This interdisciplinary programme invites scholars, researchers, and practitioners to explore the complex and evolving ways in which communities adapt to social, environmental, and cultural changes in the face of climate change.
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 offers 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.
The following lecturers bring diverse, cutting-edge perspectives to the summer school, making them ideally suited to guide discussions on adaptation and mobility research.
Bishawjit Mallick
Bishawjit Mallick is an expert in environment and immobility studies, specializing in climate change adaptation. His interdisciplinary research on environmental non-migration offers valuable insights for the summer school.
Profile link: Dr. Bishawjit Mallick - Utrecht University
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
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
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
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
Prof. Md. Ashiq Ur Rahman
Professor Dr. Md. Ashiq Ur Rahman is a Professor of Urban and Rural Planning at Khulna University, Bangladesh. His research focuses on community-led development, pro-poor housing, and urban governance. With international academic training and extensive collaboration experience, he works to connect community practices with institutional frameworks for inclusive urban development.
Profile link: Dr. Md Ashiq Ur Rahman
Prof. Md. Nasif Ahsan
Md. Nasif Ahsan is a Professor of Economics at Khulna University, Bangladesh. He holds a Ph.D. from GRIPS, Japan, and an MSc from Wageningen University. His research focuses on disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, environmental migration, and development economics. He has led internationally funded projects and published extensively in leading journals.
Profile link: Md. Nasif Ahsan, Ph.D.
Students from developing nations can apply for course fees subsidies.
The housing costs do not include a Utrecht Summer School sleeping bag and/or pillow. These are separate products on the invoice. If you wish to bring your own bedding, please deselect or remove the sleeping bag from your order.
For more detailed information on student housing in Utrecht please click here.
The following criteria ensure that participants are well-prepared, motivated, and capable of contributing to and benefiting from the programme:
For this course you are required to upload the following documents when applying: