About
Cities are key spaces in the current age of the Anthropocene. More than all other spaces, cities, as “anthropogenic biomes” or “anthromes” (Ellis/Ramankutty 2008), are determined by humans. Yet, they are also home to a multitude of living organisms and particularly vulnerable to the effects of the current ecological crisis. In order to reflect on the complexity of ecological processes and human-nonhuman interactions in city spaces, the Thematic Research Network “Umwelten – Umbrüche –
Umdenken” and the BMBF-Project “Worldmaking from a Global Perspective” at Heidelberg University are organizing an international, interdisciplinary Fall School on the topic of ‘Urban Ecologies’. Doctoral students of various fields are invited to gain new perspectives on the topic, present their own projects and receive feedback, and engage in a dialogue with both renowned and young scholars.
The Fall School is combined with an international Conference entitled “Creating the ‘Good Life’ in the City: Urban Spaces in Times of Change, Challenge and Crisis”. All participants of the Fall School will take part in the Conference and are strongly encouraged to use the opportunity to get new impulses and discuss with experts of the field.
Engaging with the interdisciplinary field of ‘Urban Ecology’ and complementing it with perspectives of various disciplines in the natural and social sciences and humanities, the Fall School will thus explore dynamics of urban transformation by looking into ways in which different actors shape and negotiate these processes, trying to find ways to make cities spaces worth living in for all of their inhabitants – human and non-human alike.
Participants and Application Process
The Fall School is open to doctoral students of all relevant disciplines in the natural and social sciences and humanities, such as ecology, biology, anthropology, geography, political sciences,literature, architecture, law …
Please send a short motivation letter, CV and an abstract (500 words) of your proposed presentation (for 20 min.) in English to urban-ecologies@hcts.uni-heidelberg.de by June 30.
Participants may also suggest alternative presentation/discussion formats, such as poster presentations, joint reading sessions etc. Applicants will be informed of the outcome by the end of July.
Financial Assistance and Special Needs
Participants need to organize travel and accommodation themselves. We are happy to provide you with information on possible hotels etc. in Heidelberg. Limited travel funding is available and will be allocated based on needs and the participants’ travel distances.
If you require any special assistance, please let us know.