Dr. Annina Michel

Assistant Professor

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Biography

Annina Michel is a conservation social scientist with expertise in the social and political dimensions of protected areas and landscape planning. Her research focuses on Switzerland and engages with questions of equity and justice in environmental negotiations and participatory processes, influenced by social values. She leads a transdisciplinary research project funded by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment, assessing social values associated with ecological infrastructure in Swiss nature parks through mixed-methods approaches. Michel also facilitates cross-border collaboration between Swiss and Georgian institutions on sustainable development in mountain regions, integrating learning through modular courses for geography students. She has published extensively on the negotiation dynamics surrounding national parks and has contributed to advancing understanding of social acceptance in conservation through synthesis studies and literature reviews. Currently, she holds a position as a group leader in Landscape Conservation Social Sciences at the University of Zurich's Department of Geography since 2021, engaging students in critical examinations of socio-political contexts in mountain areas through innovative teaching and research methodologies.

Research Interests

Experience

Group Leader Landscape Conservation Social Sciences

2021-11-01 — Present

University of Zurich • Zurich, Switzerland

Leading research in the Department of Geography on landscape conservation and social sciences.

Postdoc, project ValPar.CH

2020-10-01 — 2024-03-01

University of Zurich • Zurich, Switzerland

Working on a transdisciplinary project to assess social values associated with ecological infrastructure.

Postdoctoral Teaching and Research Associate

2019-01-01 — 2020-09-01

University of Zurich • Zurich, Switzerland

Conducting research and teaching in the Department of Geography.

PhD Candidate

2014-09-01 — 2018-12-01

University of Zurich • Zurich, Switzerland

Engaged in doctoral research focusing on the social political negotiations of national parks.

Awards

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SNSF Spark Grant

2021-01-01
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Seed Funding Grant

2021-01-01

Requirements for University of Zurich

Master Program
Requirements
GPA Requirement
Required:3
IELTS
Listening
Required:6.5
Reading
Required:6.5
Writing
Required:6.5
Speaking
Required:6.5
Overall
Required:7
TOEFL
Listening
Required:25
Reading
Required:25
Writing
Required:26
Speaking
Required:25
Total
Required:100
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree in Law or equivalent from a recognized university Minimum 180 ECTS credits
Application Checklist
  • Matriculation certificate
  • Official transcripts
  • CV/Resume
  • Copy of passport
  • Motivation letter
Specialization Notes

Department of Law