Testimonials
I try to unpack the social complexities of the urban domain in contemporary societies.
- Nationality
- Dutch
Rianne van Melik is an Associate Professor in Urban Geography.
Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Rianne van Melik and as associate professor in urban geography, I try to unpack the social complexities of the urban domain in contemporary societies. I teach the master course Urban & Cultural Geography, take my students to Berlin in the Field Course and supervise theses on a diverse range of topics, often focused on public spaces such as markets, libraries and community gardens. In the Bachelor's, I teach the course 'Visies op de stad'.
Why did you choose to study/work in this field?
As the majority of the world’s population currently resides in settlements described as urban, cities have become the vibrant and dynamic focal points of our society. I find these diverse agglomerations of people, companies and organisations fascinating. What makes them work? I like that this field is so around us: you only have to step outside and look with intention to notice contemporary urban challenges such as inequality, difference, creativity but also conflicts.
What are you currently doing your own research on?
Positioned at the intersection of everyday urbanism, spatial justice and the production of space, my research particularly focuses on the mechanisms and processes that often remain hidden, but are key to understanding some of the major societal challenges of our age: who has a say in the way cities work, how is public space produced, and who has access to it? I answer these questions by focusing on people’s everyday practices that contribute to the production of urban spaces such as open-air markets, public libraries and public toilets. In my view, these are important socio-cultural infrastructures that contribute to the everyday life in cities, but that are often threatened due to austerity pressures. I mostly conduct qualitative research, including in-depth interviewing and participant observation. As a committed action-researcher, I find it crucially important to actively contribute to the places I study, both as volunteer and as researcher, through participatory research methods and close collaboration and knowledge exchange with societal stakeholders such as housing corporations, trade unions and library organisations.
What advice do you have for students making their study choice?
I always tell my students to choose a study or research topic close to their heart; something they are frustrated about or intrigued by, or something they want to personally contribute to and learn more about. Job prospects or future salary come second, although they are also generally very good for our students.
What is the best part of working with students?
In the Master's programme, we assume that students are very well able to explore new issues and research themes themselves, and that they do not need lecturers to tell them what is ‘true’. On the contrary, at this stage of the curriculum, I think that students learn most, if they do and experience it themselves. Therefore, I consider myself a tutor rather than lecturer. My teaching is characterised by high levels of student involvement and autonomy, preferably also outside the classroom. The best part of teaching is to jointly explore urban phenomena together with students, for example during fieldtrips to Rotterdam and Berlin. During such fieldtrips, I do not walk through the city with the students and explain to them how the theory fits into practice, but the other way around: they are responsible to tour me and the other students around, or have to do research themselves. I also enjoy collaborative writing with students; I stimulate them to also publish their research and try to familiarise them with the art of academic writing.
The most fascinating as well as challenging part of Geography is that it is not narrowed down to one single scientific discipline.
- Previous education
- Bachelor in Geography
- Programme
- Cities, Culture and Inequality
- Study start date
Kim-Jasmin Menssing is a Master's student Cities, Culture and Inequality.
'What I really enjoy in my specialisation is the opportunity to move to different cities to experience in the field what we have learned in theory in the classroom. On the other hand, the specialisation tends to get really theoretical and abstract sometimes, which can be quite challenging.
Studying the Cities, Culture and Inequality specialisation at the Radboud University is a great experience. Strictly according to the motto challenge and promote, the teachers expect a lot of the students, but they will also provide you with their help. Thereby, they don't act from a higher hierarchical position but rather interact with the students on eyesight, thus creating a really good atmosphere for studying.
The most challenging experiences I had so far were getting used to the amount of research papers one has to read every week, as well as the workload one has to fulfil in order to get the credits of the course.
For my Master's thesis I am doing an internship in a project of the HAN University at the moment. The project analyses voluntary work in the Netherlands and Germany and how each country can learn from the other. For my thesis I will analyse the political structures for volunteering in each country and how the interaction between municipalities and volunteers could be improved through the cross border exchange of ideas and working approaches.
The most fascinating as well as challenging part of Geography is that it is not narrowed down to one single scientific discipline. Geography touches a lot of different disciplines and thereby provides a platform for combining them in order to get the best solutions for problems. The specialisation of Human and Cultural Geography focusses on humans and how they live together. With the globalization, people tend to not stay at their home town for their whole life anymore but to move to different cities in different countries, thus creating the challenge for cities to cope with the needs of more and more multicultural societies. At the same time, cities need to get more sustainable and get prepared for the challenges of the climate change.'
I like how this programme gives you the freedom to pursue your own specialisation with the choice of electives.
- Previous education
- Cultural Anthropology and Development Studies - Radboud University
- Programme
- Cities, Culture and Inequality
- Study start date
- Study end date
Minke Klomp is a Master's student Cities, Culture and Inequality.
What do you like about the programme/specialisation and why? How has the programme/specialisation challenged you (in relation to your previous education)?
I like how the programme has taken all the theories that I learned and liked to learn about from my previous study, and has put them in a very specific context, the city. I also like how this programme gives you the freedom to pursue your own specialisation with the choice of electives. The Master's programme Cities, Culture and Inequality has really challenged me to think about the ways that I can practically apply all the knowledge that I have learned throughout my time studying.
What do you think about the atmosphere in class (for example the relationship between students and with the teachers/researchers)?
There is a good mix of people with a background in geography and people with a background in different fields of study, and that makes class discussions really interesting with a lot of different perspectives. The trip within the first semester also really helps in getting to know your fellow students and due to the small classroom sizes, you can connect well with the teachers.
What do you find most challenging in your Master’s (specialisation)? Have you encountered any obstacles?
The Master's programme becomes serious almost immediately. Within the first few weeks, you have to pick a thesis topic and this can be quite challenging when you don't have a background in geography. On the other hand, making this decision so early really allows you to focus on the thesis from day one. This can help in choosing your electives and picking out the best theories that fit your topic.
Are you currently doing an internship? Or what is your thesis about?
My thesis is about the diversity and inclusion policy of Radboud University towards queer people. I'm also interning for Radboud's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Office.
Why do you think is it important that there are people out there with this degree? What are your plans once have received your Master's degree?
I think that with current trends of urbanisation and globalisation it is incredibly important that there are people who studied the ways that people live together in urban environments. We learn many different things that can make a city more comfortable to live in and I think that we, as Human Geography students, can have a very important perspective for the future. When I finish my Master's, I want to do something that helps biodiversity in densely populated areas, either by volunteer work or getting a job in this area.
I love hearing what students are most concerned with and integrating these concerns into my teaching.
- Nationality
- French-Lebanese
- Programme
- Pre-Master's Human Geography
Jean Makhlouta is a Postdoctoral Researcher Human Geography.
Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Jean Makhlouta, and I hold a PhD in Urban and Social Geography from Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. I am currently a postdoctoral researcher at Radboud University, where I teach sessions in the Geographies of Capitalism and Crisis course and supervise Bachelor's and Master's theses.
Why did you choose to study/work in this field?
What makes this field particularly compelling is its attention to space as a privileged site for examining how power relations are organised, negotiated, and sometimes challenged through everyday practices. It offers a powerful framework for understanding how inequalities in access to cities and urban resources are produced and experienced on a daily basis.
What are you currently doing your own research on?
My research focuses on the Middle East, with a strong empirical grounding in Beirut. After studying queer mobilities and processes of space-making, I am currently researching the moral and emotional geographies of debt since the 2019 Lebanese economic crisis, and how these dynamics are reshaping social relations and the city’s urban fabric.
What advice do you have for students making their study choice?
I would encourage students to choose a field that genuinely helps them make sense of the world around them. Studying something that resonates with your everyday observations, concerns, or questions will make the work both more engaging and more sustainable over time.
What is the best part of working with students?
I love hearing what students are most concerned with and integrating these concerns into my teaching. Guiding them as they refine their questions, strengthen their analytical skills, and grow into more confident and critical thinkers is the best part of working with them.