M.A. Sarah Luft
Contact
Contact

Research Interests
- Peri-urban areas
- Urban and Regional Transformation
- Sustainability and Marine Environmental Conservation
- Tourism (Diving, Nature, Community-Based)
- (Cross)-Border Studies
Regional Focus
- India
- Thailand
- Myanmar
Projects
- Belmont-Forum/Norface Projekt: „H2O – Livelihoods in Urban Fringe Areas“ im Rahmen Verbundprojekts „H2O – T2S in Urban Fringe Areas“: About transformation in peri-urban areas, and urbanization processes, with a special focus on agricultural water availabilities and access.
- New Connectivity in Asia: Pioneering border corridors and transnational transformation processes in the Greater Myeik Area/Myanmar and Prachuap Khiri Khan/Thailand. (working titel): About (transregional/transnational) transformation processes along border corridors, cross-border development, evolving border towns, development alliances, motives and agendas.
Academic Background
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Since 12/2018
Scientific Staff (University of Cologne) -
Since 03/2017
Doctoral Candidate, Institute of Geography, University of Cologne -
10/2013-10/2016
Master of Arts (M.A.): Geography & Cultural Anthropology, University of Cologne
Thesis: “Offshore diving tourism as key factor of regional development at the Andaman Coast. The case of Khao Lak, Phang Nga” -
10/2008-06/2012
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.): Cultural Anthropology and African Studies & Sociology, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz -
02/2011-06/2011
Study Abroad: Cultural Anthropology, Sociology & Xhosa Language, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University Port Elizabeth
Scholarships
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08/2019-10/2019
GSGS Fellowship Grant 2019x, Cologne -
09/2017-10/2017
“IPaK Mobility Grant” for field research on regional development processes in Myeik, Myanmar -
02/2016-04/2016
“DAAD Travel Grant” for field research on offshore diving tourism as key factor of regional development at the Andaman Coast in Khao Lak, Thailand
Field research
- 02-04/2016: Khao Lak, Phang Nga Province (Thailand)
- 09-11/2017: Myeik, Tanintharyi Region (Myanmar)
- 11/2018: Prachuap Khiri Khan, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province (Thailand)
Scientific Contributions
- Graduate School of Geosciences, 7th Research Conference. “New Connectivity in Asia: Pioneering border corridors and transnational transformation processes in the Greater Myeik Area/Myanmar and Prachuap Khiri Khan/Thailand” (Poster), January 2020, Köln.
- 23nd Meeting of the Scientific Research Group on Southeast Asia. German Society of Geography (DGfG). “Pioneer Corridor Development along the Myanmar-Thai border“, May 2019, Vienna.
- DGA Conference on Contemporary Asia. Asia: Global Challenges, Regional Conflicts, and National Logics. “Urban developments in the Greater Myeik Area/Myanmar: Regional transformation potentials and emerging cross-border development”, April 2019, Würzburg.
- 22nd Meeting of the Scientific Research Group on Southeast Asia. German Society of Geography (DGfG). "Transformation Potentials of the Greater Myeik Area: Concepts of Cross-border Development", June 2018. Heidelberg.
- 21st Meeting of the Scientific Research Group on Southeast Asia. German Society of Geography (DGfG). "Offshore Diving Tourism as a Key Factor of Regional Development at the Andaman Coast. The Case of Khao Lak, Phang Nga Province, Thailand", June 2017. Göttingen.
Further Scientific Trainings and Qualifications
- Since January 2020: Member of the GSGS Doctoral Council and deputy doctoral representative on the GSGS Steering Committee
- International Summer School 'Urban Transformations to Sustainability in South and Southeast Asia'. 17th September - 26th September 2018. University of Cologne. Cologne.
- Scientific Writing Course 'How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper and Scientific Ethics'. 24th April - 26th April 2018. ABC/J Geoverbund. Cologne.
- Workshop 'Improving Presentation Skills'. 7th March 2018. GSGS. Cologne.
Publications
- Luft, S. und C. Butsch (2022): Planning for Livelihoods Under Hydrosocial Uncertainty in Periurban Pune. In: Frontiers in Water 4: 831464. DOI: 10.3389/frwa.2022.831464
- Luft, S., 2019. Neue Funktionen für thailändische Regionen? Aktuelle Entwicklungen und Potentiale in Prachuap Khiri Khan. In: Thailand Rundschau, Vol. 32 (2). 83-86.
- Luft, S., 2016. Begegnungen an der Andamanenküste. In: Thailand Rundschau, Vol. 29 (2), 61-64.
Lectures
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SS 2020
Seminar zur großen Exkursion "Stadt- und Regionalentwicklung im Süden von Myanmar und Thailand" -
SS 2020
Seminar: Grenzstädte in Asien und Europa -
SS 2019
Seminar: Wirtschaft und Entwicklung -
WS 2018/19
Seminar: Bevölkerung und Stadt