Research profile

My research focuses on how planning can contribute to a sustainable transition of society. Especially, I’m interested in understanding how sustainability knowledge can be used by planners in practice. For this purpose, I work on collecting data on relevant topics and understanding how they can be applied by planning practice.

Current and previous research questions:

• How second home developments in Denmark and Norway are related to sustainability and climate change issues

For example, I have recently investigated how many Danish second homes are in risk of being hit by a range of climate related events, currently and in 2070 when climate changes have an effect on e.g. weather events.

Together with good collogues I showed how second home planning in Denmark can be related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)

I have also investigated how Norwegian second home owners perceive of their own contribution to environmental degradation and climate change, as well as their actual contribution.

• How an interdisciplinary research teams together with a range of stakeholders can co-produce planning knowledge on the topic of urban air quality by applying the urban living lab (ULL) methodology.

In the Nordforsk funded NordicPATH project I worked with framing a common understanding of the planning approach amongst the research team from diverse fields such as air quality assessments and monitoring, citizen science studies, data modelling and urban planning.

• How urban and energy planning can collaborate on creating positive energy districts (PED)

I’m currently involved in the JPI Urban Europe funded FLEXPOST project that among other explores this question.

• How planning research can be approached through methodological considerations

For example, I have worked strongly to understanding how critical realism can contribute to sound research strategies. I draw heavily on this knowledge in my research and teaching.