Center for Interdisciplinary Research Bielefeld
Sixth CAT-stay at ZiF Bielefeld: making the most of our last research stay and planning our next steps
Our last CAT stay from February 12-16, 2024 was hosted by ZiF, Bielefeld University’s Institute for Advanced Study. In its goals and mission, ZiF highlights interdisciplinary exchange among researchers to achieve scientific progress.
DAY 1 – Getting to know ZiF
We started the day by meeting the managing directors of ZiF, Dr. Anika Haverig and Prof. Dr. Jens Stoye, and the group and conference support responsible, Maren Winkelhage. They introduced us to the history of the institute, its aims and working dynamics, and we had the opportunity to briefly explain our project. We were captivated to find out that ZiF is characterized by interdisciplinary disciplines among its researchers (mainly in the fields of Natural Sciences, the Social Sciences and the Humanities) and that the political scientist and economist (and first woman to win a Nobel Prize in Economics), Elinor Omstrom, stayed at the institute.
ZIF gallery
ZIF facilities
We were also guided though the campus and its facilities, starting with its main building, which contains offices, different conference spaces (such as the Plenary Hall), a cafeteria, a fellow room, and Ulrich Wehler’s personal library. We then moved to the different typologies of housing where fellows stay and to the recreational area, where a sauna, pool, and gym are located.
In the afternoon, we met online with our colleague Joana Guerrin, to brainstorm new ideas regarding an essay that we would like to publish together as a wrap-up of our group work. We also used this time to organise ourselves for the rest of the week.
DAY 2 – Getting inspired by the fellows and SCAS’s premises
In the morning, we attended online the NbSouth Knowledge Exchange Seminar: Urban Nature-based Solutions for Climate Adaptation, organized by Politecnico di Milano. We participated in the sessions “Ecosystem Services and Green and Blue Infrastructures for spatial planning”, “Nature-based solutions to climate change adaptation in urban areas: a Norwegian planning perspective” and “The Effects of Nature-based Solutions in Dense Urban Contexts: Performance Simulations for Urban Planning”. We took several outputs from the presentations and the different tools like the Urban Multi-scale Environmental Predictor (UMEP), which can be used to measure city-based climate services.
Keynote sesssion at the conference, ZIF´s main building
After lunch, we had the opportunity to participate in person at the conference Dimensions of Right-wing extremism in Europe: a network conference, which took place from 13 to 15 February at ZiF’s main building. We attended the Keynote session held by Katrine Fangen (from C-REX) “Transnational Nationalists - Theoretical and methodological implications”.
In the afternoon we developed more ideas and further discussed the structure and theoretical framework of our essay.
DAY 3 – Visiting Bielefeld
In the morning we worked on our Essay and participated at the Urban Lunch Talk: From Challenges to Solutions: Exploring Gender Perspectives in Urban Planning, Migration, and Integration. Organized by the Driving Urban Transitions’ initiative.
In the afternoon we attended a guided tour to the city center of Bielefeld, led by Prof. Dr. Jens Stoye where we learnt from the city’s history and its green infrastructure projects. We visited the Sparrenburg castle, der Lutterpfad: Park der Menschenrechte, Ravensberger street, green belt Luttergrünzug.
Ravensberger street
Park der Menschenrechte
The Lutter river originally flowed in a different direction, away from Bielefeld. In the 15th century spring water was diverted into smaller rivers to provide sufficient water for the growing city, creating the Bielefeld Lutter. In the 19th century, the water was contaminated, smelly, and source of contestation. The river was covered for a stretch of about 5 km. During the last century there was little awareness for the river underground. In 2001 citizens founded the association “pro Lutter” and advocated for daylighting at least half of the covered stream. The association also gathered funding for a first day lighting project at the “Park der Menschrechte”.
DAY 4 – Reflecting on our work
We started the morning having an interview with Dr. Manuela Lenzen, the science communicator of ZiF. During the interview we spoke about the aim of our work as a multidisciplinary research team with different research expertise on nature-based solutions. During our research stays we analyzed several nature-based solutions implemented in different cities around Europe through a socio-ecological perspective. We had the opportunity to interview some of the stakeholders involved in the NbS implementation and contacting with other researchers with similar research interests.
These research stays enabled our discussion on how to create NbS in an a more integrative way.
Our work considers a bottom-up approach that includes the local communities perspective. We consider this exchange as paramount since we can only assess the potential of NbS when we are aware of the practical challenges and the supporting factors needed to implement them. This interview is now published in the ZIF´s blog.
In the evening we had a farewell dinner with the special presence of our colleague Prof. Dr Jochen Hack, former member of our group. This enabled us to have further thoughts on how our work has evolved over time and identify opportunities to continue working together.
The CAT-Group: Manuel Beißler, Rieke Hansen, Maria Manso and Andrea Nóblega Carriquiry (C) Universität Bielefeld/P. Ottendörfer
DAY 5 – Networking and future expectations
On Friday, we used the morning hours to continue working on our essay.
In the afternoon we visited Hochschule Bielefeld – University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSBI) to talk to Prof. Sebastian Bamberg and his assistant about their and our research in order to identify similarities and possible links for potential collaborations.
Of particular interest were the behavior analysis and participative approaches previously implemented in Prof. Sebastian Bamberg work, considering a psychological perspective. These approaches are fundamental for community engagement and raising awareness of the importance of sustainable urban strategies such as nature-based solutions.
Hochschule Bielefeld – University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSBI)
Sunset on ZIF facilities
While some of our group had to catch their connection back home others still had enough time for a short hike of a few hours on the Ochsenberg, which is adjacent to the ZIF, through the Arminia Forest and over the Ochsenheide to the Farmhouse Museum, all of which are part of the southern end of the UNESCO Global Geopark TERRA.vita.
This walk in nature allowed us to reflect on the importance of nature-based solutions and the richness of their environments with an infinity of fauna and flora to explore.
The team is looking forward to the next steps to continue working together.