Die Environmental Humanities im deutschsprachigen Raum: Erste Forschungszentren, Ansätze und Perspektiven

Abstract:

This contribution originated in the context of a transnational dialogue between the Environmental Humanities in France and Germany. Complementing other contributions in this volume on corresponding developments in the French-speaking world, it gives a first overview of the newly established or emerging research centers and teaching programs specializing in the Environmental Humanities in the German-speaking world. The chapter first outlines some of the characteristic thematic fields, perspectives and challenges of the Environmental Humanities as a new interdisciplinary research field in the humanities and social sciences. It then presents examples of the first such centers in Augsburg, Munich and Freiburg, explains their respective research and teaching profiles, and lists some of their most important publications. In the concluding section, the chapter refers to other emerging centers and research initiatives at universities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Due to the rapid dynamics of the field, the essay can only provide a first preliminary overview, which by no means claims to be complete.