Integrated Training on "Place" in Global Health:
From Geospatial Methods to Positionality

9 – 11 September 2026

Mainz (Johannes Gutenberg University, Campus)

Application deadline: June 1st, 2026

Click here to apply

This Training Offer addresses methods and theories related to conceptualizing and communicating “place” in global health research. While the increasing availability of geospatial data has expanded technical possibilities, “place” is frequently reduced to a location variable, overlooking its social, political, economic, psychological and epistemic dimensions. The Training Offer integrates two main complementary perspectives on place: 1) Geospatial approaches (including GIS concepts and methods) and 2) Critical reflection on place, positionality, identity, and power.

Over 2.5 days, participants will collaboratively develop a joint output in an interdisciplinary way: a StoryMap, combining spatial data, photographs, and narrative text using real-world data (provided by the organizing team). Keynote inputs complement the interdisciplinary group work and peer exchange.

The training aims to enable early career researchers to:

  • Understand different approaches of thinking about place in global health research
  • Critically think about place in their own research
  • Recognize the complexity and role of combining maps and narrative in communicating about their research
  • Gain practical experience in developing a Story Map to communicate about their research, including basic geospatial data management skills
  • Practice applying peer guidance in workshop sessions
  • Build networks with fellow early-career global health researchers

This Training Offer is directed at early-career researchers from all GLOHRA research areas. No prior experience in GIS or or thinking about researcher positionality is required, but participants should be interested in learning new skills and applying them in interdisciplinary teams. Participants are encouraged to reflect on the concept of “place” in their own research and to present how they engage with “place” in their projects during peer feedback sessions. If you are willing to present your work, please indicate this in the application form.

Application deadline: June 1st, 2026.

Costs: Participation is free of charge and includes accomodation.

Travel grants: A limited number of travel grants are available (see application form).

Please click here for the preliminary program (PDF).

For inquiries, please contact Fabienne (pradella@uni-mainz.de).

We look forward to welcoming you in Mainz!

The organizational committee (Fabienne Pradella, Alexandre Pereira-Santos, Melanie Böckmann)

 

This workshop is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) as part of the German Alliance for Global Health Research (GLOHRA).