All students of the BUA partners Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin can participate in X-Student Research Groups. Please note the information on how to register for an X-Student Research Group.

Recognition of credits:

Students of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Technische Universität Berlin and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin can have X-Student Research Groups recognized in the interdisciplinary compulsory elective area (üWP) / in the free elective area or in the compulsory elective area. General information on the recognition of StuROP^x projects can be found at: Recognition of participation in an X-Student Research Group.

Bachelor's students at Freie Universität Berlin can have X-Student Research Groups recognized in the ABV skills area “Research Practices" ("Forschungsorientierung"). Recognition outside the ABV area must be clarified individually with the responsible examination board. You can find more information at: Recognition of competencies acquired in BUA courses at Freie Universität Berlin.

• Module description for X-Student Research Groups (German)
• Further information on StuROP^x on the website of the Berlin University Alliance

Amid the growing challenges of ecological devastation, states, international organizations, and corporations promote “green” initiatives and policies as pathways to a sustainable future. Emission offsets, solar energy, and electric vehicles are presented as a departure from the harmful economic practices that have brought us to this point. However, these technologies often rely on distant natures to supply raw materials and labor.

This research group focuses on examining the role of these 'green' narratives in shaping perceptions of socio-ecological violence and exploring ways to employ social science research to challenge them. Last semester, the group investigated and mapped the conflict constellation around Projecto Mocoa – a cooper mining project in the Colombian Amazon, revealing the uneven geographies of the costs and benefits of the energy transition and the contradictions immersed in its “green” justification.

Building on this work, this semester we will investigate the flows of cooper within global value chains to trace the “green” goals of extraction from the pit to the market, and share our findings to support the mobilization of local communities resisting the project. The group is open to Master’s students interested in collaborative qualitative research and environmental issues. Advanced BA students can also participate by prior arrangement.

Institutional affiliation: Fachbereich Politik- und Sozialwissenschaften, Otto-Suhr-Institut für Politikwissenschaft

Contact: a.sanchez.alfonso@fu-berlin.de