Dr. Patrick Augenstein
Exploratory Focus
- restoration ecology
- political ecology
- documentary film
- repeat photography
Teaching Focus
- restoration ecology & political ecology
- documentary film & repeat photography
Memberships
- Documentary Film-AG (Doc-AG)
- European Documentary Film Network (EDFN)
- Global Partnership on Forest Landscape Restoration (GPFLR)
- Society for Ecological Restoration (SER)
Dr. Patrick Augenstein
AG Müller-Mahn & AG Hörschelmann
U.1022
Geozentrum - Meckenheimer Allee 176
53115 Bonn
Curriculum Vitae
2021 - ongoing
Head of Geo-Medial Lab (Excellence Initiative funded) University of Bonn, Germany
2020
Coordinator - TRA-6 Project - Contested futures under COVID-19 & drought, University of Bonn, Germany
2019
Visiting Scholar (DAAD funded) University of Victoria, Canada
2018 - 2022
Associated Scientist - CRC 228 Future Rural Africa, University of Bonn, Germany
2018
Co-Founder - Let's Plant gem.e.V., Bonn, Germany
2017/18
Visiting Lecturer (DAAD funded / Master student course) - Kathmandu Tribhuvan University, Nepal
2017
Visiting Lecturer (ReviTec funded / Master student course) - Ngaoundéré University, Cameroon
2015 - ongoing
Founder & CEO - Society for Environmental Education - International (SEE-Intl') / Gesellschaft für internationale Umweltbildung gem. e.V., Germany
2015 - 2017
Associated Scientist University of Bremen (artec), Germany
2014 - 2016
Head of Film Productions - Commonland Foundation, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2013 - 2016
Doctoral Candidate (rer. pol.) University of Bremen, Germany
Reframing Restoration (summa cum laude)
Reviewers: 1. Prof. Dr. Michael Flitner, 2. Prof. Dr. Eric Higgs
2012 - ongoing
Film production advisor to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification Secretariat (UNCCD), Bonn, Germany
2011 - 2013
First assistant to the IUCN ambassador for ecosystem restoration, John D. Liu, Beijing, China
2010 - 2012
Film production consultant to the Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), Kigali, Rwanda
2009 - 2015
Research Director at the Environmental Education Media Project (EEMP), Beijing, China
2008
Research Assistant at the Haller Foundation, Mombasa, Kenya
2007
Graduation (State Examination) in Geography, Philosophy and English, University of Freiburg, Germany
2005
Practical training at the public broadcaster Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR), Studio Oldenburg, Germany
2002
Practical training at the public broadcaster Südwestrundfunk (SWR), Baden-Baden, Germany
Awards & Nominations
2019
When the skies ran dry (SEE-Intl') - nominated for Best Documentary Film, Cape Town International Film Market & Festival, South Africa
When the skies ran dry (SEE-Intl') - nominated for Best Documentary Film, Out of Africa International Film Festival, Nairobi, Kenya
When the skies ran dry (SEE-Intl') - nominated for Best Documentary Film, International Green Film Festival Krakau, Poland
When the skies ran dry (SEE-Intl') - nominated for Best Documentary Film, American Association of Geographers, Washington D.C., United States
2017
The re-discovery of humanity - ecosystem restoration and migration (EEMPA) - nominated for Best Documentary Film, Malta Film Festival, Malta
2013
Society for Ecological Restoration Communication Award (EEMP) Washington D.C., United States
2011
Hope in a Changing Climate (EEMP) - Best Documentary Film at Green Screen Festival Vancouver, Canada
2010
Hope in a Changing Climate (EEMP) - Best Documentary Film in the category: Ecosystem at the International Wildlife Film Festival, Montana, USA
Publications
2022
Augenstein, P. T., Lukas, M., Björklund, G., Eudoxie, G., Brüntrup, M., King-Okumu, C., Kust, G. (2022). The Blue Paper - Drought Risks, Resilience and Restoration. The Intergovernmental Working Group on Drought. Bonn, Germany, UNCCD. Publication available here.
Tsegai, D., Medel, M., Augenstein, P. T., Huang, Z. (2022). Drought in numbers - Restoration for readiness and resilience. Bonn, Germany, UNCCD. Publication available here (English).
Augenstein, P. T. (2022). Reframing Ecosystem Restoration. Franz Steiner Publishing House (320 pages / in prep.).
Augenstein, P. T., Higgs, Eric S. (2022). Novel Ecosystem Restoration in Rwanda - lessons learned through repeat photography. (15 pages / in prep.).
2020
Augenstein, P. T. (2020). Drought Risk Management - Practical Experiences from the German Development Cooperation. UNCCD Intergovernmental Working Group Report. Publication available here.
2017
Augenstein, P. T. (2017). Reframing Restoration - Rwanda re-photographed 100 years later or the reconstruction of landscape memory. Doctorial thesis (summa cum laude). University Library Bremen.
2015
Augenstein, P. T. (2015). China - Restoring the Loess Plateau. In: A. Brasser et al. (Eds), 4 Returns from Landscape Restoration – A systemic and practical approach to restore degraded landscapes. Commonland Publication.
Augenstein, P. T. (2015). Rwanda - Restoring Wetlands and Hydropower. In: A. Brasser et al. (Eds), 4 Returns from Landscape Restoration – A systemic and practical approach to restore degraded landscapes. Commonland Publication.
2012
Augenstein, P. T. (2012). Wagenburgwunsch wird Wirklichkeit. In M. Ziel, S. Oßwald, O. Hasemann & D. Schnier (Eds.), Second Hand Spaces – über das Recyceln von Orten im städtischen Wandel (pp.123-125). Bremen: Zwischenzeit Zentrale Bremen.
Publication available here.
2010
Augenstein, P. T. (2010). Die Goldenen Dörfer - Anders Leben. In: Polis - Das Magazin für Urban Development, 4, 62 - 65.
2008
Augenstein, P. T. (2008). Wagenburgkultur in Deutschland – Mit einer Fallstudie zur Situation in Freiburg im Breisgau (Final examination paper / Grade: 1,3). Publication available here.
Documentary Film Productions
2022
Ecosystem Restoration in Ladakh & Assam (4K/work in prog.). Director, Producer & Writer. (RA, EFI).
Wald Anders Denken (4K/work in prog.). Director, Producer & Writer. (Wald u. Holz NRW).
Reforest' Action in Nigeria (4K/work in prog.). Director, Producer & Writer. (RA, EFI).
Global Rangeland Restoration (4K/work in prog.). Director, Producer & Writer. (ILRI, IUCN, VSF, WWF).
The Great Green Wall (4K/work in prog.). Executive Director & Producer.
Desertification and Drought Day Testimonials (4K/5 min.). Director & Producer. (UNCCD)
Rethinking Rangeland (4K/25 min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (ILRI, VSF).
2021
Urban Forestry (4K/7min. x4). Director, Producer & Writer. (EFI).
Novel Grasslands (4K/7 min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (WWF).
Act Now! Protect and restore threatened habitats. (4K/5 min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (WWF).
The last trees of Ethiopia? (4K/25 min.). Director & Producer. (University Ghent, DIE).
Geographies of Media (4K/2+5+25 min.). Director & Producer. (University Bonn).
2020
Geography of Environmental Risks & Human Security - Mozambique (4K/25+10min.) Director & Producer. (UNU).
International Year of Rangelands & Pastoralists (4K/2+5+10 min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (VSF, ILRI).
Human Geography Excursion (4K/10 min. x 5). Director & Producer. (University Bonn, DFG).
Forest Governance & Restoration (4K/15 min. x6). Director & Producer. (European Forest Institute).
2019
Greening Africa (4K/50 min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (SoLogical Foundation, Stichting Wees een Kans).
Let's grow the future together (4K/7 min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (UNCCD).
Climate Emergency & Restoration: time for action! (4K/14 min.). Director & Producer & Writer. (GIU).
The Global Landscape Forum in Bonn, New York, Accra & Luxembourg (4K/4x3 min.). Director & Producer. (GLF, GIU).
Novel Ecosystem & The Mountain Legacy Project (4K/10+8 min.). Director & Producer. (DFG, University Victoria).
The End of Famine (4K/35 min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (DIE, UNCCD, WFP, University Ghent).
2018
When the skies ran dry (4K/40 min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (UNCCD, UNU)
Future-making Africa (4K/12 min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (DFG, University Bonn).
Ecosystem-based adaptation in Mauritania & Nepal (4K/20 min.). Producer & Writer. (IEMP).
Seeing Change (4K/14 min.) Director, Producer & Writer. (SoLogical Foundation).
Greening Kilimanjaro (4K/5 min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (Embassy of the Earth).
2017
Ethio trees’ initiatives in Ethiopia (4K/7 min.) Director, Producer & Writer. (University Ghent, Ethio Trees).
Drought resilience - instant responses & long-term solutions (2K+HD/15 min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (UNCCD, DIE).
Drought resilience - UNCCD COP Ordos China (2K+HD/5 min.) Director, Producer & Writer. (UNCCD, DIE).
2016
The rituals of restoration (HD/12 min.). Director & Producer. (Stichting Wees een Kans).
Planting Prosperity - Greening Peru (HD/15 min.). Director & Producer (Pachamama Raymi Trust).
The re-discovery of humanity - ecosystem restoration and migration. (2K/28 min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (UNCCD, World Bank, IUCN).
2015
Forests for the Future - Ecosystem restoration in Ghana. (HD/25 min.). Director. (Form International).
Kofi Annan on Ecosystem Restoration (2K/8 min.). Director & Producer. (Kofi Annan Foundation).
The rules of degradation (HD/12 min.). Director, Producer & Writer. (SoLogical Foundation).
2014
North Korea - The Paektu Volcano - (HD/uncut) Pre-Prod. Assessment. (Werner Herzog Productions).
Sunny Side of Doc in Chengdu - The Environmental Film in China (HD/15 min. x 4). Presenter. (Chengdu TV).
Ecosystem Restoration, Conservation and Religion: Healing the Earth and the Human Spirit (HD/ 16 min.). Executive Director. (CEM, IUCN).
Finding Common Ground in South Africa - Baviaanskloof Restoration. (HD/53 min.). Director. (Commonland Foundation).
The Promise of the Commons (HD/22 min.). Director & Producer. (Foundation for Ecological Security).
2013
Underground Forests of West Africa (HD/12 min.). Executive Director. (UNCCD).
The Blue Gold of the Aztecs - Watershed restoration in Mexico (HD/14 min.) Executive Director & Director of Photography. (UNCCD).
Ecological Security in India - Reclaiming the Commons (HD/12 min.). Executive Director & Director of Photography. (UNCCD).
Food Security and Landscape Transformation in Ethiopia (HD/30 min.). Scientific Researcher & Editor. (DFID).
What If We Change - TV Series (HD/25 min. x12). Co-Producer. (Link TV, CCTV 9, Citizen TV).
What If We Change - A Documentary on Ecosystem Restoration (HD/50 min.). Co-Producer. (IUCN).
Threaten Species of China: The Oriental Stork (HD/4 min.). Associate Producer. (Tianjin TV).
Perennial Paradise - Permaculture in Australia (HD/30 min.). Editor. (PIA).
2012
Andrew’s Experimental Research Forest, Oregon (HD/uncut). Director of Photography. (IUCN, USFS).
Combating Soil degradation in Turkey: The history of TEMA (HD/12 min.). Scientific Researcher & Editor. (UNCCD).
Eco-School Concept in Uganda (HD/15 min.). Director, Producer & Camera. (UNCCD).
Jane Goodall - Restoring Earth (HD/8 min.). Editor. (JG-Institute).
Rio+20 - Choosing the Path to Sustainability (HD/15 min.). Scientific Researcher & Director of Photography. (REMA, UNEP).
2011
Rwanda - Emerging in a Changing Climate (HD/30 min.). Scientific Researcher & Director of Photography. (CDKN, REMA).
The Costs of Industrialization: Public Health and Cancer (HD/10 min. x3). Associate Producer. (Tangshan TV).
Miyun - Watershed restoration for China’s capital (HD/15 min.). Produced, written & directed. (IUCN China).
Forests keep Drylands Working (HD/25 min.) Scientific Researcher & Editor. (UNCCD).
Rwanda - Forests of Hope (HD/30 min.). Assistant Editor. (REMA, UNEP).
In Search of Sustainability – Restoring India’s Garo Hills (HD/10 min.). Filmed, written & directed. (IUCN).
Green Call for Mongolia (HD/30 min.). Editor. (World Bank).
2010
Rwanda – Back to the Garden (HD/30 min.). Scientific Researcher & Camera. (REMA, UNEP).
Green Call for China - Concerto (HD/30 min.). Assistant Editor. (World Bank).
Forest Restoration in Nepal (HD/9 min.). Produced, written & directed. (EEMP).
Four Stories on Ecosystem Restoration in Taiwan (HD/13 min.). Produced, written & directed. (EEMP).
2009
Hope in a Changing Climate (HD/30 min.). Assistant to the Director & Scientific Researcher. (BBC).
The Next Steppe – Energy Efficiency in Mongolia (HD/30 min.). Sound Engineer. (World Bank).
2008
The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Report (HD/9 min.). Research Assistant. (UNEP).
Reshaping Economic Geography (HD/30 min.). Audio Assistant. (World Bank).
2005
Regional news reporting (HD/2 min. x8). Location Assistant. (NDR).
2003
Kensho - Japanische Freiheit (SD/8 min.). Associate Producer. (Experimental).
2002
Tatort - Flashback (32 mm/90 min.). Set Assistant. (SWR).
2001
A Hard Day’s Night (SD/35 min.). Produced, written & directed. (Experimental).
Morning Glory (8 mm/16 min.). Produced, written & directed. (Experimental).
Channel: (2008-2022 productions)
Selected Public Speakings
2021
Global Landscape Forum Live - Rangeland Event, Germany (event video)
2020
UNCCD - Desertification and Drought Day 2020, Germany (event video)
German Development Institute - Drought Event, Germany (event video)
2019
UNFCC COP Madrid - Action Hub, Spain (event video)
University of Victoria - Mountain Legacy Summit, Canada
2017
UNCCD COP Ordos - Land for Life Day, China
Critical Geography Bremen - Conference, Germany
2016
Geographical Society Bremen - Event, Germany
2015
University of Wageningen - Summer School on Ecosystem Restoration, The Netherlands
Society for Ecological Restoration - Conference, Manchester, Great Britain
2014
Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
2013
Initiative of Change, Caux, Switzerland
2012
City Council, Kigali, Rwanda
Nil Forum, Kigali, Rwanda
Center for Conflict Management, Huye, Rwanda
2010
Water Forum, Hong Kong, China
International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Beijing, China
2009
International Science & Technology Book Fair, Pyongyang, North Korea