Mendel Giezen
Associate Professor and Programme Director, Human Geography and Planning (BSc/MSc)
Environment
I focus on issues related to Environmental Planning and Governance. Specifically: the energy transition in low-income communities; urban greening and climate-proof urban initiatives; the impact of decentralised infrastructures on sustainable urban planning; and urban conflicts in sustainable streetscape transformations.
I have over 15 years of experience in course development, coordination, and lecturing. I serve as the Programme Director of the BSc in Human Geography and Planning, as well as the MSc programmes in Human Geography, Urban & Regional Planning, and Spatial Sustainability Studies. I publish in a wide range of international, peer-reviewed, ISI-ranked journals, both collaboratively and as a sole author.
My interdisciplinary background and interests are particularly relevant for research and education on complex societal challenges that require cooperation among academic fields and societal partners. I have been part of several research consortia examining the nexus between urban development, energy transition, urban greening, and climate adaptation.
RESEARCH FOCUS
Low-carbon cities: Environmental planning, energy transition, urban greening, governance, sustainable urban planning
Table Of Content
Positions & roles
Associate Professor, Environmental Planning and Governance
Co-Director Centre for Sustainable Development Studies, 2022 – present
PI and board member, BRIDGES RPA
Member Steering Group, Sustainable Prosperity RPA
Programme Director BSc, Human Geography and Planning, ±450 students
Programme Director MSc, Human Geography, ±50 students
Programme Director MSc, Urban and Regional Planning, ±100 students
Developer/Coordinator Interdisciplinary Minor: Rethinking Sustainable Cities, 2021 – present
Teaching
With fifteen years of coordinating courses, my basic design principles are based on the six interacting dimensions by Lee D. Fink that should lead to significant learning experiences: Foundational Knowledge; Application; Integration; Human Dimension; and Caring and Learning how to Learn.
Especially in the field of sustainability and socio-environmental interactions, knowledge is only one part of a student’s development. A student needs to care for the topic and reflect upon their assumptions. I believe strongly in supporting students to achieve a higher level of subjective freedom, i.e., that students should be able to construct their own perceptions of right and wrong in the world around them. They should be able to envision their role in future societal challenges.
I have a Basic Teaching Qualification (BKO) and a Senior Teaching Qualification (SKO).
Current courses
Rethinking Sustainable Societies: New Perspectives
Rethinking Sustainable Societies: Urban Lab
Previous courses
Coordinator/Developer track Spatial Sustainability Studies*
Coordinator Minor Rethinking Sustainable Societies*
Coordinator Master Spatial Sustainability Studies*
Rethinking Sustainable Societies: New Perspectives (Ba 2/3)*
Rethinking Sustainable Societies: Urban Lab (Ba2/3)*
Future Societies Lab (Ma1)*
Masterclass The Sustainable City / De Duurzame Stad (Training for Professionals)*
The Circular City: Towards a Sustainable Urban Ecosystem (summer school)*
Climate Proof Cities and Strategic Planning (Ma1)**
Spatial Implications of Environmental Change (Ba2)**
Kernspecialisatie Ruimtelijke Planning Stad en Regio (Ba2)**
* newly developed
** redeveloped
