Kristine Beurskens

Dr. Kristine Beurskens is a Researcher and Coordinator of the research group 'Geographies of Belonging and Difference' at the Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography in Leipzig, Germany. Her work focuses on social and political geographies, particularly examining borders, security, and qualitative research methods with a regional emphasis on Europe. She holds a PhD from the University of Potsdam (2012) and has held academic positions since 2002 at institutions including the Humboldt University of Berlin and the Leibniz Institute for Regional Development and Structural Planning.

• Education: PhD in Geography from University of Potsdam (2012); Studies in Geography, Political Science, and Sociology at Humboldt University Berlin (1994–2002)
• Key Projects:
  • 'EuBordSec' (Unruhige EU-Grenzen project analyzing EU internal border insecurities)
  • 'Visualisierung qualitativer Geographien' (qualitative visualization methodologies)
  • 'IfL Forschungswerkstatt' (research workshops on spatial practices)

Her research interests include: social geographies, political geographies, emotional geographies, border studies, security dynamics, and qualitative research methodologies. Recent work emphasizes EU border regions, securitization processes, and the interplay between local practices and transnational policies.

Publications span over two decades, focusing on EU border dynamics, migration, and regional development. She co-edits the journal sub\urban and contributes to interdisciplinary debates on geographic research ethics and methodology.

Her work bridges academic research with practical knowledge transfer, including leadership in institutional research initiatives and collaborative projects across Eastern Europe.