Geodata for Human Rights Winter School: 10-14 February 2025
The Geodata for Human Rights Winter School 2025 is a unique interdisciplinary program designed to introduce early career researchers to the innovative use of geospatial technologies for human rights documentation and advocacy.
The winter school will take place from 10th – 14th of February 2025 in Erlangen (with day trips to Nuremberg). Participants will engage in hands-on exercises with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing data, learn about the ethical considerations of geodata, and explore real-world applications through case studies and project work. Throughout the five-day program, participants will engage in critical discussions, collaborative projects, and reflective science communication sessions. Hands-on activities will be led by guest geospatial experts from Human Rights Watch.
The winter school aims to foster a diverse and inclusive learning environment. We welcome applications from researchers who already specialize in human rights and others who are new to the field but who bring relevant expertise. We will cover participants‘ accommodation during the winter school and can contribute up to 250€ to the travel costs of applicants based in Germany or other countries in Europe. Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate of attendance. The Geodata for Human Rights Winter School is an unparalleled opportunity to advance your knowledge, enhance your skills, and contribute to the global effort of human rights advocacy through the power of geospatial data.
Planned program
| Day 1 | Foundations | Introduction to Geodata and Human Rights; Overview of the week’s agenda. |
| Day 2 | GIS & Human Rights Lab | Hands-on exercises focusing on GIS basics for investigating human rights. |
| Day 3 | Remote Sensing & Human Rights Lab | Practical activities using remote sensing techniques in the context of human rights. |
| Day 4 | Learning from the Past, Shaping the Future | Visit to the International Nuremberg Principles Academy; Project idea workshop at CHREN. |
| Day 5 | Pitch & Review | Participants present their project ideas; receive constructive feedback from peers, instructors, and experts; Reflection on key insights and implications for human rights. |
We welcome applications from interested young researchers to be submitted by November 10, 2024 at the latest
(questions about the winter school can be addressed to the same address):
We look forward to hearing from you!
Raphaela Edler, Georg Glasze, Katrin Kinzelbach, Lama Ranjous, and Blake Walker
Application Requirements:
Curriculum Vitae (CV) (max 2 pages):
- Your educational background and achievements.
- Professional experience, extracurricular activities, and relevant skills
Motivation Letter (max 4 pages):
- Introduce yourself and state your purpose for applying.
- Explain your research interests and professional goals.
- Discuss why you are interested in the winter school program.
- Please cite a minimum of two research papers that have inspired you and are relevant to your interests. Below are further references which can also inspire your motivation letter.
Pre-reading list
- Lyons, J. “Documenting violations of international humanitarian law from space: a critical review of geospatial analysis of satellite imagery during armed conflicts in Gaza (2009), Georgia (2008), and Sri Lanka (2009).” Int. Rev. Red Cross 94 (886), 2012. Available online: https://international-review.icrc.org/sites/default/files/irrc-886-lyons.pdf
- Aronson, Jay D. “The Utility of User-Generated Content in Human Rights Investigations.” New Technologies for Human Rights Law and Practice: Cambridge University Press, 2018. Available online at https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/new-technologies-for-human-rights-law-and-practice/utility-of-usergenerated-content-in-human-rights-investigations/6AC6F925BFE87C14570E845C89DBB124#CN-bp-6
- D’Alessandra, F., and K. Sutherland. “The Promise and Challenges of New Actors and New Technologies in International Law.” Journal of International Criminal Justice, 2021. Available online: https://academic.oup.com/jicj/advance-article/doi/10.1093/jicj/mqab034/6294452.
- Dubberley, Samuel, and Gabriela Ivens. “Outlining a Human-Rights Based Approach to Digital Open-Source Investigations: A Guide for Human Rights Organisations and Open-Source Researchers.” Project Report. University of Essex, Human Rights, Big Data and Technology Project, 2022. Available online: https://repository.essex.ac.uk/32642/1/Outlining%20a%20HumanRights%20Based%20Approach%20to%20Digital%20Open%20Source%20Investigations.pdf
Extended reading list
- Marx, A., Goward, S. “Remote Sensing in Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Monitoring: Concepts and Methods. Geographical Review. 2013. Available online: https://www.jstor.org/stable/43915963?seq=12
- Belhadj Ali, Chiraz. “International Crimes in the Digital Age: Challenges and Opportunities Shaped by Social Media.” Groningen Journal of International Law 9, no. 1 (September 28, 2021): 43–59. https://doi.org/10.21827/GroJIL.9.1.43-59.
- Zarmsky, S. “Why Seeing Should Not Always Be Believing: Considerations Regarding the Use of Digital Reconstruction Technology in International Law.” Journal of International Criminal Justice, 2021. https://academic.oup.com/jicj/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/jicj/mqab048/6313396.
The winter school at the FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg is organized in the context of a research project funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research at the Institute of Political Science (Prof. Kinzelbach) and the Institute of Geography (Profs. Glasze and Walker) in cooperation with the CHREN (Center Human Rights Erlangen-Nürnberg) and the International Nuremberg Principles Academy.
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