Publications

Academic career

Studies

• Geography, Biology, Human Anthropology und Philosophy at the universities of Bochum and Münster, Germany, 1981-1987

Doctorate (PhD)

• 1991, Dr. rer. nat., University of Münster. Thesis: "Die Rätoromanen Graubündens. Peripherisierung einer Minorität" (The Rhetoromansh in Grisons/Switzerland. Peripheralisation of a minority) (summa cum laude)

Habilitation (PhD II)

• 1996, University of Bonn: "Entwicklungsdynamik und Regierbarkeit des Großraums Bangkok. Zur Bedeutung soziokultureller Einflußgrößen in der Megastadt" (Development dynamics and governance of Greater Bangkok. On the importance of socio-cultural factors in the megacity)

Employment Record

• since 2000: Professor and Chair of Human Geography (C4), Institute of Geography, University of Cologne
• 2012-2014: Visiting Professor (resident), Department of Geography, University of Yangon/Myanmar
• 1999-2000: Heisenberg scholarship of the German Research Foundation (DFG)
• 1989-1999: Assistant professor, Department of Geography, University of Bonn
• 1988-1989: Research fellow, Department of Geography, University of Münster

Awards

• 2020/2021: Albertus Magnus Teaching Award of the University of Cologne
• 1997:          Gerhard Hess Award of the German Research Foundation (DFG)

Research Interests and Fields of Expertise

• Urban geography: Megacities, urban sustainability, urban transformation, disaster risk management, urban resilience, urban health, urban heritage, urban governance
• Social geography: migration dynamics, migrant health, ethnic minorities, regional socio-economic development
• Regional focus: Southeast Asia (Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia), India, Iceland, Switzerland

Membership in Academies

• Member of the Academia Europaea (Academy of Europe, since 2004)
• Member of the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina (since 2009)
• Corresponding Member, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna (since 2007)
• Corresponding Member, Geographical Society of Finland (since 2001)

Leadership and Academic Service

Current tasks

• Member of the Senate of the Leibniz Association, Germany 
• Member of the Senate Committee Evaluation of the Leibniz Association, Germany
• International Advisor of the University of Yangon, Myanmar
• Member of the Scientific Board of the South Asia Institute, University of Heidelberg
• Adjunct Faculty of Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune/India
• President of the German Thai Society
• Chairperson of the Frithjof Voss Foundation of Geography
• Spokesperson of the "Scientific Research Group on Southeast Asia", German Geographical Society (DGfG)
• Editor of the publication series " Megacities and Global Change"(Franz Steiner Publishers), "Urban and Regional Development in Myanmar" (Franz Steiner Publishers) and "Southeast Asian Modernities" (LitVerlag)

Past tasks

• 2019-2020: Member of the European Research Council (ERC) evaluation panel SH2 "Institutes, Values, Environment and Space: Political science, law, sustainability science, geography, regional studies and planning (AdG 2019/2020)
• 2018-2023: Member of the Senate Committee and member of the Grants Committee on Collaborative Research Centres (SFB) of the German Research Foundation (DFG)
• 2015-2016: Appointed Member of the United Nations Policy Unit 1 "Right to the City and Cities for All", Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III)
• 2013-2016: Member of the German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU)
• 2016-2022: Member of the International Expert Commission of the Elite Network of Bavaria
• 2012-2016: Chair of the MegaCity Commission, International Geographical Union (IGU)
• 2007-2015: Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the University of Cologne
• 2008-2010: Expert in the German Council of Science and Humanities: Working group on infrastructure in social science and humanities
• 2005-2015: Spokesperson of the Federal Jury in the field of geosciences at the German competition "Jugend forscht" (Young researchers)
• 2005-2013: Member of the selection committee "International Alumni- and Expert Networks", "German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
• 2005-2013: Member of the German National Committee for Global Change-Research (NKGCF) (DFG/BMBF)
• 2005-2011: Member of the DFG Senate Commission for collaborative geoscience research ("Geokommission")
• 2005-2010: Member of the Executive Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) of the International Human Dimensions Programme (IHDP) core project "Urbanization and Global Environmental Change" (UGEC)
• 2004-2016: Vice President of the GeoUnion - Alfred Wegener Stiftung
• 2004-2016: Member and and since 2014 speaker of the review board "Geography" (RB 317) of the German Research Foundation (DFG)
• 2004-2010: Senior Advisor of the International Year of Planet Earth (UNESCO) and Chair/Team Leader of the key topic on "Megacities - our global urban future"
• 2003-2008: Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the German Committee for Disaster Risk Reduction (DKKV)
• 2002-2010: Member of the selection committee "German Graduates Overseas", "German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
• 2002-2010: Member of the International Advisory Board of the Geographical Journal
• 2001-2007: Board member of the German Association for Asian Studies (DGA)
• 2001-2004: Member of the Regional Advisory Board of the German National Committee for the International Geographical Union (IGU)
• 2000-2012: Chair of the MegaCity TaskForce, International Geographical Union (IGU)
• 1999-2006: Associate editor of the "Teubner Studienbücher Geographie", later changed to the series "Perthes Geographiekolleg", "Perthes Geographie Kompakt" und "Perthes Länderprofile/Regionalprofile"
• 1999-2005: Associate editor of Petermanns Geographische Mitteilungen
• 1999-2002: Member of the advisory board of the German Cambodian Forum
• 1999-2001: Member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the German Association for Asian Studies
• 1998-2000: First chairperson of the Geographic Society Bonn
• 1997-2009: Vice President of the German Thai Society (DTG)
• 1991-1997: Board member and member of the advisory council of the German Thai Society (DTG)
• 1991-1999: Board member of the Association of Geographers at German Universities (VGDH)
• 1989-2023: Co-head of the federal office of the Association of Geographers at German Universities, GEO-Office, Cologne
• 1989-1991: Board member of the Association of German University Geographers (VDGH)