Professor Dr. Katharina Hölscher

Biography

Katharina Hölscher is an Assistant Professor at Utrecht University, specializing in transformation-oriented research directed towards societal change and sustainable, resilient societies. Her work emphasizes governance related to climate adaptation in urban areas, particularly the role of institutions and institutional learning in empowering urban planners and policymakers to navigate the complexities of climate change. Hölscher has conducted extensive studies in cities across Europe, the United States, India, and South Africa, experimenting with innovative climate adaptation approaches such as co-creation and nature-based solutions to foster resilience. She investigates governance conditions that support experimentation and coordination, and how social learning can help mobilize transformative climate governance. Since joining Utrecht University in 2022, she has drawn upon her previous experience at the Dutch Research Institute for Transitions (DRIFT) at Erasmus University Rotterdam, where she led various work packages for EU and NWO-funded research projects and provided policy advice to the German Environmental Agency. Hölscher's contributions to scientific journals include two books focused on transformative climate governance and transition management in urban contexts.

Research Interests

Experience