Cultures of Adaptation: Theories and Methodologies

Description

In today’s rapidly changing world, communities face challenges posed by environmental shifts, technological developments, socio-political transformations, and global interconnectivity. Understanding the dynamics of adaptation – how societies, cultures, and individuals adjust to these changes – has become critical to building sustainable futures.

This Summer School will offer an opportunity to engage with leading scholars and experts in the field, explore cutting-edge theories, and apply innovative methodologies. Participants will deepen their understanding of adaptation through interactive lectures, group discussions, and hands-on workshops.

Lecturers

The following lecturers bring diverse, cutting-edge perspectives to the summer school, making them ideally suited to guide discussions on adaptation and mobility research.

1. Bishawjit Mallick
   Bishawjit Mallick is an expert in migration studies, specializing in climate change adaptation and resilience in South Asia. His interdisciplinary research on environmental non-migration offers valuable insights for the summer school.
   Profile link: Dr. Bishawjit Mallick - Utrecht University

2. Ajay Bailey
   Ajay Bailey is an anthropologist with extensive fieldwork in the global south and a focus on integrating human-centred approaches to health, urban infrastructure, and social equity. He has extensive experience managing research teams across countries, leveraging his excellent leadership skills to drive collaborative, cross-cultural initiatives. His interest in qualitative research, teaching, and the role of cultural practices in shaping mobility patterns makes him a key asset to the summer school’s discussions.
   Profile link: Prof. dr. Ajay Bailey - Utrecht University

3. Katharina Hölscher
   Katharina Hölscher is a leading expert in human geography with a focus on transformation-oriented research on how societal change towards a sustainable and resilient society can be realised. Her research focuses on the role of institutions and institutional learning in enabling urban planners and policymakers to better deal with the complexities of climate change by supporting transformative governance capacities, which will provide crucial frameworks for understanding complex adaptation patterns during the summer school.
   Profile link: Dr. Katharina Hölscher - Utrecht University

4. Harrison Awuh
   Harrison Awuh’s research centers on food health inequalities and planetary boundaries, African diaspora, and adaptation in the face of climate change. His experience exploring foodscapes and climate change-related challenges in African and global contexts will enrich the summer school's discussions on cultural and social adaptation processes.
   Profile link: Dr. Harrison Awuh - Utrecht University

5. Ron Boschma

   Ron Boschma is Professor of Regional Economics at Utrecht University and Adjunct Professor at the University of Stavanger. Formerly Professor at Lund University, he researches innovation, evolutionary economic geography, and regional resilience. A top 1% cited scholar, he won the 2024 Vautrin Lud Prize, geography’s highest honor.

   Profile link: Prof. dr. Ron Boschma - Utrecht University

Target audience

• Masters and PhD students, early-career researchers, and professionals with a background in social sciences, environmental studies, anthropology, cultural studies, or related fields.
• Individuals with an interest in the ways communities adapt to various changes and challenges in today’s interconnected world.

Aim of the course

• Frameworks and concepts for understanding social, cultural, and environmental adaptation.
• Mixed-method and interdisciplinary approaches for studying adaptation
• Adapting to climate change, migration, socio-political upheavals, adaptive health, and cultural transformation.

Tags

• New Courses