Bernard Debarbieux

Bernard Debarbieux is a Full Professor of Political and Cultural Geography and Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Geneva, where he works at both the Department of Geography and Environment and the Institute for Environmental Sciences through the Pole/Institute for Environmental Governance and Territorial Development (P/IGEDT). He serves as director of the Master's program in Innovation, Human Development and Sustainability (IHDS).

His research combines theoretical approaches to social imaginaries of space with empirical studies of planning practices, particularly in mountain regions, and heritage-making processes within international organizations. His current projects focus on the history and uses of the notion of 'heritage of humanity' in international organizations, along with research on social imaginaries of mountains.

Debarbieux's scholarly output demonstrates consistent engagement with the intersections of geography, heritage policy, and spatial theory. His publications reveal a trajectory from foundational work on mountain regions to increasingly sophisticated analyses of heritage processes within international frameworks, particularly UNESCO. His recent work shows particular interest in scaling dynamics within heritage processes and the temporal dimensions of spatial planning.

His teaching portfolio includes Introduction to the Scientific Approach, Introduction to Geography, Identities and Urbanities Workshop, and Sustainable Development and Political Innovation. His doctoral students have explored diverse topics including flamenco at UNESCO, urban innovation processes, tourism in rural areas, peri-urban residential trajectories, and Alpine regional governance.