Dr. Cormac Walsh is an independent researcher and consultant, living in Hamburg in Northern Germany. In addition, he is currently employed as a researcher (part-time) at the University of Oldenburg where is work will focus primarily on advancing social science and interdisciplinary perspectives on animal migration.
He is a Senior Research Associate of the International Centre for Local and Regional Development (ICLRD), a research and policy partnership focussed on spatial planning and regional development on the island of Ireland. He is a member of the ESPON Scientific Advisory Panel of Experts (2021-2022).
He is an interdisciplinary social science researcher with extensive experience in fundamental and applied research in a variety of contexts. . Trained as a geographer and spatial planner, he has extensive expertise in the fields of regional development, spatial planning and environmental management . At the core of his work is a keen interest in fostering evidence-informed dialogue among research, policy and practice stakeholders.
Dr. Walsh has a wide network of research and practitioner contacts across Europe. He is an active member of the following organisations and networks:
Marine Spatial Planning Research Network (steering group member)
– Marine Social Science Research Network
– Consortium of German Maritime Sciences: Social science and Humanities Strategy Group
– Landscape Research Group (German branch: Arbeitskreis Landschaftsforschung)
– Association of European Schools of Planning (AESOP) Thematic Group on Transboundary Spaces, Policy Diffusion and Planning Cultures.
– Vereinigung für Stadt-, Regional- und Landesplanung – (Professional Association for Urban and Regional Planning)
Previous Positions
06/2021 – 03/2023: Lecturer and researcher at Leuphana University, Lüneburg (Institute for Ecology and Social-Ecological Systems Institute).
11/2013 – 01/2020: Researcher and Lecturer, University of Hamburg, Institute for Geography.
09/2016- 01/2020: Principal Investigator: Wadden Sea Metageographies (funded by the German Research Foundation).
12/2011 – 10/2013: Researcher and Lecturer, HafenCity University Hamburg, Department of Urban Planning and Regional Development.
4/2010 – 11/2011: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis (NIRSA), Maynooth University, Ireland.
09/2006 – 09/2009: Research Fellow, Urban Institute Ireland, University College Dublin.
09/05 – 08/2006: Research Assistant, National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis (NIRSA), Maynooth University, Ireland.
Education and Qualifications:
2006-2010: PhD in Planning and Public Policy at the School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Policy at University College Dublin (UCD), Dublin, Ireland. Thesis title: Strategic Spatial Planning at the Regional and Local Scales: A Case Study of the Dublin City-Region.
2004-2005: MSc Global Transformations at the Department of Geography Loughborough University, England.
2001-2004: BA National University of Ireland, Maynooth (NUIM) Geography (major), economics, theoretical physics (minor subjects).
Languages
Dr. Cormac Walsh is a native English speaker and fluent German speaker. He has published and lectured in both German and English.