New research group: Göttingen and Kassel promote sustainable rurality!

New research group: Göttingen and Kassel promote sustainable rurality!

The University of Göttingen is participating in the new research group “Sustainable Rurbanity”, which was launched today. This is an interdisciplinary collaborative project that is being carried out together with the University of Kassel as well as six other national research institutions and 15 partner institutions from India, Ghana and Morocco. The German Research Foundation (DFG) is funding the four-year project with 7.4 million euros to investigate the complex interactions between urban and rural spaces.

The research group is led by Prof. Dr. Andreas Bürkert from the University of Kassel and Prof. Dr. Nikolaus Schareika from the University of Göttingen. The overarching goal of this initiative is to develop a better understanding of the phenomena of rurality, which combines urban and rural elements in a dynamic interaction. The concept of “rurbanity” questions the traditional dichotomy of city and country and is intended to open up new perspectives on global urbanization processes. According to UN forecasts, the urban population will increase to 68 percent by 2050, underscoring the need to make urban and rural areas sustainable.

Research priorities and sub-projects

The research group will include ten natural and social science sub-projects that deal with various aspects of rurality. The sub-project topics include:

• A01: RurbanAgroforestry – die Auswirkungen von baumgestützter Landwirtschaft auf die Ökosystemleistungen.
• A02: RurbanSoilFunctions – Untersuchung von Synergien und Kompromissen von Bodenfunktionen in rurbanen Räumen.
• B01: RurbanSpace – die soziale Produktion von rurbanem Raum in Bengaluru.
• B03: RurbanLivestockSystems – Lebensunterhalt in rurbanen Gebieten durch Viehzucht.
• C01: RurbanGeography – Entwicklung von Indikatoren zur Kartierung und Überwachung rurbaner Räume.

Another important component will be the study of agroecological issues as well as lifestyles and nutrient cycles in peri-urban areas. This research is intended to contribute to effective and environmentally friendly urban development that meets both social and ecological challenges.

Institutions and scientists involved

The project combines numerous expertises, with Schareika and Prof. Dr. at the University of Göttingen also being involved. Christoph Dittrich, Prof. Dr. Carola Paul and Prof. Dr. Stefan Siebert is involved in the project. Other scientists come from various partner institutions, including the Leibniz University of Hannover and the German Aerospace Center. Overall, a network of know-how is to be created that is able to analyze the challenges of a rapidly urbanizing world and develop solutions.

The need for such projects is reinforced by the global trend of urbanization. The city's population is expected to double by 2050, with a significant portion of the necessary infrastructure not yet in place. German development cooperation focuses on promoting socially just, climate-friendly and resilient urban development, particularly in growing small and medium-sized towns. Changes at the urban level could therefore have far-reaching positive effects.

The new research group at the University of Göttingen and the University of Kassel aims to work with other institutions to develop innovative approaches that can contribute to sustainable urban and regional development in the long term. The use of case studies from different countries is seen as key to gaining knowledge in research. Collaboration with international partners also creates a valuable network for solving the challenges of urbanization.