Research

Schwerpunkte seiner Arbeit sind Entwicklungsprobleme im ländlichen und städtischen Raum Südasiens (Indien, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh). Der Fokus seiner Forschung liegt auf Problemen der Ernährungssicherung, Gesundheit und Überlebenssicherung von Marginalgruppen in besonders risikoträchtigen Regionen. Er hat maßgeblich zu sozialwissenschaftlichen Konzeptionen wie Verwundbarkeit, menschliche Sicherheit und soziale Resilienz beigetragen.

Career

• since 2004 Professor and Chair for Cultural Geography and Development Geography at the Geography Department, University of Bonn, Germany
• 1995-2004 Professor and Chair for Geography of South Asia, Head of Geography Department, South-Asia-Institute, University of Heidelberg, Germany
• 1989-1995 Professor and Chair for Cultural Geography, Department for Cultural Geography, University of Freiburg, Germany
• 1986-1989 Professor, Department for Cultural Geography, University of Freiburg, Germany
• 1985-1986 Assistant Professor, Geography Department, University of Göttingen, Germany
• 1985 Habilitation, University of Göttingen, Germany
• 1979 Promotion, University of Göttingen, Germany
• 1977-1985 Lecturer, Geography Department, University of Göttingen, Germany
• 1976-1977 Studies, University of Madras, India
• 1968-1974 Studies, University of Göttingen, Germany

Projects

• 2010-2013 Resilience of Social-Ecological Systems in Kenya (DFG)
• 2010-2013 Multiple Modernities in the Megacity of Dhaka, Bangladesh (DFG)
• 2010-2013 Globalized Industrialization in Peri-Urban Chennai, India (DFG)
• 2007-2010 The Megaurban Food System of Dhaka, Bangladesh (DFG)
• 2006-2010 Water and Health in the Megacity of Chennai, India (DFG)
• 2001-2005 Geographies of Violence in Sri Lanka (DFG)

Functions

• 2007 Member of IHDP Taskforce on „Global Envionmental Change and Human Health” (GEC+HH)
• 2006 Member of Scientific Advisory Board “Global Environmental Change and Food Systems” (GECAFS), Earth System Science Partnership (ESSP) Core Program, Oxford, UK
• 2005 Appointed Chairholder of “Social Vulnerability” at United Nations University
• 2003 Advisory Board Member for Indo-German Cooperation (Indo-German Consultative Group)
• 2002 Member Scientific Advisory Board of the German Committee for Disaster Reduction

Honours and Memberships

• 2008 Board Member, Munich Re Foundation, Germany
• 2007 Awarded the Graf-von-Linden-Medaille of the ”Gesellschaft für Erd- und Völkerkunde zu Stuttgart e.V.“ , Germany
• 2005 Appointed Foundation Chairholder on “Social Vulnerability“ at United Nations University
• 2002 Member of the European Academy of Science
• 1986 Awarded Heisenberg Stipendium of the German Research Foundation (DFG)