lehreonline.net - Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hoinkes

Martina Hillbrand

Climate Change and Human Adaptation – What Can We Learn From (Pre)history? 

In my research I have studied the effect of climatic and environmental changes on pre-historic human societies and the effect theses societies had on their environment. I demonstrated that climatic changes forced people to abandon certain settlements because of changing water levels. I also showed, however, that during human settlement the water quality of a nearby lake changed considerably, suggesting that even in prehistoric times humans had heavily negative effects on the natural environment. In my talk, I will address the impact of climate change on human civilization throughout history up until the present day. I will then ask to look critically at the climate change debate today and its frequent use in political campaigns.

Biography

Martina Hillbrand (MSc) studied ecology at the University of Innsbruck (Austria). From 2008 until 2012 she worked on a project at the University of Innsbruck in cooperation with the Amt für Archäologie of the Swiss canton Thurgau studying the environment of the neolithic settlement Nussbaumersee-Inseli. Next to her work in palaeoecology she worked as a field ornithologist in several countries in Europe and North America. She is currently enrolled as a master student at the Kiel School of Sustainability.

Contact: mhill053@fiu.edu