Dirk Hänsgen

Dirk Hänsgen is a Researcher at the Leibniz-Institut für Länderkunde (IfL), specializing in Historical Geographies, Political Geography, and the history of cartography. He holds a Master of Arts in Geography and Political Science from the University of Trier (1991–1997). His career includes roles as a research assistant at the Documentation Centre for German Regional Studies and lecturer at the University of Trier. Hänsgen's work focuses on spatial semantics, geopolitical imaginaries, and the intersection of geography with digital humanities. He has led projects like the Digital Atlas of Geopolitical Imaginaries and contributed to the Deutschlandatlas. His research emphasizes historical analysis of geographic journals, cartographic practices, and regional development dynamics.

Notable contributions include analyzing Heinrich Kiepert’s cartographic legacy and exploring transnational financial instruments like Cross Border Leasing. He actively participates in knowledge transfer through journal editing and public exhibitions. Hänsgen’s institutional roles include overseeing research infrastructure at IfL, including library and archival resources.