Extended deadline: Call for applications to the ESRS Summer School in Obergurgl, Austria (abstracts by 20/04/2024). More info on the Summer School can be found here!
Entanglement of mountain farming and tourism
ESRS Summer School 2024 / September 18-22 / Obergurgl, Austria
Theme and programme
Several tourism destinations in the Alpine Areas developed from poor mountain
communities in the 18th and 19th century. This societal transition from farming
communities focusing on the production of food, towards communities that gains their
livelihood from service provision took place in a short period of time. Today, mountain
farming in Europe is under severe pressure, for instance from out-migration of young
people, loss of agricultural land to construction and infrastructure, continued afforestation
of agricultural land, integration into the globalized market and other factors, which put its
continued existence at high risk. These mountain farms are mostly family-owned and familyoperated,
and these, in particular, have to cope with growing uncertainty caused by these
pressures. Even if the economic importance of farming has decreased, rural life is still
substantially shaped by farming activities. Furthermore, farms contribute to the socialecological
resilience of rural areas, for example through the provision of ecosystem services.
Additionally, mountain farming has a high value for tourism in these areas that goes beyond
the provision of agritourism. One example is the newly establishing mountaineering villages
in Austria, Italy, Germany and Switzerland (see: https://www.bergsteigerdoerfer.org/ ).
These classified villages do not only provide professional tourism services for mountaineers,
but also respects the traditional landscape and environmental quality and is committed to
preserving local cultural and natural values.
The upcoming summer school ‘Entanglements of mountain farming and tourism‘ aims to
illuminate these entanglements in different ways. Therefore, we welcome contributions that
highlights perspectives on:
- Theoretical and conceptual approaches to grasp these entanglements (e.g. socialecological
resilience, farming resilience, foodscapes, …) - Empirical examples of these entanglements from different mountain areas
- Empirical examples that highlight certain aspects of this entanglement (e.g. the
meaning of farming for winter tourism, provision of ecosystem services, safeguarding
of local traditions, local provision of food, …)
Scientific committee - Ass. Prof. Dr. Rike Stotten (Univ. of Innsbruck, Austria )
- Dr. Thea Wiesli (Univ. of Innsbruck)
- Univ. Prof. Dr. Markus Schermer (Univ. of Innsbruck)
- Assoc. Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Ph.D. Dr. Ika Darnhofer (Univ. of Natural
Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria) - Prof. Dr. Hilde Bjørkhaug (Norwegian Univ. of Science and
Technology, Norway) - Prof. Dr. Rebecka Milestad (Royal Institute of Technology–
KTH, Stockholm, Sweden) - Univ. Prof. Dr. Mike Peters (Univ. of Innsbruck, Austria)
- Univ. Prof. Dr. Michael Traugott (Univ. of Innsbruck, Austria
Participation
PhD students and early PostDocs in the field of Rural Sociology and rural studies from all
universities are invited to an interdisciplinary social scientific dialogue of their ongoing work
as well as to a scientific discussion of current concepts and issues of Rural Sociology.
Benefits for PhD students:
- Input lectures from hosting professors
- Interdisciplinary exchange
- Presentation and discussion of PhD work
- Face to face feedback from a professor
- Reflection sessions to integrate new aspects into your work
- Networking with other PhD students and professors in the field
- Short field trips and natural activities (e.g. cold-water swimming)
- 3 ECTS
Application:
The Summer School is available to a maximum of 12 students. The submission of
applications (extended abstract) will start in spring 2024. The scientific committee will select
the candidates, who will be then asked to send their full papers.
Costs for participants:
The participation in the Summer School is for ESRS members free of charge. Travel is selforganized
at own expense. We will organize a shuttle from Ötztal Bahnhof train station to
the venue (University Center Obergurgl).