest Engineering) BS 2003 - Universidad de Chile (Forestry) Research Focus: Her research centers on urban forestry and urban ecology, specifically examining the dynamics of urban socio-ecological systems. She employs ecosystem services assessment and spatial analysis as primary methodologies to understand how nature-based solutions provide ecosystem services and how these relate to social drivers including planning policies, community participation, and human well-being. Teaching Contributions: At UConn, she teaches undergraduate courses in Sustainable Urban Ecosystems and Urban/Community Forestry, along with graduate courses in Landscape Ecology. Recent Research Trends: Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on urban vegetation patterns across Latin American cities, nature-based solutions governance, climate change impacts on Mediterranean forests, and environmental justice in urban green space access. The work increasingly emphasizes transdisciplinary approaches combining ecological monitoring with social dimensions of urban environmental management. Collaborative Networks: Her extensive publication record with international co-authors indicates active collaboration across Europe, Latin America, and Australia, with particular strength in comparative urban ecology studies between continents.

Patrícia AbrantesView profile

Assistant Professor

• Geography
• Regional Planning
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• +5 more

Patrícia Abrantes is an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning, University of Lisbon, specializing in urban planning, agricultural land systems, and geographic information systems. She holds a PhD in Geography and Regional Planning (2007) and DEA in Urban Planning (2003) from Universidade Nova de Lisboa. PhD (2007) - Universidade Nova de Lisboa DEA (2003) - Institut de Géographie Licenciatura (2001) - Universidade Nova de Lisboa Her research focuses on peri-urban dynamics, land use change modeling, and sustainable development, with recent work analyzing pandemic-era telework impacts and GIS-based participatory mapping. She actively contributes to academic communities through ORCID (0000-0002-5477-8657), Ciência Vitae (C913-032A-9B76), and SCOPUS (N-3554-2016). Recent publications examine land cover changes in Mediterranean regions, agri-urban integration, and GIS applications for territorialized pandemic analysis. Her work bridges spatial planning theory with practical policy monitoring tools.

Pedro GuimarãesView profile

Assistant Professor

• Geography
• Spatial Planning
• Territorial Management
• +3 more

Pedro Guimarães serves as an Assistant Professor at the Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning (IGOT) within the University of Lisbon, contributing to academic programs across undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels in geography, spatial planning, and territorial management disciplines. His educational foundation includes: PhD in Geography (2015) from University of Lisbon's Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning MSc in Geography (2010) from University of Minho Bachelor's degree in Geography (2006) from University of Lisbon's Faculty of Arts His research centers on human-environment interactions within geographical contexts, specializing in territorial organization, spatial dynamics, and sustainable development frameworks. Key focus areas include urban-rural interfaces, policy implementation in spatial planning, and environmental resource management, with particular relevance to European and Portuguese territorial governance systems. His work bridges theoretical geographical concepts with practical applications in regional development and risk assessment. Professional recognition includes ORCID identifier 0000-0001-9011-8894 and Researcher ID M-5139-2016, alongside active scholarly profiles on Google Scholar, SCOPUS, and Ciência Vitae.

Hanna WernerView profile

Research Fellow

• Modernity
• Postcolonial Theory
• Cultural Identity Politics
• +5 more

Hanna Werner is a Junior Fellow at the Max-Weber-Kolleg (University of Erfurt), where she conducts research on modernity , postcolonial theory , cultural identity politics , nationalism , power/knowledge , governmentality , and social/environmental movements . Her work bridges anthropology with development studies , focusing on contested modernity and resistance in South Asia and Africa. Research Trends : Her publications (2006–2024) emphasize environmental activism , science-society interfaces , and postcolonial critiques of development . A recurring theme is the interplay between technological projects (e.g., dams) and local resistance , with recent work addressing environmental mobilizations and fragmented universality in science . Publications : Key contributions include the monograph The Politics of Dams (2015), co-edited special issues on global science (2024), and analyses of youth-led art activism in the Himalayas (2023). Methodological Focus : Combines ethnographic fieldwork with visual anthropology (e.g., photo essays) and discourse analysis of environmental and postcolonial debates.

• Geographic Information Systems
• Remote Sensing
• Spatial Analysis
• +5 more

Jos Van Orshoven is a full Professor at KU Leuven's Faculty of Bioscience Engineering within the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. He serves as Division Head of the Spatial Information Processing Division (SADL) and leads subdivisions for Ground for GIS and Earth Observation, while holding membership in Leuven One Health Institute and the Departmental Council for Earth and Environmental Sciences. His research spans Geographic Information Systems, remote sensing, and spatial analysis applied to environmental challenges. Key interests include climate-resilient land management, urban green space planning, forest dynamics under climate change, soil carbon monitoring, and socioeconomic disparities in environmental exposure. His work integrates drone and satellite technologies (Sentinel-2, VNIR/SWIR/LWIR) with spatial optimization for sustainable resource allocation. Recent publications reveal strong trends in climate adaptation (forest composition shifts, drought impacts on orchards), green infrastructure health benefits (3-30-300 rule evaluations), and precision environmental monitoring (radiocaesium transfer meta-analyses, soil carbon mapping). His team develops innovative methods like YOLOv8 tree detection for quantifying visible green space and spatial optimization for sediment loss minimization through afforestation. Radiocaesium soil-to-plant transfer meta-analysis (2025) Atlantic lowland forest climate vulnerability assessment (2025) Urban green space accessibility disparities research (2025) Agrovoltaics site suitability framework (2025) Soil carbon monitoring via Sentinel-2 (2024) He actively supervises research through multiple grants as promotor/co-promotor, including EU-funded projects on digital twins for sustainable cities (2024-2027), climate resilience networks (2023-2027), and drone remote sensing training (2022-2024). His teaching portfolio covers Geographic Information Systems, Geospatial Technologies, and Forest/Nature Landscape Planning across undergraduate and graduate bioscience engineering programs. His research group operates within KU Leuven's Spatial Information Processing Division, collaborating with international networks on the Omo-Turkana Basin management, Burundian land degradation monitoring, and Flemish urban green space initiatives. Current work focuses on scaling forest growth models for climate change predictions and optimizing spatial remediation strategies for radiologically contaminated soils.