Citizen Science & GIS: Exploring Transport Justice in Berlin (ÜWP) - Detailseite

Environmental and transport justice are central issues in contemporary urban development, particularly in cities like Berlin where large-scale infrastructure projects intersect with everyday life. This seminar is embedded in a small, practice-oriented research project linked to the BUA TransformMobility research project and focuses on how questions of transport justice can be explored through participatory and transdisciplinary research methods.

Students will engage with two real-world case studies in Berlin, focusing primarily on the development area of Adlershof and the highly contested A100 highway extension. The seminar introduces key concepts of transport justice and places a strong emphasis on participatory geoinformation science methods. Together with local residents, students will explore how lived experiences of (in)justice can be made visible through participatory mapping, citizen science, and community-based environmental monitoring (e.g. air quality, noise, and traffic data).

A central aim of the seminar is to reflect on the role of scientific knowledge in public debates and to experiment with research approaches that actively involve non-academic actors. Students will learn how to design, conduct, and critically assess research formats, and how data and visualizations can support evidence-based participation and advocacy in urban transport debates.

The course is designed as a block seminar.

Written Assignment

The seminar is particularly suited for students interested in geography, applied geoinformation science, transport planning, environmental justice, participatory methods, and science–society collaboration. Prior knowledge of GIS is welcome but is not a requirement; however, motivation for collaborative and practice-oriented research is essential.