Prof. Dr. Heike Mayer

Unit Leader Economic Geography

Economic Geography

Phone
+41 31 684 88 86
E-Mail
heike.mayer@unibe.ch
Office
211
Postal Address
University of Bern
Institute of Geography
Economic Geography
Hallerstrasse 12
CH-3012 Bern
Switzerland
Consultation Hour
by agreement

Research

Research Interests

  • Entrepreneurship and Innovation
  • Sustainable Economic Development
  • Rural and Mountain Areas
  • The Economic Geography of Capital Cities
  • Regional and Economic Development Policy and Practice
  • Globalization and Placemaking (Slow Cities, Slow Food, small town development, resilience)
     

Curriculum vitae

Curriculum vitae

09/2009 - present Full Professor, Economic Geography, University of Bern
06/2011 - present Member, Center for Regional Economic Development (CRED), University of Bern
04/2011 - 2020 Adjunct Professor, School of Public and International Affairs, Virginia Tech, USA
01/2016 - 12/2017 Director, Institute of Geography, University of Bern
08/2008 - 08/2009 Associate Professor, Urban Affairs and Planning, Virginia Tech, USA
Co-Director, Metropolitan Institute, Virginia Tech, USA
04/2008 - 09/2008
 Visiting Professor, Economic Geography, University of Bayreuth, Germany
(W3-Lehrstuhlvertretung für Prof. J. Maier)
08/2007 - 06/2008
 Acting Director and Associate Chair, Urban Affairs and Planning Program, Alexandria Center, National Capital Region, Virginia Tech, USA
08/2003 - 07/2008 Assistant Professor, Urban Affairs and Planning Program, Virginia Tech
School of Public and International Affairs, College of Architecture and Urban Studies (from 2003 to 2005 in Blacksburg)
09/1998 - 06/2003 Research Assistant, Institute of Portland Metropolitan Studies, Portland State University, Oregon, USA
CV Heike Mayer (PDF, 433KB)

Publications

Publication Year Type

Professional Activities and Services

Membership and Outreach Activities
Membership and Outreach Activities
Since 2024 President of the Regional Studies Association
Since 2023 Member of the Foundational Board of the Seniorenuniversität Bern
Since 2023 Member of the Foundational Board of the KIHOB
Since 2022 Member of editorial board Progress in Economic Geography
Since 2022 Member of the International Advisory Board of Regional Studies
Since 2021 Member of the editorial board Urban Affairs Review
Since 2018 Member of the editorial board International Journal of Community Well-Being
Since 2014 Member of the editorial board Competitiveness Review
2009 - 2024 Member of the Editorial Board Economic Development Quarterly
2017 - 2023 Member of the editorial board Geography Compass (Economic Geography Section)
2020 - 2023 President of the Swiss Federal Commission on Urban and Regional Planning (Rat für Raumordnung, Ausserparlamentarische Kommission, appointed by the Bundesrat)
2012 - 2023 Member, Swiss Federal Commission for Urban and Regional Planning (Rat für Raumordnung; appointed by the Bundesrat)
2020 - 2023 Member of the Publication Committee, Regional Studies Association
2020 - 2023 Member of the Steering Group of the SCNAT Sustainability Research Initiative 
2018 - 2022 Section editor “Economic Geography” for Geography Compass
2019 - 2022 President, Strategy Commission, Faculty of Science, University of Bern
2019 - 2022 Member OECD Expert Advisory Panel Switzerland “Enhancing Rural Innovation”
2020 - 2021 Head of Working Group “Thriving Spaces” SCNAT Sustainability Research Initiative
2014 - 2021 Member of the editorial board of the journal Erdkunde
2011 - 2021 Board Member of the Geographische Gesellschaft Bern
2019 Guest professor, University of Pisa, Italy (Prof. Michela Lazzeroni)
2015 - 2019 Member, Forum für Universität und Gesellschaft, University of Bern
2013 - 2019 Representative of the university research centers in the Senate, University of Bern
2015 - 2017 Member of the board, Foundation for sustainable development of mountain regions (Stiftung für die nachhaltige Entwicklung der Bergregionen), Valais
2009 - 2014
ERASMUS-Coordinator at the Institute of Geography, University of Bern
2011 Member of the Dr. Gill-Chin Lim Global Award Committee
2011 - 2014
Professor (Betreuungsdozierende) for the Swiss Study Foundation (Schweizer Studienstiftung)
2010 - 2013 Board Member of the Swiss Association for Spatial Planning and Regional Policy Studies (ROREP)
2007 Member of the Academic Advisory Board for 2007 National conference of The Competitiveness Institute;
Member of the organizing committee of Academic Summit
2005 - 2007 Organizer of the New Metropolis Lectures, Virginia Tech, Alexandria Campus, USA
2005 - 2008
 Chair & Committee member for the Student Paper Competiton of the American Planning Association (Economic Development Division) 

Reviewer for:

  • National Science Foundation, Geography and Regional Science Unit
  • Taylor & Francis
  • Routledge
  • Journal of the American Planning Association
  • Journal of Urban Affairs
  • Cities
  • Canadian Journal of Regional Science
  • Administration & Society
  • Economic Development Quarterly
  • Research Policy
  • Progress in Planning
  • State and Local Government Review
  • Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice