Markus
Hesse

Department of Geography and Spatial Planning

Since July 2008, I am a professor of urban studies at the University of Luxembourg at the Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning. My academic background is in geography (Diploma, University of Münster, Germany) and spatial planning (PhD at the University of Dortmund, Germany), and I obtained a post-doctoral degree in human geography from the Faculty of Earth Sciences of the Freie Universität Berlin, Germany.

While my research interests focus on a broad range of topics in urban development and metropolitan governance, a common thread of this research is concerned with the interplay of spaces and flows. This interest unfolds for example in the study of logistics in geographical contexts. A recent research project studies the emergence of "relational cities" in Europe and South East Asia, namely Geneva (Switzerland), Luxembourg City, and Singapore. Also, a particular emphasis is placed on the science-policy interface in urban planning and governance.

I am an elected member of the Academy for Spatial Research and Planning (ARL) in Germany and Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) of the UK. I am a member of various advisory boards and scientific councils, among others I serve as the Head of the Scientific Advisory Board of the ILS/ Research Institute for Urban and Regional Development in Dortmund, Germany. Together with Richard Knowles (University of Salford, UK), I am co-editor of the Book Series Transport, Mobilities and Spatial Change, published by Edward Elgar.

Research interests
Geography
Urban Studies
Spatial Planning
Governance
Science-policy Interface
Logistics
Flows
Relational Cities

Latest content Markus Hesse took part in

Geography & Spatial Planning
Luxembourg in Transition
A consortium of researchers and designers led by the “Geography & Spatial Planning” department at the University of Luxembourg is one of the 10 teams selected by the Ministry of Energy and Regional Planning to imagine the future of the country. The objective of the mission is clear: bring innovative ideas for a sustainable and resilient Grand Duchy.
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Geography & Spatial Planning
Small but global cities
The last few decades have seen the rise of small but highly global cities that play key intermediary roles in the global flow of money, goods, services, people and knowledge. Yet little is known about these cities. How do they emerge, how do they manage to transcend their small size to gain global significance? What about their future in an increasingly globalised and digitalised world? The GLOBAL project fills in some of these gaps.
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Geography & Spatial Planning
Grand Genève et son sol. Property, Ecology, Identity
The transborder region of Geneva is characterized by a socioeconomic imbalance between its core, the city of Geneva, and a residential belt located beyond the Franco-Swiss border with large protected agricultural areas in between.
Our territorial design strategy for Greater Geneva 2050 proposes the creation of one balanced, resilient metropolis out of the two separate agglomerations, offering proximity between work and life and between urban structure and agriculture.
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Orbilu