Dr. Christopher Young

Fonction

chercheur invité

Sciences économiques et sociales

Recherche en sciences sociales et paysage

Contact

christopher.young(at)wslto make life hard for spam bots.ch

+41 44 739 25 45+41 44 739 25 45

Institut fédéral de recherches sur la forêt, la neige et le paysage WSL
Zürcherstrasse 111
8903 Birmensdorf

Site

Birmensdorf Bi HV E 06

Current position

In recent years I have been investigating processes of urban change with a focus on allotments and other gardens, as semi-public green spaces. Who uses these spaces? How are they contested? How is their use related to psychological restoration and health?

Research interests

Urban green spaces and social inequality
Social networks, exclusion, health
Restoration and health effects of green spaces
Urban inequality, gentrification, social class
Subjectification, narrative identities
Community-supported agriculture
Contemporary penality, prisons, prison staff

Completed research projects

Better Gardens (link), an interdisciplinary project examining the effects of gardening and gardens on individuals and urban neighbourhoods in regard to well-being, social identity, social capital and the aesthetic perception of urban spaces (2015-2018)

Agricultural history research on regimes of plant breeding and property rights on seeds 1950 – 2000, at the Archives of Rural History, Bern (2012-2013)

Nationwide survey of prison staff in Switzerland, at Fribourg University (2010-2014)

Evaluation of BiST, an educational pilot programme introduced in 8 Swiss prisons, at Fribourg University (2010-2011)

Online survey of intermediate academic staff at Swiss universities (2007-2008)

Academic education

Post-doc at WSL on the project Better Gardens (2015-2018)

PhD thesis in sociology, University of Fribourg Switzerland, with the title „Between punitivity, precarious normality and therapeutic optimism: narrative identities of prison staff “. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. M. Budowski. (2007-2015)

M.A. in sociology, economics and art history, University of Zurich, Switzerland. Master thesis on communes in the canton of Zurich and their use of private security services (1997-2006)

Licence in sociology, University René Descartes, Paris V, France (2001-2002)

FURTHER INFORMATION

Projects

Psycho-social effects of the displacement of allotment gardeners

Which psycho-social effects does the loss of an allotment garden have on users of these gardens? Was does the loss mean for these people? It this study we examine this in Altstetten, Zurich.

Recreational spaces

Daily life stress can be a substantial detriment to human health and wellbeing. In comparing the stress-reduction capacities among different urban recreational spaces, this project aims at identifying the components of urban nature causing these health benefits.

BetterGardens: Biodiversität, Bodenqualität und soziale Aspekte von Stadtgärten

Ziel der Studie ist es, die Bedeutung städtischer Gärten für die Biodiversität, die Ökosystemprozesse und -dienstleistungen und die Lebensqualität der Bürger besser zu verstehen.

Strategies for better gardens

Urban gardens experience increasing social and ecological importance, yet, there are only few studies about it. This project investigates the value of urban gardening for social benefit, biodiversity and soil quality.

Publications WSL

Scientific publication article peer reviewed

Young, C.; Bauer, N., 2022: Eviction from paradise: lived experience, psycho-social and health effects of allotment garden loss. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening, 75: 127708 (11 pp.). doi: 10.1016/j.ufug.2022.127708

Young, C.; Hofmann, M.; Frey, D.; Moretti, M.; Bauer, N., 2020: Psychological restoration in urban gardens related to garden type, biodiversity and garden-related stress. Landscape and Urban Planning, 198: 103777 (12 pp.). doi: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2020.103777

Young, C.; Frey, D.; Moretti, M.; Bauer, N., 2019: Research note: garden-owner reported habitat heterogeneity predicts plant species richness in urban gardens. Landscape and Urban Planning, 185: 222-227. doi: 10.1016/j.landurbplan.2019.01.013

Home, R.; Lewis, O.; Bauer, N.; Fliessbach, A.; Frey, D.; Lichtsteiner, S.; Moretti, M.; Tresch, S.; Young, C.; Zanetta, A.; Stolze, M., 2019: Effects of garden management practices, by different types of gardeners, on human wellbeing and ecological and soil sustainability in Swiss cities. Urban Ecosystems, 22, 1: 189-199. doi: 10.1007/s11252-018-0806-2

Hofmann, M.; Young, C.; Binz, T.M.; Baumgartner, M.R.; Bauer, N., 2018: Contact to nature benefits health: mixed effectiveness of different mechanisms. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15, 1: 31 (16 pp.). doi: 10.3390/ijerph15010031

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Further scientific publications

Isenhardt, A.; Young, C.; Hostettler, U., 2016: Die Gesundheit des Personals im Schweizer Justizvollzug. Unterschiede zwischen Betreuungspersonal und Spezialdiensten. Bewährungshilfe: Soziales, Strafrecht, Kriminalpolitik, 63, 1: 34-49.

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Magazine article and brochures

Frey, D.; Young, C.; Zanetta, A.; Tresch, S.; Fliessbach, A.; Bauer, N.; Lewis, O.; Home, R.; Moretti, M., 2017: Bettergardens: Biodiversität, Bodenqualität und sozialer Wert von Stadtgärten. Bettergardens: biodiversité, qualité du sol et valeur sociale des jardins urbains. Nature et Paysage. Natur und Landschaft: Inside, 27-31.

Home, R.; Stolze, M.; Tresch, S.; Fliessbach, A.; Lewis, O.; Bauer, N.; Moretti, M.; Young, C.; Zanetti, A.; Frey, D., 2017: BetterGardens: qualité du sol, biodiversité et valeur sociale des jardins de la ville. VBB-Bulletin, Arbeitsgruppe Vollzug Bodenbiologie, 25-28.

Lichtsteiner, S.; Home, R.; Moretti, M.; Frey, D.; Fliessbach, A.; Tresch, S.; Young, C.; Bauer, N., 2016: Der ökologische und soziale Wert von Stadtgärten. Hotspot, 22.

Frey, D.; Young, C.; Bauer, N., 2015: Dem Leben in den Gärten auf der Spur. Sur les traces de la nature en ville. Gartenfreund: Monatsschrift des Schweizer Familiengärtner-Verbandes, 96, 4: 12-13.

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