Klaus Geiselhart

PD Dr. Klaus Geiselhart is an academic researcher and lecturer at the Department of Geography and Geosciences, Institute of Geography, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU). With a strong background in human geography, social theory, and health studies, he has developed a distinctive research profile bridging critical theory, pragmatism, and practice theory. His academic journey includes extensive fieldwork in Botswana on HIV/AIDS and traditional medicine, as well as more recent work on urban health, climate change, and environmental justice in German cities.

Dr. Geiselhart's research interests span planetary health and global change, geographies of health and healing, transformative and participatory research, social geography and democratic theory, and urban geography. His theoretical work on 'Kritik als Mediation' (Critique as Mediation) represents a significant contribution to critical social theory, arguing that critique should function as a mediating force between different perspectives rather than merely as opposition. This theoretical framework informs his practical research on environmental justice, urban health, and climate adaptation.

His publication record demonstrates consistent scholarly output across multiple disciplines, with recent work focusing on planetary health, environmental microsegregation in urban contexts, and the political ecology of health. The articles show a clear trajectory from earlier work on HIV/AIDS and traditional medicine in Botswana toward contemporary concerns with climate change, urban sustainability, and health equity in European contexts. His research increasingly connects local urban issues with global planetary challenges, reflecting the growing importance of planetary health as an integrative framework.

• Member of GHHG (Global Health Hub Germany) - Working Group on Climate Change and Health
• Member of Arbeitskreis Klimakrise & gesellschaftliche Transformation (German Society for Geography)
• Member of Arbeitskreis Medizinische Geographie und Geographische Gesundheitsforschung
• Co-leader of DFG-funded network: 'Forschungsperspektiven nach dem practice turn'

Dr. Geiselhart actively engages with societal challenges through applied research projects, including evaluating citizen participation processes related to climate action in Erlangen and developing concepts for measuring environmental justice in urban settings. His work demonstrates strong connections between theoretical innovation and practical application, particularly in the areas of health promotion, urban planning, and climate adaptation. He offers lectures and workshops on planetary health, responsibility in the climate crisis, and diversity, indicating his commitment to translating academic knowledge into practical insights for broader audiences.