Dr., Senior Research Scientist, Level-2
Since 2022, Principal Investigator, Gendered dimensions of digital urban development (GEN-DIGIURB)
Since 2021, Principal Investigator, Digital Urban Development – How large digital corporations shape the field of urban governance (DIGI-GOV)
Since 2020, Invited Faculty at the Paris Institute of Political Studies
Since 2019, Visiting Scholar, CITY Institute, York University, Toronto
2018-2020, Co-Principal Investigator, Digital Urbanism and the Challenge of Urban Governance (DIG_URBGOV)
Ph.D. 2010, Institute of Social Sciences, Stadt- und Regional-Soziologie, Humboldt Universität, Berlin
M.E.S. 1999, Faculty of Environmental Studies (now called Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change), York University, Toronto
Research Interests
As an urban geographer in the social sciences, my aim is to explore the broad questions of how spaces and flows constitute contemporary (sub)urban processes. I am interested in urban governance, policy, small states, and the dilemmas with urbanisation and growth pressure. I am particularly fixated on the contradictions of market-led sustainable development practices with respect to infrastructure, digitalisation and corporatization of cities.I lead a research team exploring (i) the role of large digital corporations (LDCs) in digital urban development, (ii) how the presence of LDCs in urban planning practice challenge pre-existing modes urban governance, and (iii) how LDC-led urban development constitutes a new relational geography of digital cities. These are the key objectives of an FNR-funded research project entitled, “Digital Urban Development — How large digital corporations shape the field of urban governance (DIGI-GOV),” and of which I am PI.I was also recently chief organiser of Small State, Big Transitions – The 30th Annual Conference of the International Network of Urban Research and Action, in Luxembourg . Organized in cooperation with the ETH, D-ARCH, the conference took place for June 25-29, 2022, with a great line-up of fabulous speakers.(see )I am co-founder and co-editor (with Markus Hesse) of Urbanization Unbound (). inuraluxembourg.blogspot.com http://urbanunbound.blogspot.com
Research Stays
Canada, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, USA, Netherlands
Editorial Functions
Co-editor, Bulletin of the International Network of Urban Research and Action, 2022
Editorial Board Member, Palgrave Book Series on Environmental Sustainability
Guest Edited for Local Environment
Guest Edited for Planning Theory & Practice, Interface
Co-editor of Urbanization Unbound (urbanunbound.blogspot.com)
Co-editor isdrs.org/topic-6b-urban-and-rural-developmen/
Chapter Editor, Berlin, The Contested Metropolis (2004)
Publications in
Environment and Planning A: Economy and Space
Journal of Maps
Planning Theory & Practice
Urban Planning
Journal of Transport Geography
Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space
Regional Studies
Raumforschung und Raumordnung
disP – The Planning Review
Raumplanung
International Journal of Urban and Regional Research
Canadian Journal of Cultural Studies
Journal of Economic and Social Geography
Thirdspace: A Journal of Feminist Theory and Culture
Awards
Memberships
International Network of Urban Research and Action (INURA), Board Member
Luxembourgish Geographical Society, Founding Member
Smart City Cluster, CITY Institute, York University
Invited Guest of the H2020 Energy-SHIFTS Transport and Mobility Working Group
Association of American Geographers (AAG), COVID-19 Rapid Response
American Association of Geographers (AAG)
Spaces & Flows Research Network
Regional Studies Association (RSA)
International Geographical Union / Urban Commission
International Sustainable Development Research Society Conference (ISDRS), Cities and Communities Group
Referee
Nature, Scientific Reports
Nature, Springer Manuals
International Journal of Urban and Regional Research
Urban Studies
Globalizations
Local Environment
Interface: Journal for and about Social Movements
European Planning Studies
Journal of Economic and Social Geography Journal of Economic and Social Geography
Palgrave and MacMillan Publishing
Israeli Science Foundation
Environment Development and Sustainability
International Sustainable Development Research Society Conference
European Science Foundation College of Expert Reviewers
IGU Urban commission
Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space
Regions and Cohesions
Courses 2019-2022
Paris Institute of Political Studies: Introduction to Urban Studies
DGEO: Integrated Spatial Planning and Case Studies; Master Planning & Urban Governance; Master Thesis Workshop; Formation Continue en Aménagement du Territoire;
Post-Graduate Supervision
Dr. Olga Kryvets, Research Scientist, “Gendered dimensions of digital urban development – resilience and critical reconstruction in Ukraine” (GEN-DIGIURB)
Karinne Madron, doctoral thesis, “The multiscalar spatial fixes of urban development led by large digital corporations”
Annick Leick, doctoral thesis, (2016) “„Kleines Land, Große Projekte. Diskurse, Praktiken und soziale Welten im Entscheidungs- und Planungsprozess der Großvorhaben Belval und Kirchberg in Luxemburg,” University of Luxembourg
Jan Tobias-Doerr, master thesis, (2014) “From Agenda21 to sustainable subpolitics,” University of Luxembourg
Invited Talks
over 70 presentations at international venues such as the Universities of Bielefeld, Cologne, Greenland, Delft, Freiburg, St. Gallen, Luxembourg, York University (Toronto), Humboldt University in Berlin, and the ETH Zurich, as well as conferences such as the Deutsche Kongress für Geographie, Arbeitskreis Stadtzukünft, Royal Geographical Society, Centre International de Recherche dur l’Environnement et le Développement (CIRED), the American Association of Geographers, BIVEC-GIBET Transport Research Days, the Regional Studies Association, International Conference on Interpretive Policy Analysis (IPA) and not least, the International Network of Urban Research and Action (INURA)
Media
International: BBC Radio World Service; BBC Capital; Bloomberg CityLab, Tagesspiegel, Al Jazeera, Inside Story; SRF 10vor10; Dagens Nyheter; TomScottGo; NRC Handelsblad; Gazet van Antwepen; The Conversation, UK
Luxembourg: Forum – für Politik, Gesellschaft und Kultur; Tageblatt; Luxemburger Wort; Radio 100,7; Le Quotidien; Brennpunkt, RTL
Urban Political Podcast
Key projects
PI, Gendered dimensions of digital urban development (GEN-DIGIURB), FNR
PI, Digital Urban Development – How large digital corporations shape the field of urban governance (DIGI-GOV), FNR
Co-PI, Digital Urbanism and the Challenge of Urban Governance (DIG_URBGOV), ERASMUS+
Manager, Governance for sustainable spatial development – a comparative study of Luxembourg and Switzerland, 2013-2015 (SUSTAIN_GOV), FNR
Manager, Sustainable Spatial Development, 2010-2013 (SUSTAINLUX), FNR
Further Current Activities
Lead organizer of the 30th Annual Conference of the INURA, () inuraluxembourg.blogspot.com
Co-organizer with Hesse, Schulz, Becker of DGEO and the German Academy for Spatial Research and Planning’s (Akademie für Raumforschung und Landesplanung, ARL) Summer School, “Smart Cities and Beyond”
Languages
English (1st language)
German (Oberstufe)
French (B1.2)
Luxembourgish (B2)
Blog urbanunbound.blogspot.com
Twitter @urban_unbound
ORCID : 0000-0003-1491-536X
