Themen für Masterarbeiten

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Felix Creutzig (TU Berlin)

Guidelines

Apart from the formal requirements (Name, Student ID number and the most recent Transcript of records), please write a brief synopsis about 1-2 pages which helps us to understand your interest, your topic, your background and your motivation. Please also list the scientific work you have written so far (Seminar papers, Bachelor Thesis, etc.). Moreover, stress your basic research question and the methodology you intend to apply (empirical, theoretical, synthesis of knowledge, etc.).  We want to know:

The following topics described below are available. You can submit own proposals for topics following our guidelines.

Thesis 1: Berlin’s airport and their carbon footprint

This thesis investigates the history of Berlin’s airports, passenger numbers and their footprints. The closing of Tempelhof, and then, possibly, Tegel, is investigated in detail. Part of thesis is supposed to review the literature on how airport infrastructure induces demand. A focus chapter is on the (plausible) closing of Tegel airport, investigating the impact of real estate development, and its role for low-carbon urbanization. The thesis concludes by positioning Berlin’s aviation infrastructure into the context of Berlin’s climate goals. 

Thesis 2: Berlin’s airport and their role in making Berlin ‘global’

This thesis investigates how Berlin’s increasing connectedness to other European and global destination turned Berlin into a ‘global city’, in the sense used by Saskia Sassen. This thesis starts with a literature review on how aviation infrastructure is related to making cities global. It then analyzes Berlin’s developing airport infrastructure and correlates passenger numbers with real estate development. A focus chapter is on the (plausible) closing of Tegel airport, investigating the impact of real estate development, and its role for low-carbon urbanization. It concludes by a short outlook of how the new airport Berlin-Brandenburg will change the ‘global’ face of Berlin.

Thesis 1 and thesis 2 will be coordinated by the supervisor to ensure synergies.

Thesis 3: Berlin’s new mobility law

This thesis shall investigate Berlin’s upcoming mobility law and its potential to contribute to climate change mitigation. It shall compromise modal shift effects, but also GHG emission accounting of infrastructure provision (e.g. for new tram lines).