Heike Köckler

Prof. Dr. Heike Köckler holds the Professorship for Social Space and Health at the University of Health in Bochum. Her work focuses on the intersection of environmental justice, urban health, and participatory research methodologies, with an emphasis on transdisciplinary and transformative approaches to address social determinants of health. She is affiliated with the Department of Health Sciences and has led initiatives such as the Digital Health Factory Ruhr and the DiPS_Lab.

• Environmental Justice
• Community Health
• Urban Health
• Participatory Research
• Digital Methods

Prof. Köckler’s research integrates spatial planning, public health, and social equity, particularly in urban contexts. She has spearheaded projects like Forum CityHealth Ruhr and Healthy through exercise in Wattenscheid, aiming to improve health outcomes through community engagement and digital innovation.

She served as Dean of the Department of Community Health from 2016 to 2020 and is actively involved in professional societies, including the Academy for Spatial Development in the Leibniz Association (ARL) and the International Working Group on Health Equity in Urban Planning. Her work also extends to advisory roles, such as membership on the Fritz and Hildegard Berg Foundation’s Advisory Board.