Humangeographie

Forschungsschwerpunkte und Projekte

Research activities are focused on studies in development geography (globalization, vulnerability and resilience; food system research; political ecology) and urban geography (sustainability issues in mega cities). Research regions: South Asia, Southeast Asia

  • 2016-2023

  • German Research Foundation (DFG): Research Unit FOR 2432/1-2 "Social-Ecological Systems in the Indian Rural-Urban Interface: Functions, Scales, and Dynamics of Transition", project leader C04; "Sustainable food consumption practices of middle class consumers"

  • Gesellschaft für Wirtschaftsförderung und Stadtentwicklung Göttingen: Bestands- und Erreichbarkeitsanalyse regionaler Gesundheitseinrichtungen; Mitarbeiter: Dr. Thomas Wieland

  • "Digital Manaslu": wissenschaftlich-didaktische Aufarbeitung des Bildnachlasses des in Nepal 2015 tödlich verunglückten Kollegen Prof. Dr. M. Kuhle; finanziert aus Mittel der Universität und Fakultät; Mitarbeiter: Nils Schröder



  • 2012-2015

  • German Research Foundation (DFG): CRC 990 "Ecological and Socioeconomic Functions of Tropical Lowland Rainforest Transformation System (Sumatra, Indonesia); project leader C2 (with Heiko Faust); "Political and institutional impacts on cultural landscape transformation"



  • 2008-2013

  • Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF): Joint Research Project: Climate and Energy in a Complex Transition towards Sustainable Hyderabad; Leader of Work Package 2: " Food security, nutrition and food-related health in the emerging mega city of Hyderabad".

  • Pilot Project "Sustainable Street Food Plan"



  • Research reports

  • Mamidi, B.B., Dahmen, A., Schultz, S. and C. Dittrich (2013): Environmental Audit of Street Food Vending in Hyderabad – An Exploratory Study. Research Reports for Analysis and Action for Sustainable Development of Hyderabad. Berlin Background study [PDF, 324 KB]

  • Bergmann, F. and C. Dittrich (2012): Does Hunger Return Back to Urban India? Food Security and Health in the Context of Rising Prices in Low-Income Groups in the Emerging Mega City of Hyderabad/India. Research Reports for Analysis and Action for Sustainable Development of Hyderabad. Berlin Background study [PDF, 7,99 MB]

  • Nischalke, S. (2011): In-depth Analysis of Changes in Hyderabad's Food System and Food Culture. Consumption patterns, Food Supply Chains and Impacts on Sustainability and Climate Change. Research Reports for Analysis and Action for Sustainable Development of Hyderabad. Berlin. Background study [PDF, 1,63 MB]

  • Hofmann, R. and C. Dittrich (2010): The Social Construction of Food Risks of Lower Middel Class in the Emerging Mega City of Hyderabad/India. Research Reports for Analysis and Action for Sustainable Development of Hyderabad. Berlin. Background study [PDF, 3,88 MB]

  • Osswald, N. and C. Dittrich (2010): Sustainable Food Consumption and Urban Lifestyles. The Case of Hyderabad/India. Research Reports for Analysis and Action for Sustainable Development of Hyderabad. Berlin Background study [PDF, 1,89 MB]

  • Padma, R. and M. Varalakshmi (2010): Environmental Health Risks in Hyderabad in the Context of Global Change. Research Reports for Analysis and Action for Sustainable Development of Hyderabad. Berlin Background study [PDF, 2,53 MB]

  • Rani, U. and C. Dittrich (2010): Options to Improve Food Safety in the Street Food Sector of Hyderabad. Research Reports for Analysis and Action for Sustainable Development of Hyderabad. Berlin. Background study [PDF, 9,02 MB]

  • Chada, Radha R. and C. Dittrich (2009): Food, Consumption and Nutritional Status in Hyderabad. Research Reports for Analysis and Action for Sustainable Development of Hyderabad. Berlin. Background study [PDF, 7,92 MB]

  • Hofmann, R. and C. Dittrich (2009): Changing Food Culture in Globalising Hyderabad. Research Reports for Analysis and Action for Sustainable Development of Hyderabad. Berlin. Background study [PDF, 7,79 MB]

  • Johnsdorf, A. and C. Dittrich (2009): The Changing Food Retail Sector in the Emerging Mega City of Hyderabad; the Case of Small Traders in Himayathnagar. Research Reports for Analysis and Action for Sustainable Development of Hyderabad. Berlin. Background study [PDF, 5,94 MB]

  • Nischalke, S., Surepally, S. and C. Dittrich (2009): The Challenge of Organizing Hyderabad's Food Supply. An Analysis on Relevant Stakeholders, Networks and Power Relations. Research Reports for Analysis and Action for Sustainable Development of Hyderabad. Berlin. [PDF, 2,94 MB]

  • Osswald, N. and C. Dittrich (2009): The Market for Organic Food in Hyderabad/India. Consumer Attitudes and Marketing Opportunities. Research Reports for Analysis and Action for Sustainable Development of Hyderabad. Berlin Background study [PDF, 2,88 MB]

  • Rani, U. (2009): Women in the Street Food System of Hyderabad/India. Livelihood Opportunities, Vulnerabilities and Conflicts. Research Reports for Analysis and Action for Sustainable Development of Hyderabad. Berlin Background study [PDF, 1,37 MB]

  • Lohr, K. and C. Dittrich (2007): Changing Food Purchasing and Consumption Habits among Urban Middle-Classes in Hyderabad. Research Reports for Analysis and Action for Sustainable Development of Hyderabad, 4. Berlin

  • Wipper, M. and C. Dittrich (2007): Urban Street Food Vendors ion the Food Provisioning System of Hyderabad. Research Reports for Analysis and Action for Sustainable Development of Hyderabad, 2. Berlin




  • Since 2011 I also take part in the "Greening with Goethe"-project of the Goethe-Institute, Bengaluru (awarded as a contribution to the UNESCO world decade), guiding school-students from India and Germany through the process of investigating environmental issues in their neighborhood.