Governing Transformations

Governing Transformations brings together research at the Department of Geography that examines current and future societal and environmental transformations. This page introduces the research focus area, highlights the participating research groups, presents ongoing and completed projects, and provides contact information for further exchange and collaboration.

What is studied in the research focus area Governing Transformations?

The research focus Governing Transformations addresses societal changes and social-ecological transformations, and their significance for sustainable development in a globalized world. At its core are questions of how economic, social and ecological transformations are, and can be, shaped and managed, e.g. with respect to energy and water systems, housing and financial markets, industrial and urban development, climate change adaptation and mitigation. Our research explores both radical and gradual approaches to transformation, ranging from technological advancements, economic incentives, state regulations and public policies, to civil society initiatives and shifts in geographical educational. Particular emphasis is placed on actors and institutions, and thus the governance constellations and mechanisms, in transformative processes.

By drawing on diverse approaches from all over geography as well as from various neighboring disciplines, including, e.g., social and political sciences, cultural and media studies, anthropology and economics, theoretical perspectives are critically examined to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities inherent in different types of transformation. The research focus Governing transformations contributes to the University of Bonn’s Transdisciplinary Research Areas Individuals and Societies (TRA4) as well as to Sustainable Futures (TRA6).

Involved research groups

Economic Geography (Prof. Dr. Britta Klagge)
Didactics of Geography (Prof. Dr. Eva Nöthen)
Development Geography (Prof. Dr. Lisa Schipper)
Cultural Geography (Prof. Dr. Kathrin Hörschelmann)
Social Geography (Prof. Dr. Nadine Marquardt)
Development Geography and Environmental Governance (Prof. Dr. Jessica Budds)
Hydrology (Prof. Dr. Julian Klaus)

Research Focus Area: Governing Transformations

Current projects on Governing Transformations

Blue-green Infrastructure of East Kolkata Wetlands. Sensitive Ecosystem in Transition Apl. Prof. Dr. Carsten Butsch; DAAD, 10/2025-09/2028; Partner*innen: Mostak Al Farhad (Stipendiat)
SOZIAHR: Soziale, Ökonomische und Administrative Herausforderungen von Klima-Resilienz Prof. Dr. Kathrin Hörschelmann, Dr. Juliane Dame; TRA Individuen, Institutionen und Gesellschaften (Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn) im Rahmen der Exzellenzstrategie von Bund und Ländern, 06/2024 – 12/2025; Partner*innen: Jun.-Prof. Dr. Jacqueline Lorenzen (Umweltrecht), Jun.-Prof. Dr. Svenja Hippel (Rechtsökonomik), Jun.-Prof. Dr. Julia Mink (Umweltökonomik), Jun.-Prof. Hanna Schwank Ph.D. (Mikroökonomik)
Earth System Modeling (ESM) & Planetary Health Dr. rer. nat. Timo Falkenberg; TRA Sustainable Futures (Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn) im Rahmen der Exzellenzstrategie von Bund und Ländern, 2024 – 2025; Partner*innen: Institut für Geowissenschaften der Universität Bonn
Klisopar - Klimastraßenverbund Solingen mit Partizipation der Bürger:innen Solingens Dr. Silvia Schäfer-Gemein, Prof. Dr. Thomas Kistemann; BMUV, 2023 – 2026; Partner*innen: Stadt Solingen / Eurosoc#DIGITAL gGmbH
Global Remunicipalisation and The Post - Neoliberal Turn Prof. Dr. Andrew Cumbers; European Research Council Advanced Grant, 01/2019 – 06/2025
PHASE: Just Transition in the North Sea Oil Industry Prof. Dr. Andrew Cumbers; 01/2024 – 12/2027; Partner*innen: FAFO
Governance der deutschen Wasserstoffwirtschaft und die Globalisierung der deutschen Energiewende Prof. Dr. Britta Klagge; DFG, 06/2023 - 06/2026
SFB/TR 228 - Future Rural Africa Prof. Dr. Detlef Müller-Mahn; DFG, seit 2018; Parner*innen: Universität zu Köln, Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC), das German Institute for Development and Sustainability (IDOS), die Universität Potsdam, die Charité an der Humboldt-Universität in Berlin, und selbstverständlich auch zahlreiche Kooperationspartner in Afrika
SFB/TRR 228 - Future Rural Africa. Future-making and social-ecological transformation; Teilprojekt C02: Energy Futures: Infrastructures and governance for renewable energies Prof. Dr. Britta Klagge, Prof. Dr. Clemens Greiner; DFG, 2018 -2025; Partner*innen: SFB/CRC228 mit diversen Partner*innen in Kenya, u. a. USIU, University of Nairobi und Strathmore University
Shelter technologies in action. Humanitarian geographies of precarious housing across North-South divides Prof. Dr. Nadine Marquardt; DFG, 2022 – 2025
„Smartes“ Wohnen für die alternde Gesellschaft – zwischen Fürsorge, Kontrolle und vernetzter Selbstermächtigung Prof. Dr. Nadine Marquardt; DFG, 2022 – 2025
The Great Green Wall and Sahelian Environmental Imaginaries: Green Fix and the Persistence of a Policy Idea Prof. Dr. Müller-Mahn; DFG, 2023 – 2026; Partner*innen: Institute of Development Studies (IDS) in Großbritannien
Unearthing Atlanta's Past: Learning Urban History with Collaborative Digital Projects Prof. Dr. Eva Nöthen, Julia Klumparendt, Tobit Nauheim; Collaborative Research Grant, 2022 – 2025; Christina Crawford, Alexander Cors, Bailey Betik (Emory University | Atlanta)
Earth System Science & Transformative Geographical Education. Linking Theories - Experimenting in Practice Prof. Dr. Eva Nöthen, Julia Klumparendt, Tobit Nauheim; Deutsch-Israelische Gesellschaft Bonn, Bonner Zentrum für Lehrerbildung, 2023 – 2025; Partner*innen: Nir Orion (Weizmann Institute of Science), Ariel Meroz (Dead Sea and Arava Science Center/Hebrew University)
Transformative Bildung in der geographischen Hochschullehre Prof. Dr. Eva Nöthen; seit 2024; Partner*innen: Prof. Dr. Verena Schreiber (PH Freiburg)