معرفی
Sven Daniel Wolfe is a Lecturer in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering at ETH Zürich, where he leads the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) Ambizione project examining the aftereffects of mega-events on global cities. He holds a PhD in Geography from the University of Lausanne, an MSc in Geographies of Global Change from the University of Zurich, and an MA in Political Science from the European University St. Petersburg. His research focuses on the socio-spatial impacts of mega-events, urban sustainable development, and everyday geopolitics, often analyzing the interplay between authoritarian regimes and urban transformation.
Education:
- PhD in Geography, University of Lausanne (2019)
- MSc in Geographies of Global Change, University of Zurich (2016)
- MA in Political Science, European University St. Petersburg (2014)
Research Interests: Wolfe investigates the long-term urban consequences of large-scale international events like the Olympics and FIFA World Cup, emphasizing their geopolitical dimensions and sustainability challenges. His work critiques Potemkin neoliberalism—where authoritarian states use event-driven development to project soft power while neglecting local communities. He also explores everyday geopolitics, analyzing how state policies and conflicts manifest in daily urban life, particularly in post-Soviet regions.
Scientific Awards:
Advising & Grants: Wolfe’s SNF Ambizione grant supports his longitudinal study of mega-event legacies in cities worldwide. While no formal advisees are listed, he has contributed to research networks like the Ukrainian Geopolitical Fault-line Cities advisory group (2019) and co-founded the City Collaboratory urban studies network (2020). His work bridges academia and public discourse through media engagements with The New York Times, BBC, and others.
Labs & Teams: He collaborates with the Spatial Development and Urban Policy group at ETH Zürich and serves as Vice President of the Swiss Association of Geography (since 2023). The City Collaboratory network, co-founded in 2020, fosters interdisciplinary urban research across Switzerland and beyond.
