معرفی
Jens-Ole Köhrsen is a Professor at the University of Oslo's Faculty of Theology, specializing in the intersection of religion, climate change, and sustainable development. His work bridges religious studies, sociology, and environmental science to examine how religious communities engage with ecological challenges.
Academic Background:
- Studied sociology, philosophy, evangelical theology (Mag.), social sciences (Dipl.), and economics (Dipl.) at Carl von Ossietzky University Oldenburg, University of Salamanca, and University of Buenos Aires
- Received PhD in sociology from University of Bielefeld and École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) in 2013
Research Interests: Köhrsen's work focuses on religious environmentalism, examining how different religious traditions respond to climate change and contribute to sustainability transitions. His research explores the tensions within religious environmental activism, the potential of faith-based organizations in sustainable development, and the relationship between post-secular society and ecological concerns. He employs sociological field theory to analyze how religious organizations navigate environmental challenges while maintaining their identity and authority.
Current Projects: He leads two major research initiatives funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation: 'Are Religions Becoming Green?' which investigates faith-based environmentalism in Switzerland, and 'Ecovillages as Incubators for Sustainability Transitions' which examines how boundary-bridging arrangements facilitate the diffusion of sustainability innovations.
Teaching: Köhrsen teaches 'Religion and Politics in Global Perspective' (RESA3101) and 'Religion and Ecology' (TFF3390), courses that reflect his interdisciplinary approach to understanding the complex relationship between religious traditions and contemporary environmental challenges.
Previous Positions: Before his current role, Köhrsen served as assistant professor for religion and economics at the Centre for Religion, Economy and Politics at the University of Basel. He was also an honorary research associate at the Environmental Change Institute at the University of Oxford (2016-2018) and held visiting professorships at the University of Münster (2017/18) and University of Leipzig (2019/20).
