Governance of conflictual trade-off situations
Research Summary
My research focuses on the governance for transformation of social-ecological systems towards sustainability. The goal of my work is to understand how complex multi-level trade-offs are governed in multi-actor, multi-interest governance systems. I aim to bring knowledge into action by designing research through co-production processes and to inform policies and decision-makers that improve outcomes for people and nature.
Since February 2022, I have been working as a Marie Curie Fellow, leading the project “Sustainable resource governance under pressure: How to govern trade-off situations under global change”. My research focuses on the governance of trade-off situations in two key areas: 1) protected areas, and 2) proposed mines on sacred Indigenous lands for mineral extraction for energy transition. I primarily use qualitative methods and my background as a human geographer and natural scientist enables me to conduct both interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary projects.
My time as a Marie Curie Fellow includes the following research and teaching stays:
- Since 07/2024: Senior researcher. Wyss Academy for Nature, University of Bern, Switzerland, CH.
- 03/2024 – 06/2024: Nominated visiting scholar. Ostrom Workshop, Indiana University Bloomington, US.
- 02/2022 – 02/2024: Associated faculty and lecturer. School of Sustainability, College of Global Futures and Center for Behavior, Institutions and the Environment, Arizona State University, US.
- 08/2022 – 12/ 2022: Lecturer. School of Geography, Development & Environment, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, University of Arizona, US.
I am co-leading the Working Group on Governance of Social-Ecological Systems at the global research alliance Earth System Governance Project.
As a postdoctoral researcher, I have worked -inter alia- on an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary project about the governance of trade-off situations of Water-Energy-Food Nexus cases. In my interdisciplinary PhD in Climate Science, I have studied the governance of trade-off situations between climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Grand Canyon National Park, US (Photo: Elke Kellner)