Michael Alexander Ulfstjerne

Coming from the field of anthropology and with a background as an advisor in the private sector my work as a researcher and teacher is driven by an ambition to work across, disciplines, to strenthen my analytical skills, and to inspire critical thinking through new learning initiatives:

Academic

what motivates me as a researcher is to understand the emergence of new economies and its spatial effects. This compels me to undersatnd questions of forced displacement, processes of resettlement, spatial governance - but also what it means for peoples’ plans and dreams. My most recent research expands into the field of digtialization and the emergency of alternative moneys. Regionally, I’ve done fieldwork in a number of locations including China, West Africa, Denmark, Malta, and Bosnia.

Another important motivation for my professional career is to employ my curiosity, knowledge, and ability to use qualitative methods creatively to change how we develop our cities and the built environment.

Teaching

As a teacher and a supervisor I’m not only interested in what students should read and learn but particularly how they learn. I aim to innovate teaching by trying out new learning forms, continous feedback, collaborating with students, and the ambition to keep learning myself. I’ve developed new PBL initiatives and instigated collaborations between non-university stakeholders and learning environments in Aalborg University.