Curriculum

Ulli Vilsmaier has been researching and teaching inter- and transdisciplinary research from 2011-2020 at Leuphana University. She is specialized in designing, accompanying, and implementing boundary-crossing research, develops methods for interface design and boundary work and has large experiences with reserach development worldwide. She has been supervising PhD and Master thesis of social and cultural scientisists, artist and designers in Sustainability Science, Geography, Education and the Humanities.

2019-2020: Visiting professor of the Insititute for Philosophy and Art Science & associate of the Method Center, Leuphana University Lueneburg

Since 2015: Adjunct Faculty Member of the School of Sustainability, Arizona State University, USA

Since 2015: Member of the ASU-Leuphana joint Institute for Global Sustainability and Cultural Transformation

2017 – 2019: Adjunct professor for Transdisciplinary Methods, Leuphana University Lueneburg

2015 – 2017: Presidence Deligate for Inter- und Transdisciplinarity, Leuphana University Lüneburg

2011 – 2017: Junior Professor for Transdisciplinary Methods, Center of Methods and the Institute for Ethics und Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research, Leuphana Universität Lüneburg

2009: PhD in Geography at the University of Salzburg

2007 – 2011: Academic Assistant in Geography, Department of Human Geography and Geology, Unit Social Geography, University of Salzburg; Guest lecturer at Carl von Ossietzky University in Oldenburg, University of Havanna, Cuba and West University of Timisoara, Romania

2007 – 2008: Associate with KommEnt, Gesellschaft für Kommunikation und Entwicklung (Society for Communication and Development), Salzburg

2002 – 2006: Scientific Coordinator of the transdisciplinary teaching research project “Leben 2014 - prospects for regional development in the Hohe Tauern / Oberpinzgau National Park Region“, University of Salzburg

2001 – 2006: Academic Assistant in Geography, Department of Human Geography, Regional and Development Research, University of Salzburg

2000: Research Associate in the project: ‘Urban growth in Latin America and its Sustainability’, University of Salzburg (freelance)

1999: Lecturer and Coordinator of university partnership projects at the National Autonomous University Nicaragua (UNAN), León, Nicaragua

1997 – 2000: Associate in alpine regional development projects, Austria (freelance)

1997 – 1998: Lecturer and Initiator of a Center for Geographic Information Systems (GIS) at the National Autonomous University Nicaragua (UNAN), León, Nicaragua

1990 – 1997: Diploma in Geography, University of Salzburg

Academic Functions

Since 2019: Founding member of the Global Alliance for Inter- and Transdisciplinary Alliance (ITD Alliance)

Since 2015: Chairman of the scientific advisory board, Paulo Freire Center, Vienna

2016 – 2017: Member of the Senate, Leuphana Universität Lüneburg

2015 – 2016: Deputy Head of the Method Center, Leuphana Universität Lüneburg

2014 – 2016: Member of the scientific advisory board, Yousef Jameel Academic Program, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

2014 – 2015: Head of the Methodology Center, Leuphana Universität Lüneburg

2013 – 2015: Deputy Member of the Senate, Leuphana Universität Lüneburg

2012 – 2015: Deputy Member of the Equal Opportunities Commission, Leuphana Universität Lüneburg

2001 – 2005: Member of the Institute Governing Panel of Geography, University Salzburg

Research interests

The research and teaching focus of Ulli Vilsmaier is on epistemological and methodological foundations, and methods for inter- and transdisciplinary research. Based on a logic of response she is working on the constitution of space and the design of inter- and transdisciplinary in-between spaces. Particular interest is on concept-, image- and artefact based methods of boundary work and interdisciplinary interface design. Thematical research fields are: sustainability and sustainability science, sustainable urban and rural development; energy regions; regional climate change adaptation processes; and area protection. Further research deals with theory and practice of inter- and transdisciplinary resarch based learning, global learning and theory-praxis relations in learning as well as developing new modes of formative accompanying research.

Teaching

Teaching philosophy

"Liberating education consists in acts of cognition, not transferrals of information. It is a learning situation in which the cognizable object (far from being the end of the cognitive act) intermediates the cognitive actors - teacher on the one hand and students on the other" (Paulo Freire 1996: 60).

According to Freirean teaching and learning principles, teaching is considered a shared way of approaching the world, realized in dialogical learning situations. It starts from the lifeworld of all persons involved who tackle pressing challenges and engage with existing bodies of knowledge. This fosters a critical-reflexive position, self-determination and the creation of individual professional profiles and interest. Accordingly, teaching is never the repetition of a static formula, nor the realization of a determined concept, but a continuous ongoing, living situation.