Sarah Gottwald (M.Sc.) is a Doctoral Researcher in the PlanSmart research group, graduating at Leibniz University, Hannover, and working at Ruhr University Bochum’s Institute of Geography, PLACES. In her research she develops and applies different types of digital participatory mapping to explore people-place relationships. In her doctoral dissertation, she used a Public Participation Geoinformation System (PPGIS) method and a Geodesign approach to assess sense of place for the purpose of spatial planning. Her interests are in working with participatory and map based instrumental and deliberative methods, as well as people place and participation related concepts and theories, such as environmental stewardship, sense of place, and boundary management.
Prior employments include research assistant at Leibniz University Hannover and at Aalto University.