Natalie Kerschhofer started her PhD in March 2024 at the Department of Sociology and Social Geography. After completing her studies at University of Vienna and ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon in Sociology, she is now affiliated with the interdisciplinary research project AlpLakeChange – High Alpine Lake Biodiversity and Climate Change, funded by the Austrian Academy of Sciences. The project investigates the ecological and social implications of climate change on alpine lake systems through collaboration between the natural and social sciences. Natalie’s dissertation focuses on human–nature relationships in the context of the National Park Hohe Tauern where experiences of connectedness are pivotal in promoting the wellbeing of individuals, society, and the environment. Her work explores how these moments emerge with their transformative potential and emphasizes the agency and materiality of the environment in co-shaping human–nature relationships.
Research interests include:
- Environmental sociology and psychology
- Human–nature connectedness and resonance theory
- Sensory and visual research methods
- Nature-based tourism and protected area studies
- Inter- and transdisciplinary research approaches
