Rony Emmenegger

Rony Emmenegger is a Senior Researcher in the Department of Geosciences at the University of Fribourg. His research focuses on the governance of human-environment relations, particularly nuclear waste management, political geology, and participatory decision-making processes. He leads the SNSF-funded NUCSTRAT project (2024–2028), examining the geological and political dimensions of deep geological disposal of nuclear waste in Switzerland, Germany, and Sweden. His work bridges social sciences and geosciences, emphasizing how scientific knowledge about subterranean spaces shapes societal debates and policy.

• Hosted at the University of Fribourg’s Department of Geosciences
• PhD students collaborating on NUCSTRAT project
• Collaborations with institutions like the University of St. Gallen’s Unruly Natures project

Research interests include: nuclear waste governance, political geology, environmental humanities, risk communication, and state territorialization in Ethiopia and beyond. His interdisciplinary approach integrates political geography, anthropology, and science studies to address global environmental challenges.

Recent work analyzes how geological strata are politically constructed and contested in nuclear waste debates, emphasizing the role of public participation and scientific authority. He also explores spatial justice in energy infrastructure siting and the socio-political dimensions of decarbonization strategies.