Dr Jens Lachmund (J.D.)

Jens Lachmund is a sociologist of science and technology (STS) and of the environment, whose research has mostly employed a combined sociological and historical approach. He has published widely on cultural practices of illness and medicine, among other things two monographs which focus on patient history ("Patientenwelten. Krankheit und Medizin vom späten 18. zum frühen 20. Jahrhundert im Spiegel von Autobiographien", co-authored with Gunnar Stollberg, 1995) and on diagnostic change in C19-medicine ("Der abgehorchte Körper. Zur Historischen Soziologie der medizinischen Untersuchung", 1997).

Later his research focus has shifted to cities, ecology, and the politics of urban natures. Thereby, he seeks to integrate approaches of science and technology studies with urban studies and constructivist environmental sociology. His book "Greening Berlin. The Co-production of Science, Politics, and Urban Nature" (Cambridge/MA, 2013) is a case study of urban ecology in the former West- and the unified Berlin which traces the interaction between ecological fieldwork practices, planning expertise, civic activism and urban space. He is also co-editor of "Science and the City", OSIRIS 18, 2003 - together with Sven Dierig and Andrew Mendelsohn -, and of "Spatializing the History of Ecology" (New York/London, 2017) - together with Raf de Bont. He is currently engaged in research on the historical sociology of urban gardening and agriculture.

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Jens Lachmund studied sociology at the Christian Albrecht University in Kiel and at Bielefeld University (both Germany). After his graduation he worked in Bielefeld in two research projects, and on his own dissertation project on the history of medical diagnosis. After positions at the Hamburg Institute for Social Research and the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science (Berlin) he moved to Maastricht University, where he took a position as a lecturer (universitair docent) in Science and Technology Studies.

Education:

Doctoral degree in sociology, 1995. University of Bielefeld, Faculty of Sociology. Title of dissertation: "Von der Krankengeschichte zur körperlichen Untersuchung. Zur historischen Soziologie der physikalischen Diagnostik" (From Patient's Narrative to Physical Examination. A Historical Sociology of Physical Diagnosis). Supervisor: Karin Knorr-Cetina.

Graduation (Diplom) in sociology, 1985. University of Bielefeld, Faculty of Sociology. Title of thesis: "Der 'aktive Patient': Grenzen professioneller Kontrolle in der Medizin" (The Active Patient: The Limits of Professional Control in Medicine). Supervisor: Hans-Jürgen Daheim.

Research and Teaching Positions

Lecturer, University of Maastricht, Department of Technology and Society Studies.
Walther Rathenau- and Schloeßmann Fellow, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, Berlin, 1998-2002.
Visiting Instructor, Technical University of Berlin, Institute of Sociology, Urban Studies Unit, 1998-2000.
Research Scholar, Hamburg Institute for Social Research, 1995-1998.
Research Assistant, University of Bielefeld, Faculty of Sociology, 1993.
Research Scholar, University of Bielefeld, Faculty of Sociology. Project: "Eigenkontextierung der Wissenschaft" (with Karin Knorr-Cetina), 1990-1991.
Research Scholar, University of Bielefeld, Faculty of Sociology. Project: "Laisierung des Patienten" (with Gunnar Stollberg), 1987-1990.

Research visits:

Visiting Scholar, University College London, Department of Geography 01-03-2014 – 31-03-2014; 01-08-2015 – 10-08-2015.

Visiting Scholar, Cardiff University, School of Geography and Planning 01-03-2014 – 28-02-2014.

Research Funding and Awards :

Walther Rathenau Fellowship, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, Berlin, 2001-2002.

Rudolf Schloeßmann Fellowship, Max Planck Society, 1999-2001.

Dissertation Prize, Westfaelisch-Lippische Universitaetsgesellschaft, 1995. North-Rhine-Westfalia State Graduate Stipend, 1992-1993.