Funding period: October 2021 – March 2022

This research group critically explores the notion of ‘health’ through the lens of human-environment relations in Berlin. Our project will be developed in close dialogue with an interdisciplinary and inter-university collaboration that is currently being set up in response to the BUA Main Call Global Health and which seeks to develop an urban ‘multispecies’ perspective in order to 1) Problematize urbanization as process that leads to the destruction of natural habitats, thus contributing to the emergence of zoonoses such as Covid-19 and the general ill-being of both humans and the environment. 2) Explore the city as a space where solutions to the (current) health crisis – which is inextricably linked to the ongoing climate crisis – are being developed. Drawing from critical theories of care in the humanities and social sciences, we will explore Berliners' relations to species (animals, plants ...) that are being framed as both remedy and threat in current urban politics and everyday practices, including but not limited to case studies of ‘urban greening’ and the promotion of ‘animal infrastructures‘, the management of ‘urban wildlife’, or discussions about ‘invasive species’. 

The seminar is open to MA students from all disciplines and BUA institutions; theories and methods are decidedly inter-disciplinary and will be elaborated together with the lecturer during the regular seminar meetings. The final assignments are short films produced by the students throughout the semester. Students will receive guidance about this method by a professional filmmaker. 

A few places for students are still available -  if you are interested please send a brief email to <laura.kemmer@geo.hu-berlin.de> including your name and study program/university (and 1-2 sentences about your interest in the group, if you like).
The research group is organised in form of a block seminar (in-person teaching if possible // a hybrid format will be made available for those who cannot be there in person):

Session 1: 29.10 and 30.10.2021, 9-5 p.m.
Session 2: 10.12 and 11.12, 9-5 p.m.
Session 3: 4.2 and 5.2.2022, 9-5 p.m.
Session 4: 11.2 and 12.2.2022, 9-5 p.m.
All meetings will take place at HU Campus Adlershof, Geography Department, Rudower Chaussee 16, 12489 Berlin: Room 0'223. 

Contact: laura.kemmer@geo.hu-berlin.de

For more information about the BUA x-student format: https://www.berlin-university-alliance.de/en/commitments/teaching-learning/sturop/research-groups/index.html