Martin Knoll

Martin Knoll is a Professor of European Regional History and currently serves as Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Salzburg. He is a prominent scholar in environmental history, regional studies, and historical geography, with a particular focus on Alpine regions, tourism history, and early modern European history.

Knoll holds significant leadership positions including Chairman of the Environmental History Cluster Austria/Environmental History Network Austria (EHCA) since September 2017 and previously served as Regional Representative for the German Speaking Countries and Board Member of the European Society for Environmental History (ESEH) from July 2015 to August 2023.

His research interests span environmental history, European regional history, urban history, tourism history, social ecology, cultural history, Alpine history, historical geography, and early modern history. Knoll's work consistently explores the intersection of natural environments and human societies, examining how landscapes shape and are shaped by cultural, economic, and political forces over time, particularly in Alpine regions.

Knoll has published extensively with over 120 publications to his name. His recent work shows a strong focus on tourism history, regional identity formation, environmental history, and the historical development of Alpine regions. He has increasingly engaged with contemporary issues such as sustainability, crisis management in tourism, and the application of digital humanities methods to historical research.

• Druckkostenzuschuss der Oestreich-Stiftung for his habilitation thesis
• Kulturpreis der E.ON Ostbayern for his dissertation
• Promotionsstipendium des Freistaats Bayern
• Schwenkscher Umweltförderpreis der Stadt Ebersberg
• Carson Fellowship at the Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society

Knoll is actively involved in numerous research projects including CIVIS2 (A European Civic University), Alpine geo- and biodiversity during environmental changes (AlpsChange), Forschung SMARTT, and ENLIVEN (improved learning and teaching in international virtual environments). He has organized and participated in over 196 academic activities including 92 talks and 31 guest lectures.

He is engaged in third mission activities through Scientists4Future Salzburg, adult education via the 'History and Culture' working group of the Salzburg Educational Association, and coordination of the steering group between the University of Salzburg and the Salzburg Museum Association for developing joint projects.