Nikoline Leth Jepsen

More-than-human cities – From strategies and plans for biodiversity and urban nature to urban spaces

The Royal Danish Academy
Project period: 2023-2026

In a nutshell, what is the topic of your PhD project?

I’m investigating the strategic approach to urban nature and biodiversity in current urban planning practices. With outset in municipal practices, I’m investigating how plans and strategies for urban nature and biodiversity are realized in urban spaces, and what understandings of biodiversity form the basis for such practices.

What makes your research relevant?

In light of the Anthropocene age, urban planning and architecture are facing a challenge: Can urban development and biodiversity co-exist?

Traditionally, urban planning has centered around humans, but now there is an increasing interest in integrating biodiversity into cities. This challenges common urban planning practices, which now have to take into account more-than-human values and political priorities that will impose new demands on the way we develop cities in the future.

What are you hoping to gain from writing an Industrial PhD?

I’m hoping for a lot of things, but the truth is that research usually mostly contributes to creating a deeper understanding of a subject rather than providing actual “solutions”. Nevertheless, I’m hoping that this project can form the basis for urban planning stakeholders to get a more holistic common language when working with inclusion of more-than-human stakeholders in urban development, and that they can gain an understanding of the spatial initiatives this work adds to urban spaces.