Title/Position: Professor Doctor
Department/Faculty/Institution: Department of Urban and Environmental Sociology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research
E-mail: dieter.rink@ufz.de
MCRI Projects: A2: Governance
Background: Professor Doctor Dieter Rink has been a member of the staff of the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ since 1994. He is currently senior scientist in the Department of Urban and Environmental Sociology. He is also an honorary professor at the University of Applied Sciences Mittweida. His main research topics are urban sociology, issues like suburbanisation, shrinkage, urban governance – in particular the role of civic actors, sustainable development and urban nature. His recent publications include “Wilderness: The Nature of Urban Shrinkage? The debate on urban restructuring and renaturation in eastern Germany” in Nature and Culture (2009) and, with Chris Couch, Jay Karecha and Henning Nuissl, “Decline and Sprawl. An evolving type of urban development – observed in Liverpool and Leipzig” in European Planning Studies (2005).
Research Interests: Urban Sociology; Suburbanization; Shrinkage; Urban Governance.
Selected Publications:
Rink, D., Bernt, M. & Holm, A. (2010). Gentrificationforschung in Ostdeutschland: konzeptionelle Probleme und Forschungslücken. Berichte zur deutschen Landeskunde. 84 (2): 185-203.
Rink, D., Bernt, M. (2010). Not relevant for the system: The crisis in the backyards. International Journal for Urban and Regional Research. 34 (3): 678-685.
Rink, D. (2010). Revolution 1989 and Reunification 1990: Urban development at the turning point. In P. Oswalt & E. Mittmann (eds.) Less is future. 19 Cities – 19 Themes. International Building Exhibition Urban Redevelopment Saxony-Anhalt 2010, Berlin, pp. 216-233.
Rink, D. & Mathey, J. (2010). Urban Wastelands – a Chance for Biodiversity in Cities? Ecological Aspects, Social Perceptions and Acceptance of Wilderness by Residents. In N. Müller, P. Werner & J. Kerlcey (eds.) Urban Biodiversity and Design. Oxford, pp. 406-424.
Rink, D. & Herbst, H. (2010). From Wasteland to Wilderness. Aspects of a new form of urban nature. In M. Richter & U. Weiland (eds.) Applied Urban Ecology - A Global Framework. Oxford.
Rink, D. (2009). Wilderness: The Nature of Urban Shrinkage? The debate on urban restructuring and renaturation in eastern Germany. Nature and Culture. 4 (3): 275-292.
Rink, D. & Kabisch, S. (2009). The Ecology of Shrinkage: Introduction. Nature and Culture. 4 (3): 223- 230.
