Marielle Zill is Assistant Professor Societal Learning in the Human Geography and Spatial Planning department at Utrecht University. She is also the departmental Education for Professionals representative. Trained as an urban geographer, she has joined the Geography & Education research section in March 2023. As assistant professor of societal learning in human geography, her current research and teaching activities are focused on the science – society interface, the societal impact of human geographers and lifelong learning in human geography.

Current research projects: 

• “Her city, her story: Uncovering the legacies of Dutch feminist geography and planning”. This research project seeks to collect and curate the pioneering work of Dutch feminist geographers and planners active during the second feminist wave. Together with colleagues Michiel van Meeteren and Krisztina Varró the project investigates the societal impact of feminist geographers and planners, their professional networks and their impact through teaching. 

• “Towards open science for qualitative research: Over-research as methodological challenge and opportunity.”  Together with colleagues Simon Scheider, Bouke van Gorp and Irina van Aalst this project investigates the geographies of over- and under-researched places and their effects on science and society. 

Past research projects:

“Familiar strangers, distant neighbours”: How the openness of asylum accommodation influences familiarization between asylum seekers and local residents” This project investigated the how different types of asylum seeker accommodation influence neighbourhood relations and the integration of asylum seekers in the wider urban fabric. (PhD research)