معرفی
Norman Backhaus is a Professor and Head of the Space, Nature and Society unit at the Department of Geography, University of Zurich. He serves as Co-director of both the Department of Geography and the University Priority Program Global Change and Biodiversity. His research centers on spatial appropriation, nature conservation, tourism, and sustainable development, with fieldwork conducted in Asia and Switzerland.
His research interests include:
- Human-Environment Interactions
- Landscape Perception and Services
- Political Ecology of Conservation
- Transdisciplinary Approaches to Sustainability
- Urban and Rural Spatial Practices
- Globalization and Local Responses
His recent publications reveal consistent engagement with socio-ecological systems, stakeholder values, and participatory governance in protected areas. Themes include landscape services, human-wildlife coexistence, post-pandemic tourism impacts, and innovative methods like chemoethnography and speculative fabulation in environmental research.
His scientific awards include:
- Albert Mountain Award (2014)
- Transdisciplinarity Award (2006) for the project 'The Power of Images'
Norman Backhaus has supervised numerous doctoral and master's students, and has led major transdisciplinary research projects involving collaborations with Swiss National Park, WSL, ETH Zurich, and international partners in Nepal, Georgia, Tajikistan, and Malaysia. He teaches courses in human geography, research methods, and political ecology, and has developed influential educational resources on landscape and sustainability.
He leads the 'Space, Nature and Society' research unit, which conducts interdisciplinary work on environmental governance, landscape values, and sustainable spatial development, often in collaboration with public agencies and NGOs.
