Dana Reul

Dana Reul is a project staff member working on the DFG project 'Childhood in the Smart City. Digital Transformations of the Urban and their Effects on the Living Spaces of Young People' at the Department of Geography, University of Education Freiburg. Under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Verena Schreiber, she has been conducting research since August 2021 while simultaneously pursuing her PhD with support from a scholarship from Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes.

Her academic journey includes a Bachelor of Arts in Media Cultural Studies and European Ethnology from Albert Ludwigs University Freiburg (2011-2014), followed by an Erasmus Mundus Master of Arts Euroculture at multiple international institutions (2015-2017). She has been a PhD candidate at the Institute of Geography and its Didactics since February 2019 and served as an academic staff member since March 2018.

Dana Reul's research focuses on the intersection of childhood studies and urban geography, particularly examining how digital transformations in smart cities affect children's everyday experiences and living spaces. Her dissertation project critically investigates how childhood is conceptualized in Smart City visions and how these digital urban transformations impact young people. She employs participatory research methods to understand children's perspectives on urban governance, surveillance, and spatial justice in contemporary cities.

Her recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on children's experiences in digital urban environments, exploring themes of surveillance, urban interaction, and spatial justice. Reul's work bridges theoretical frameworks from childhood studies with practical insights from urban geography, contributing to critical discussions about inclusive city planning that considers children's needs and perspectives.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• PhD scholarship holder of Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes (since August 2021)
• Scholarship holder of Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes (2012-2017)

Dana Reul contributes to geographical education through teaching selected aspects of human geography, regional geography, and advanced research methods. Her work on the DFG-funded project provides resources for investigating the relationship between digital urban transformations and childhood experiences, supporting both academic research and practical applications in urban planning.

While she does not lead a specific laboratory, her research is conducted within the framework of the DFG project 'Childhood in the Smart City,' collaborating closely with Prof. Dr. Verena Schreiber and other researchers in the field of critical urban geography.