Matthias Schmidt

Prof. Dr. Matthias Schmidt serves as Head of the Chair for Human Geography and Transition Research at the Institute of Geography, Faculty of Applied Computer Science, University of Augsburg since October 2015. He concurrently holds multiple leadership roles including Vice Dean of the Faculty of Applied Computer Science and Speaker of the International Doctoral Programme "Um(Welt)Denken. Die Environmental Humanities und die ökologische Transformation der Gesellschaft." Schmidt actively contributes to university governance as a member of the faculty council, collaborative steering committee of the Institute of Geography, examination committee for Geography programs, and the Board of Directors of the Environmental Science Center (WZU).

Dr. Schmidt completed his PhD in 2001 at the University of Bonn with research on "Water and Property Rights in Shigar, Baltistan: Autochthonous Institutions of Resource Utilization in the Central Karakoram." He earned his habilitation at Freie Universität Berlin in 2010 with the thesis "Human and Environment in Kyrgyzstan: A Political Ecology Study in a Post-Colonial and Post-Socialist Context." His academic journey includes positions as Visiting Professor at the University of Hannover (2010-2015), Research Associate at Freie Universität Berlin (2005-2010), and earlier research roles at University Erlangen-Nuremberg and the University of Bonn.

Professor Schmidt's research centers on Political Ecology and Human-Environment Interactions with specialized expertise in Mountain Geography and Transition Research across Central Asia, South Asia, and East Africa. His work examines how communities navigate environmental challenges within complex political and economic frameworks, focusing on resource management strategies, water governance systems, and sustainability transitions in mountain regions. He integrates Environmental Humanities perspectives to address contemporary ecological transformations, emphasizing spatial dimensions and justice considerations in environmental governance.

Analysis of Schmidt's recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a concentrated focus on political ecology approaches to environmental challenges, particularly in Central Asia. His research investigates water governance in Iran, agricultural transformations in Tajikistan, urban spaces in Kyrgyzstan, and mountain geography across the Pamir and Tian Shan ranges. His work demonstrates a consistent interdisciplinary approach combining environmental science, social sciences, and humanities perspectives, with growing attention to spatial dimensions of ecological transformation and environmental justice issues in the Anthropocene.

Professor Schmidt leads numerous research projects including studies on Lake Urmia in Iran, coffee culture in Kyrgyzstan, resource management in Ethiopia, irrigation systems in Kyrgyzstan, and transformations of the Bavarian Lech river system. His work often adopts comparative frameworks across different mountain regions, examining how local communities adapt to environmental changes while navigating complex geopolitical contexts. He maintains active collaborations through memberships in the Central Eurasian Studies Society, Working Group for Comparative High Mountain Research, and editorial roles for Erdkundliches Wissen and Geographische Rundschau.