Sarah May

Sarah May is an Acting Professor (70%) at the Institute of Empirical Cultural Studies (University of Freiburg), affiliated with the Philosophical Faculty. Her research focuses on political and economic anthropology, material culture, and bioeconomy, addressing themes like scarcity, innovation, and digitalization in crafts and agriculture. She leads projects such as 'Future Forests' (DFG Cluster) and 'Bioeconomy as Cultural Transformation' (Baden-Württemberg Foundation).

• Education: PhD in Cultural Anthropology (2015, Tübingen); Habilitation (2024, Freiburg)
• Key Memberships: Young Academy for Sustainability Research, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Empirische Kulturwissenschaft (DGEKW)

Research Interests: Combines ethnographic methods with interdisciplinary approaches to study socio-ecological systems, cultural dimensions of bioeconomy, and public anthropology. Current work explores 'green growth' and knowledge transfer in wood industries.

Awards: Includes the 2023 Maria-Weber-Grant, Young Academy Membership (2021), and multiple teaching awards (2018, 2023).

Advising/Grants: Supervises PhD projects on bioeconomy pioneers and colonial continuities in agriculture. Active in grants like the CORA Programme and DFG-funded initiatives.

Labs/Teams: Leads research groups on 'Material-Pionier:innen' and 'The Red Kite in the Face of Wind Turbines', collaborating with Freiburg Museums and sustainability networks.