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StadtGesundheit

Campus der Universität Bielefeld
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Urban & Regional Health

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Project description

Urban and rural development are currently facing major challenges due to the pandemic, climate change and the biodiversity crisis, which are exacerbated by socio-demographic change, migration and social inequalities. Due to the complexity of these problems, they can only be addressed in a meaningful way if health, ecological stability and social justice are promoted together in the sense of 'Sustainable Urban Health'. In this context, interdisciplinary and intersectoral cooperation is central.
In this regard, the 'City of the Future' research program, funded by the Fritz and Hildegard Berg Foundation (Essen Foundation Centre), is developing new concepts and strategies for healthy, sustainable cities and (metropolitan) regions. Further information on the research program can be found at urban-health.de.
The local research project 'Urban/Regional Development and Health – Disciplinary and Sectoral Bridging' within this program aims to provide impulses for sustainable urban health, support the work of junior research groups with relevant analyses, improve scientific exchange on the topic across sectors and disciplines, scientifically process research results, and promote their dissemination.

Project goals
The research project 'Urban/Regional Development and Health – Disciplinary and Sectoral Bridging' investigates in which way the cooperation of sectors and disciplines can be promoted in the context of 'Urban & Regional Health', in particular also drawing on concepts, methods and findings of transdisciplinarity research. Accompanying some junior research groups, various survey, analysis and evaluation methods are used within the project.

Project funding
The project is funded by the 'Fritz and Hildegard Berg Foundation' at the 'German Foundation Center'.

Project phases

Main focus:

  • A systematic analysis of integrative case studies on health and sustainability in cities and regions.
  • Organising, storing and publishing the knowledge acquired to date on health and sustainability.
  • Exchange of current findings in the Ostwestfalen-Lippe (OWL) region with the aim of  'Health in all policies'.
  • Expanding the 'Sustainable health in the city and region' edition.
  • Continuation of the dual website: www.stadt-und-gesundheit.de and www.urban-health.de.
  • Expanding contacts in urban/regional/rural health internationally.

Main focus:

  • Development and support of concepts and strategies for a healthy, sustainable linkage of city, country and health in terms of sustainable health promotion and regional health care in Ostwestfalen-Lippe (OWL).
  • Promoting local discussion and networking processes on sustainable urban health with a focus on the OWL health region
  • Development of the thematic field of urban epidemiology
  • Expansion of the edition 'Sustainable Urban and Regional Health'
  • Continuation of the double website www.stadt-und-gesundheit.de and www.urban-health.de respectively
  • Expansion of contacts to the field of Urban/Regional/Rural Health in the international area

The project was located at the WG7 Environment and Health of the Faculty of Health Sciences under the direction of Prof. Dr. Rainer Fehr and Prof.in Dr.in Claudia Hornberg during the funding phases I to V (2013-2022). Detailed information on the project phases I to V can be found here.

Project management and staff

Project management
Univ.-Prof.in Dr.in Claudia Hornberg, Dipl.-Biol., Dipl.-Ökol.
Prof. Dr. Rainer Fehr, MPH, Ph.D.

Scientific support
Dr. PH Parisa Rahimitabar, M. Sc. Healthcare Administration

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