Biosphere Reserves Institute

Graduate Programme

About

Our graduate programme promotes applied research on biodiversity-friendly land use with a focus on biosphere reserves. It contributes to strengthening the research profile of Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development by promoting interdisciplinary collaboration among its faculties and the University’s collaboration with partners from research and practice. The programme is designed and implemented jointly with

Goal

Our goal is to train and promote doctoral students from Germany and abroad for academic and professional careers within a specific and unique research area.


The semi-structured programme combines interdisciplinary research with a series of courses and activities aimed at acquiring high-level skills in research methods, analysis, and communication.


Doctoral students are given the opportunity to integrate their research project into a broader scientific-theoretical framework and to acquire solid theoretical knowledge in this context. The expected outcome is their visible, original, and publishable contribution to knowledge.

Coordination

Dr. rer. nat. Janine Jargow

Programme Profile

Programme profile

Start On a rolling basis
Duration 3 to 5 years depending on the study mode
Language English
Study mode Full-time and part-time
Curriculum Semi-structured
Funding Currently not available
Qualification Dr. rer. nat. or Dr. rer. pol.

Programme structure

3 mandatory interdisciplinary courses
Research colloquium
Dissertation defence

The curriculum supports the development of individual competencies through a series of courses aimed at acquiring high-level skills in research methods, analysis, and communication. If doctoral students need additional qualifications, further courses may be introduced.

Entry requirements

Our graduate programme pursues the continued development and support of the doctoral students at Eberswalde University and is open to every young scientist who wants to work on topics related to biosphere reserves.


Admission to the graduate programme requires a university degree (master's, diploma or comparable) in a subject area relevant to the planned dissertation topic. This university degree must have been completed with a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0. An exception to the latter rule can be made by the Joint Commission of the BRI.


The dissertation must be supervised by a professor at Eberswalde University and co-supervised by a professor at Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Germany. The dissertation topic must correspond the scientific objectives of the BRI.


At the time of application, we recommend that candidates have at least a C1 level of English. During the application process, the Joint Commission of the BRI decides whether the candidate has a sufficient level of English to participate in the programme. The provision of English language certificates is not compulsory.

Become a Member

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    First doctoral students of the graduate programme

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    During a workshop in the BRI

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    Taking a short break from research duties

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Get started

1

Find a dissertation topic related to the scientific objectives of the BRI

2

Find a principal supervisor at Eberswalde University and get his or her preliminary agreement to supervise your dissertation

Apply

1

Contact the programme coordinator to learn more about the application process and selection criteria

2

Apply for the programme and present your research idea to the Joint Commission of the BRI

When enrolled

1

Sign a supervision agreement with your principal supervisor at Eberswalde University

2

Find a co-supervisor at Leuphana University (assistance is provided)

Interested to join or have further questions?

Graduate Programme FAQs

  • Application

    Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Please contact the programme coordinator to find out more about the application process and selection criteria.

  • Admission

    The decision on admission is made by the Joint Commission of the BRI by majority vote. It is based on a preliminary appraisal of the application by two professors of Eberswalde University according to predetermined criteria. At the request of the applicant or his/her principal supervisor, the applicant has the opportunity to present the research idea at the Joint Commission meeting in the form of a 10-minute presentation in English.

  • Supervision

    The applicant chooses his or her principal supervisor from among the professors at Eberswalde University and obtains his or her consent to supervise the thesis. Once the applicant is enrolled in the programme, the BRI supports him or her in selecting a co-supervisor at Leuphana University of Lüneburg. It is mandatory to sign a supervision agreement between the principal supervisor and the doctoral candidate.

  • Funding

    Admission to the graduate programme does not involve funding for doctoral research, implying only participation in the programme’s curriculum, support for admission to the doctoral programme at Leuphana University of Lüneburg, and access to the infrastructure of Eberswalde University. However, the BRI will strive to find research funding opportunities in the future. 

  • Curriculum

    The programme combines interdisciplinary research with a curriculum that supports the development of individual competencies through a series of courses and activities aimed at acquiring high-level skills in research methods, analysis and communication. If doctoral students need additional qualifications, further courses may be introduced.

  • Duration

    The programme can be completed in 3 years in the case of full-time study and in 5 years in the case of part-time study. Until the dissertation process is completed, the doctoral student can enjoy the benefits of the graduate programme.

  • Degree award

    The doctoral degree is awarded by the Faculty of Sustainability of Leuphana University of Lüneburg. Depending of the field of study, doctoral students are awarded the title Dr. rer. nat. or Dr. rer. pol. 

PhD Students

Gino Garcia

M.Sc. Global Change Management  (Eberswalde University)


Designing a Sustainability Assessment for Safeguarding the Provision of Forest Ecosystem Services in Germany - Integrating Principles of Ecological Restoration in Biosphere Reserves

Principal supervisor (Eberswalde University)

Prof. Dr Carsten Mann

Co-supervisor (Leuphana University)

Prof. Dr Henrik von Wehrden

  • Research focus

    I am a researcher at the HNEE and have been working on the topic of Forest Ecosystem Services since 2019. Most of my work experience comes from previously working in the Philippines on various environment topics such as rural development, disaster risk management, and disaster relief. 


    My Ph.D. focus is on designing a Sustainability Assessment that will aid forest managers in Germany make more sustainable decisions. The decision-making tool will respond to the need for more Ecological Restoration as a viable means to deliver Forest Ecosystem Services. 


  • Curriculum vitae

    11/2019 – present Researcher (Eberswalde University)


    01/2018 – 03/2018 Student Worker – NewClimate Institute


    11/2017 – 03/2018 Internship (Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment, and Energy)


    09/2016 – 08/2019 M.Sc. Global Change Management (Eberswalde University)


    10/2015 – 06/2016 Consultant for Monitoring (Office of the President of the Philippines)


    02/2015 – 09/2015 Project Manager (Berkman International, Inc.)


    06/2012 – 06/2014 Coordinator (GIZ Philippines)


    05/2011 – 05/2012 Project Coordinator (Goethe Institute Philippines)


    06/2002 – 04/2011 B.Sc. Industrial Engineering & B.A. European Languages (University of the Philippines, Diliman)


  • Publications

    Peer-reviewed articles


    Mann, C., Loft, L., Hernández-Morcillo, M., Primmer, E., Bussola, F., Falco, E., Geneletti, D., Dobrowolska, E., Grossmann, C., Bottaro, G., Schleyer, C., Kluvankova, T., Garcia, G., Lovrić, M., Torralba, M., Plieninger, T., Winkel, G. (2022). Governance Innovations for forest ecosystem service provision – Insights from an EU-wide survey. Environmental Science and Policy. DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2022.02.032


    Media

    Garcia, G. (2021). Duterte Says Yes to Mining in the Philippines. But at What Cost? Heinrich-Böll Foundation Southeast Asia. URL: https://th.boell.org/en/2021/08/27/duterte-mining-election


Caroline Meier

M.A. International Relations (Leiden University, Netherlands) & M.Sc. Sport Management (German Sport University Cologne)


Local means for global ends: Tracing the role of local approaches to sustainable landscape governance in global environmental programmes using the example of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme

Principal supervisor (University of Augsburg)

Prof. Dr. Simone Müller

Co-supervisor (Eberswalde University)

Prof. Dr. Heike Walk

  • Research focus

    I want to understand the roots, causes and mechanisms that engender the great challenges of our age such as social injustice, environmental destruction, and inequality – and to contribute to their confrontation. Therefore, I am committed to the study of cultural dimensions of society-nature relations. Here I am particularly interested in power relations within environmental initiatives and the link between community development and sustainability. My background in international relations with a specialisation in culture and politics in postcolonial contexts as well as my experience with environmental conflicts in the Global South help me in this endeavour.


    In my PhD project, I investigate how international organisations allow for local knowledge to be heard and promoted beyond the local framework by the use of the example of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere programme. The PhD project is localised in the critical thought school and within this, political ecology. Employing hermeneutics and critical discourse analysis, I explore the possibilities of local participation in global decision-making processes. I also look at the implementation of the global programme's goals at the local level (across all scales from the global to the local). 

  • Curriculum vitae

    11/2020 - now: PhD Candidate and Research Fellow Biosphere Reserves Institute


    09/2018-08/2019: M.A. International Relations (Culture and Politics) Leiden University/ Netherlands


    08/2017-05/2018: Volunteer NGO La Cuculmeca Jinotega/ Nicaragua


    10/2014-08/2017: Research assistant Institute of Sport History/ Olympic Studies Centre at the German Sport University Cologne


    10/2014-11/2016: M.Sc. Sport  Management German Sport University Cologne


    10/2010-08/2014: B.A. Sport Management and Sport Communication German Sport University Cologne                        


    09/2012-03/2013: Erasmus Student (Semester abroad) Université Montpellier/ France

  • Publications

    Meier, C. & Culpan, I. (2020). A Māori concept in a Pākehā world: biculturalism in health and physical education in the New Zealand curriculum. Curriculum Studies in Health and Physical Education, 11(3), 222-236. doi.org/10.1080/25742981.2020.1811129


    Molzberger, A., Wassong, S., Meier, C. & Quanz, D. (2018). Abgestaubt und neu erforschbar. Die historischen Sammlungen der Deutschen Sporthochschule Köln – Band 2: Olympische Bewegung. Hellenthal: Sportverlag Strauß.


    Meier, C. (2017). The early relationship between UNESCO and the IOC: Considerations – Controversies – Cooperation. Diagoras. International Academic Journal on Olympic Studies, 1(1), 229-248.


    Wassong, S., Molzberger, A., & Meier, C. (2017). Destination Olympia. The Archeological Site and Olympic Studies from the Perspective of the German Sport University Cologne. Köln: VDS- Verlagsdruckerei Schmidt.


    Culpan, I., Meier, C. (2016). Sport and the Political Economy: Considerations for Enhancing the Human Condition. Athens Journal of Sports, 3 (2), 143-154.


    Molzberger, A., Meier, C., Wassong, S., Schiffer, H., Gößnitzer, U. (2014). Abgestaubt und neu erforschbar: die historischen Sammlungen der Deutschen Sporthochschule Köln. Band 1 – Personennachlässe. S. Wassong, A. Molzberger & H. Schiffer (Eds.). Schriftenreihe der Zentralbibliothek der Sportwissenschaften der Deutschen Sporthochschule Köln (1st ed.). Köln: Sportverlag Strauß.


    Conference Contributions


    Meier, C. (2016). Colloquium Contribution: “Olympic Education.” 2nd International Colloquium of Olympic Studies Centres and Research Centres, PUCRS, Porto Alegre/ Brazil.


    Culpan, I., Meier, C. (2015). Conference Contribution: “Sport and the Political Economy: Considerations for Enhancing the Human Condition.” 15th ATINER Conference, Athens/ Greece.


    Master Theses


    M.A. Thesis (2019): The Sparks that Started the Fire – Environmental Protests against the Wildfire in the Biosphere Indio-Maíz, Nicaragua in April 2018


    M.Sc. Thesis (2016): The Early Positioning of UNESCO in Sport and Physical Education: Considerations – Controversies – Cooperation (Award for Young Academics)


Fabio Weiss (Weiß)

M.Sc. Environmental Science (Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Germany)


Investigating long-term trends and their drivers in epigeic forest insects: A reassessment of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in lowland beech forests of Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve 

Principal supervisor (Eberswalde University)

Prof. Dr. Andreas Linde (Applied Ecology and Zoology)

Co-supervisor (Leuphana University)

Prof. Dr. Henrik von Wehrden (Quantitative Methods of Sustainability Science)

Email      |     ResearchGate     |    ORCID     |    Twitter

  • Research focus

    I am an environmental scientist with a strong focus in ecology and biodiversity. In the past, I have done research on seed dispersal and movement ecology of mammals and worked in vegetation and bird monitoring. I have a keen interest in methodological research. I also have some experience in biostatistics and like to use the statistical language/software R.


    At Biosphere Reserves Institute, I investigate population trends of forest insects (Carabids) in the context of a potential decline of insects. For this purpose, I analyse long-term data that has been collected in the course of HNEE teaching activities. I also sample data at beech forest sites in Schorfheide-Chorin BR and parts of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern to compare it to reference data. Furthermore, I work on improving practical and statistical methods that help to detect trends in insect populations.


    I am currently based in Nelson, New Zealand, where I am hosted by the Cawthron Institute.


  • Curriculum vitae

    Since 12/2022: Guestworker at Cawthron Institute, Nelson, New Zealand


    Since 1/2022: Doctoral student at LEUPHANA University


    Since 10/2019: Research fellow at Biosphere Reserves Institute 


    03/2018-10/2019: Freelance consultant for ornithology and environmental data


    10/2015-03/2019: M.Sc. in Environmental Science (Biodiversity, Vegetation and Wildlife) at Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg


    04/2014-08/2017: Forest surveyor (Waldinventur)


    10/2013-03/2014: ERASMUS semester at University of Life Sciences Vienna (BOKU)


    10/2011-09/2015: B.Sc. in Environmental Science and International Forestry at Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg

  • Publications

    Peer-reviewed articles


    Weiss, F., von Wehrden, H., Linde, A. (2024) Long-term drought triggers severe declines in carabid beetles in a temperate forest. Ecography (in print), e07020. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecog.07020 


    Weiss, F., von Wehrden, H., Linde, A. (2023) Sensitivity analyses and temporal random effects help to assess uncertainties when investigating temporal trends in insect populations (short communication). Insect Conservation and Diversity. https://doi.org/10.1111/icad.12644


    Weiss, F., Michler, F.U., Gillich, B., Tillmann, J.E., Ciuti, S., Heurich, M., Rieger, S. (2022) Displacement Effects of Conservation Grazing on Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) Spatial Behaviour. Environmental Management 70, 763–779 . https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-022-01697-6


    Weiss, F., Linde, A. (2022) How to estimate carabid biomass?—an evaluation of size-weight models for ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and perspectives for further improvement. Journal of Insect Conservation 26, 537–548. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-022-00391-6 


    Weiss, F., Brummer, T. J., & Pufal, G. (2016) Mountain bikes as seed dispersers and their potential socio-ecological consequences. Journal of Environmental Management, 181, 326-332. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.06.037



    Conference Contributions


    Weiss, F., von Wehrden, H., Linde, A. (2023, September 1) Insect Decline in European Forests? Unprecedented drought triggers declines in carabid beetles in a German forest area (talk). 71st Conference of the New Zealand Entomological Society, Auckland, NZ.


    Weiss, F., Linde, A. (2023, February 21) How precise are size-weight equations for estimating carabid biomass and how could they be improved? (conference poster). Annual conference of the German Society for General and Applied Entomology 2023, Bozen, Italy. doi:10.57741/opus4-396


    Weiss, F.; Linde, A. (2022, August 26) Periods of heat trigger declines in abundance and biomass in forest ground beetles: Insights from 23 years of data (conference poster). 6th European Conference of Conservation Biology 2022, Prague, Czech Republic. (view on Researchgate)


    Weiss, F. (2022, May 17) Insect decline in temperate beech forests? Re-assessment of ground beetles in lowland beech forests of the Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve (conference presentation). Science and Research in, for and with UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, International Conference 2022, Altenhof, Germany.


    Weiss, F., Linde, A. (2022) More evidence for insect decline? First results from 23 years of ground beetle sampling in a German forest (conference poster), SCCS Cambridge 2022. 10.13140/RG.2.2.31142.80962


    Weiss, F., Heurich M., Rieger S., Gillich B., Michler F.U., Ciuti S., Tillmann J.E. (2019, August 26-30) Sheep grazing affects spatial behaviour of red deer (Cervus elaphus) in a German heathland area (conference poster), 34th IUGB Congress, Kaunas. (view on Researchgate)


    Pufal G., Weiss F. (2015, September 3) Samen fahren mit (conference presentation), Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Ökologie (GfÖ) 2015, Göttingen. (press resease, PDF)



    Data


    Linde, A., Kolling, T., Weiss, F., (2023) Eberswalde Carabid Monitoring 1999-2022 - Full Data, pubdata.leuphana.de. https://doi.org/10.48548/pubdata-46


    Linde, A., Weiss, F., (2023) Eberswalde Carabid Abundances 1999-2022, pubdata.leuphana.de. https://doi.org/10.48548/pubdata-23



    Media features


    Pepe und die Welt der Insekten – Schau in meine Welt. Bernadette Haucke/Pangolin Doxx Films, rbb, (2020), children´s documentary. Stream


    Mountain bikes as seed dispersers. Deutschlandradio Wissen (2015), radio interview.


    Mountainbiking im Wald: Pflanzensamen fahren mit, Informationsdienst Wissenschaft (2015), https://idw-online.de/de/news636797



Alumni

Dr. rer. pol. Martin Balaš

M.Sc. Sustainable Tourism Management (Eberswalde University)


Measuring and managing sustainability impacts of tourism from a subnational perspective

Principal supervisor (Eberswalde University)

Prof. Dr Wolfgang Strasdas

Co-supervisor (Leuphana University)

Prof. Dr David Abson

Email | Web 

  • Research focus

    I was a graduate of the master program Sustainable Tourism Management here at the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development. I worked as a freelance consultant in various sustainable tourism management projects. In the last years I mainly developed concepts for tourism destination structures, sustainability competitions, sustainability models and practical guides for various consulting companies. In addition, I have been advising numerous tourism destinations and tourism companies on Sustainability Certification and managed several tourism development projects in Germany and abroad. In recent years I participated in various projects and publications on sustainable tourism at the HNE Eberswalde. My research interests are in the area of sustainable destination management, corporate social responsibility (CSR), certification and regional economic effects of tourism. Due to my research I have been able to contribute my experience to different platforms such as the board of the European Sustainability Network Ecotrans, the Expert Group on Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism of the UN World Tourism Organization or as lecturer in several Universities in Germany.


    My PhD research focused on the measurement of sustainability impacts of tourism in UNESCO biosphere reserves. It addressed the gap of missing impact-related information of the sustainable development in the tertiary sector of Biosphere Reserves. It aimed to reconcile existing monitoring activities with current global and regional approaches to measure the sustainability of tourism as an economic sector. I derived a systematic approach that enables a comprehensive monitoring based on key figures for the environmental and socio-economic impacts of tourism activities at regional destination level.

  • Curriculum vitae

    2020-2024: Research fellow at Biosphere Reserves Institute and Doctoral student at LEUPHANA (admission pending)


    3/2014- 12/2019: Senior consultant and partner at TourCert gGmbH


    9/2013-12/2019: Research fellow at HNE Eberswalde and the Centre for Sustainable Tourism ZENAT


    8/2011-4/2014: Owner of Tour Company Finding Berlin Tours


    Since 2011: Freelance Consultant and Lecturer for Tourism Management and Sustainability Management


    1/2010-12/2010: Consultant BTE Tourismus- und Regionalberatung


    9/2008-10/2010: M.A. Sustainable Tourism Management at HNE Eberswalde


    9/2002-3/2007: BBA (hons) Leisure and Tourism Management

  • Publications

    Peer-reviewed articles


    Gössling, S., Balas, M., Mayer, M., & Sun, Y. Y. (2023). A review of tourism and climate change mitigation: The scales, scopes, stakeholders and strategies of carbon management. Tourism Management, 95, 104681. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2022.104681


    Balas, M., & Abson, D. J. (2022). Characterising and identifying gaps in sustainability assessments of tourism-a review. Tourism Management Perspectives, 43, 101004. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2022.101004 


    Malkowski, A., Bieszk-Stolorz, B., Dawidowicz, D., Zbaraszewski, W., & Balas, M. (2022). Sustainable tourism as a factor in the development of protected areas in the Pomerania Euroregion. Ekonomia I Środowisko - Economics and Environment, 80(1), 189–216. https://doi.org/10.34659/eis.2022.80.1.442  



    Book contributions and publication series


    Balas, M., Mayer, M. (2023). The challenge of climate change and net zero emissions for destinations. In Pillmayer, M., Hansen, M., Karl, M. (Hrsg.) (2023). Tourism destination development: A geographic perspective on destination management and tourist demand. De Gruyter Tourism Studies


    Balas, M., Mayer, M., Kintscher, C. (2023). Auf dem Weg zur Klimaneutralität in Tourismusdestinationen. Leitfaden zu Klimabilanzierungen im Tourismus. reCET, Hochschule München (Hrsg.). Im Auftrag des Bundeministeriums für Wirtschaft und Energie


    Balas, M., Dmytrów, K., Mayer, M., Zbaraszewski, W. (2022). Economic impact analysis of tourism in protected areas of the Pomerania region. In: Zbaraszewski, W., Balas, M., Dmytrów, K., Majewska, A., Mayer, M., Steingrube, W. (2022). Socio-economic research in protected areas of the Euroregion Pomerania: Visitor satisfaction, economic impacts and park–people relationships. 


    Balas, M., Majewska, A. (2022). Effects of COVID-19 on visitation and tourism in the protected areas of the Pomerania region. In: Zbaraszewski, W., Balas, M., Dmytrów, K., Majewska, A., Mayer, M., Steingrube, W. (2022). Socio-economic research in protected areas of the Euroregion Pomerania: Visitor satisfaction, economic impacts and park–people relationships.


    Mayer, M., Balas, M., Dmytrów, K., Zbaraszewski, W. (2022). Analysis of park–people relationships. In: Zbaraszewski, W., Balas, M., Dmytrów, K., Majewska, A., Mayer, M., Steingrube, W. (2022). Socio-economic research in protected areas of the Euroregion Pomerania: Visitor satisfaction, economic impacts and park–people relationships.


    Balas, M., Dickhut, H., Lund-Durlacher, D., de Marzo, C., Hamele, H., Sillence, G., Tenger, A. (2022). The post-covid-19 future of sustainable tourism in Europe. In European SME Going Green 2030 Report Review and analysis of policies, strategies and instruments for boosting sustainable tourism in Europe. 1st edition.


    Balas, M., Strasdas, W., Neumann, F., Mattes, A., Becker, L., Giese, J, Renner, A., Weber, A., Kohl, K., Pinnow, D., Zeiner, M., Rein, H., Heck, S. (2021). Messung der Nachhaltigkeit im Tourismus - Entwicklung eines Tourismus-Nachhaltigkeits-Satellitenkontos. Im Auftrag des Umweltbundesamtes, Texte 61/21, Dessau-Roßlau. 


    Balas, M., Lund-Durlacher, D., Strasdas., W. (2020). Steigt Nachhaltiger Tourismus als Phönix aus der Krise? In Tourismus Wissen – quarterly, 21(6), 195-200. 


    Balas, M. & Strasdas, W. (2020). Erfassung von Auswirkungen des deutschen Outbound-Tourismus auf die Nachhaltigkeit in bereisten Ländern, im Auftrag des Umweltbundesamtes, Texte 232/20, Dessau-Roßlau. 


    Balas, M., Strasdas, W. (2019), Sustainability in tourism: developments, approaches and clarification of terms. Im Auftrag des Umweltbundesamtes, Texte 53/19, Dessau-Roßlau.


    Balas, M., Strasdas, W. (2019), Nachhaltigkeit im Tourismus: Entwicklungen, Ansätze und Begriffsklärung. Im Auftrag des Umweltbundesamtes, Texte 22/19, Dessau-Roßlau. 


Dr. rer. nat. Charlotte Gohr

M.Sc. Physical Geography (Philipps University Marburg, Germany)


Assessing the effectiveness of UNESCO biosphere reserves - towards a global monitoring tool of ecological functioning

Principal supervisor (Eberswalde University)

Prof. Dr Pierre Ibisch

Co-supervisor (Leuphana University)

Prof. Dr Henrik von Wehrden

  • Research focus

    I am dedicated to critical geography dealing with questions of environmental justice, critical mapping and postcolonial geography. At the same time I am having a background in geoinformatics and biodiversity research. I would like to combine these research fields and learn more about implementing integrative geography approaches.


    PhD-Project description: With the help of large-scale remote sensing a method to globally examine geoinformation about biome-specific socio-biophysical conditions in and around Biosphere Reserves was developed. Responding to the need for a more holistic appraisal of human-nature relations in the context of Biosphere Reserves’ effectiveness, the concepts of environmental justice and the ecosystem approach was included in the assessment.

  • Curriculum Vitae

    04/2020 - 06/2024 : PhD student at the faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University Lüneburg  at Henrik v. Wehrden’s Lab


    10/2019 - 06/2024 :  Research fellow at the Graduate School of Biosphere Reserves Institute  the at Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development at Pierre L. Ibisch’s Lab


    10/2022-03/2023 : Visiting PhD Student, NASA-JPL/Caltech, Pasadena, USA  at Sassan Saatchi’s Lab


    10/2022-06/2023 : Subproject supervisor for research project in Honduras funded by GIZ


    10/2021-05/2022 : Active member of the internal organizational team for the Biosphere Reserves Conference in May 2022


    07/2019 : M. Sc. Physical Geography at Philipps-University Marburg  specialization: biodiversity, geoinformatics supervised by Thomas Nauss and Pierre L. Ibisch


    10/2015 - 02/2019 : Students equal opportunity commissioner at Geography Dep. Marburg


    04/2015 - 02/2019 :  Junior researcher, map collection at Herder Institute Marburg 


    04 - 06/2018 :  Internship at Heinrich Böll Foundation Tel Aviv and Ramallah 


    10/2016 - 09/2017: Elected member in the students council at Geography Dep. Marburg


    09/2016 : B. Sc. Geography at Philipps-University Marburg 


    08/2014 - 02/2015 : Erasmus-Semester Liffesciences’ Valladolid, Spain 


  • Publications

    Peer-reviewed articles


    Mann, D., Gohr, C., Blumröder, J. S., & Ibisch, P. L. (2023). Does fragmentation contribute to the forest crisis in Germany?. Frontiers in Forests and Global Change, 6, 1099460. https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2023.1099460


    Gohr, C.; v. Wehrden, H.; May, F.; Ibisch, P. L. (2022): Remotely sensed effectiveness assessments of protected areas lack a common framework: A review. Ecosphere 13(4): e4053. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.4053


    Gohr, C.; Blumröder, J. S.; Sheil, D.; Ibisch, P. L. (2021): Quantifying the mitigation of temperature extremes by forests and wetlands in a temperate landscape. Ecological Informatics, 101442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoinf.2021.101442


    Thiele, V.; Tabbert, H.; Schuhmacher, S.; Blumrich, B.; Gohr, C. (2015): The spatiotemporal distribution of butterflies and moth in nutrient poor bogs of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. TELMA, Vol. 45.


    Other publications


    Ibisch, P. L.; Blumröder, J. S.; Gohr, C.; Schmidt, L. (2021): Konzept zur Förderung der Funktionen und Leistungen von Waldökosystemen in Deutschland. Centre for Econics and Ecosystem Management an der Hochschule für nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde für die Bundestagsfraktion Bündnis 90/Die Grünen. Eberswalde, Berlin.


    Gohr, C.; Blumröder, J. S.; Ibisch, P. L. (2020): Thermische Wirkungen von Waldökosystemen und Autobahnen unter den Bedingungen des Klimawandels Beurteilung der mikro- und mesoklimatischen Effekte des geplanten Baus des Autobahnabschnittes der A49 auf den Dannenröder Forst, Hessen. Greenpeace e.V., Hamburg.


    Lotz, C.; Gohr, C. (2017): Anti-imperialism or new imperialism? Examining the production and content of the World Map/Karta Mira 1:2,500,000 (1956–1989), Royal Geographical Society, Annual Conference, London.


    Lotz, C.; Gohr, C. (2016): Tracing silence on maps: aerial photographs of Breslau in 1944 as challenges for visual history and critical cartography. Explorations in the history of cartography. Herder Institute Marburg.


    Conference Contributions


    Gohr, C. (2022): Tracking human impact on land surface temperature. Google Geo for Good Summit, Mountain View, USA.


    Gohr, C. (2022): Biosphere Reserves from space: Assessing their ecological effectiveness using Earth Engine. International Conference: Science and Research in, for and with UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. Eberswalde, Werbellinsee.


    Gohr, C. (2021): Quantifying Landscape Temperature Mitigation of Forests and Wetlands. AK Fernerkundung: Fernerkundung für die Welt von morgen: Herausforderungen und Lösungsansätze für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung. GeoWoche - online.


    Gohr, C. (2019): Ecological impacts of clear-cuts on remaining forest. A case study in the north-west Russian Federation using remote sensing supported, geo-statistical analysis, 2nd Austrian Conference on International Resource Politics, Innsbruck


    Lotz, C. and Gohr, C. (2017). Anti-imperialism or new imperialism? Examining the production and content of the World Map/Karta Mira 1:2,500,000 (1956–1989), Royal Geographical Society’s Annual Conference, London


    Gohr, C. (2016). Tracing silence on maps: evaluating historical maps using remote sensing on Central Europe, Association for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies ASEEES Annual Conference, Washington D.C.

Dr. rer. pol. Caroline Dabard

M.Sc. Global Change Management

(Eberswalde University)


Enhancing the transformative potential of sustainability innovations: Insights from two European Biosphere Reserves

Principal supervisor (Eberswalde University)

Prof. Dr Carsten Mann

Co-supervisor (Leuphana University)

Prof. Dr Berta Martín-López

  • Research focus

    I engage in sustainability science as a mean to support the ‘great transformation’ towards sustainable and just societies. I wonder how to scientifically navigate the messiness of transformation, innovation and transdisciplinary studies.


    My Ph.D. project explored the potential of biosphere reserves in supporting sustainability innovations in periurban European areas. First, I developed an analytical framework of the supporting and hindering conditions for sustainability innovations. Second, I explored two European biosphere reserves: Fontainebleau-Gâtinais (France) and Schorfheide-Chorin (Germany). I carried out an inventory of sustainability innovations in each region to discover innovation patterns and inventive actor networks. What types of sustainability innovations currently unfold? How are they distributed within periurban and rural areas? How do innovative actors regionally connect with each other? Finally, I wondered which role biosphere reserves could play in innovation governance. Are there potential action fields to support and disseminate promising sustainability innovations?

  • Curriculum vitae

    2019-2024: Research fellow and Ph.D. candidate, Biosphere Reserves Institute & Leuphana University Lüneburg


    2019-2020: Permaculture Design Apprenticeship, Permakultur Akademie


    2019-2020: Coaching Training, WanderCoaching Netzwerk N


    2016-2019: M.Sc. Global Change Management, HNEE


    2019: Master thesis: Action research meets permaculture: design for a learning journey


    2011-2015: B.A. Political Science, SciencesPo Paris


    2014-2015: Two Erasmus semesters at Leipzig University


    2011-2014: Five semesters in B.A. Philosophy, Université Paris-Sorbonne


    2016-2019: Various internships and student assistant positions include: student coach and research assistant at HNEE, intern and student assistant at IASS (digitalisation and impacts for sustainability), intern at Interkultureller Garten Lichtenberg (education for sustainability); intern at UFZ Leipzig (ecosystem-based adaptation); volunteer at Umweltzentrum Dresden (FÖJ education for sustainability); and volunteer at Helene-Maier Stiftung (FÖJ organic farming).

  • Publications

    Peer-reviewed articles


    Dabard, C.H.; Mann, C. (2022) Sustainability innovations. A proposal for an analytical framework and its empirical application in the Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve. Sustainability Science. DOI: 10.1007/s11625-022-01241-9


    Conference Contributions


    Dabard, C.H.; Mann, C.; Martín-López, B. (Nov 2022) Transformative potential of sustainability innovations in Biosphere Reserves: an archetype analysis. International Sustainability Transitions Conference 2022, online.


    Dabard, C.H.; Mann, C.; (June 2022) Sustainability innovations. Conditions and outcomes. A proposal for an analytical framework and two case studies. European Society for Ecological Economics Conference 2022, Pisa, Italy.


    Dabard, C.H. (May 2022) Is this really new? A study of sustainability innovations in an unknown peri-urban region and why discreet changes matter. Network of Early-Career Researchers for Sustainability Transitions Conference, Lyon, France.


    Dabard, C.H. (May 2022) Is this really new? A study of sustainability innovations in an unknown peri-urban region and why discreet changes matter. Research in, for and with Biosphere Reserves, Werbellinsee, Germany.

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