Doctoral Programme Environment and Society at Ludwig Maximilians University Munich

About

The environment and its problems are one of the greatest challenges facing us this century. Since human action is one of the major influences on the environment, society and the environment are inextricably linked. Ecological changes feed back into society, altering the structures of power and the mechanisms of inclusion and exclusion. The complex interrelationship between environment and society cannot be explored purely from the perspective of a single academic discipline. A full understanding of the issues requires dialogues between natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences. The aim of the doctoral programme in Environment and Society is to open up a new field of research for candidates, one that promotes both disciplinary depth and interdisciplinary approaches while offering opportunities for international network building. In this context, the juxtaposition of research methods that are firmly anchored in established disciplines, on the one hand, and the openness characteristic of interdisciplinary research, on the other hand, are not seen as contradictory. Rather, they are seen as complementary. Candidates will develop the skills to recognise natural and social processes both in their inception and in their interrelationships. To this end, the doctoral programme links a number of university faculties and additionally draws on the expertise of non-university research centres. The doctoral programme in Environment and Society is conceived as a research-oriented, structured programme. The regular colloquia and workshops with visiting fellows provide candidates with a forum in which they can present and discuss their research. The close affiliation to leading international lecturers and academics, strong ties to international networks and research projects, and the excellent institutional and research-oriented infrastructure provide ideal conditions for doctoral research. Additional support is offered by the GraduateCenter.