Project seminar on transformative urban research in the neighbourhood

A seminar for aspiring urban researchers

In the project seminar on transformative urban research in the neighbourhood, students of Regional Science/Spatial Planning will embark on a transformative learning and research process from mid-April onwards. Ideas for socially inclusive urban development will be discussed, further developed and scientifically underpinned. The dialogue and research on this topic will take place within the urban environment and in collaboration with the local community.

At the heart of the seminar are real-world experiments in public spaces, which are developed, implemented and monitored by the students. These small-scale interventions are to be understood as prototypical proposals for transformation, and the students investigate their acceptance, as well as their use and impact by and on the urban community.

The cross-module teaching concept 

The project seminar forms part of the cross-module teaching concept for Transformative Urban Research at the Institute for Regional Science. As part of the ‘Sensing Space’ module, students explore the Südstadt district using a variety of multi-sensory exploration approaches and visual methods. The ‘Tools for Urban Research’ seminar focuses on the ra:ve network centre, a research and participation infrastructure run by the Institute for Regional Science. Students design and develop the premises and their communication strategies, and reflect on how spaces can generate knowledge or prevent or facilitate access to knowledge.

All courses are closely linked to the 'ra:ve – Raum für Veränderung' project, which is funded by the Stiftung Innovation in der Hochschullehre. The seminars are run by the teaching team in the field of transformative urban research, led by Anna-Barbara Grebhahn, Agnes Matoga and Michael Janoschka.