Katharina Paul
Visiting student, TCEH
Katharina Paul is in the final year of her master’s in Urban Planning at HafenCity University Hamburg (HCU). She has focused on urban and regional development, the design of landscapes and open spaces, and the theoretical and practical aspects of planning and project management. Prior to this, she studied Geography at the University of Hamburg (UHH), driven by an interest in how people interact with their environment. This background helped develop an interdisciplinary understanding of the earth system and the social-ecological relationships that shape it.
After internships at the District Office and in Urban land-use Planning, she returned to the field of research — which turned out to be where she feels most at home. Over the years, Katharina has worked as a research assistant in several projects at HafenCity University Hamburg. Within the Excellence Cluster „Climate, Climatic Change, and Society” (CLICCS), she contributed to the project „Sustainable Adaptation Scenarios for Coastal Systems”, focusing on the challenges of the Elbe deepening and tidal dynamics through media and discourse analysis. I also supported the „FabCity Hamburg” initiative with research on circular economy and urban production systems. Currently, Katharina works as a research assistant for the project „Klimapakt 2030plus – Metropolitan Region Nuremberg”, where I contribute to research on urban living labs.
After visiting Ireland for the first time in March 2025, Katharina completely fell in love with the island and decided to move to Dublin to write her master’s thesis abroad. During the academic year 2025/26, Katharina is collaborating with the Coastal TALES Project at the Trinity Centre for Environmental Humanities (TCEH). Katharina's thesis, „Climate Playgrounds as Public Catalysts for Climate Adaptation: An Interdisciplinary Co-Design Study in Dublin Bay, Ireland” focuses on three main aspects: first, familiarising children with the ecological and coastal changes affecting Dublin Bay; second, exploring their personal stories and experiences connected to the Bay, as the project is based on storytelling as a method; and third, asking them about their visions and wishes for a more sustainable Dublin. The project brings together the social, cultural, and artistic dimensions of urban planning with the ecological realities of coastal change — such as sea-level rise, erosion, and tidal dynamics. The Climate Playground reimagines the idea of a traditional playground as a space for dialogue, environmental learning, and creative climate adaptation. Ultimately, it aims to give children a voice in rethinking their urban and ecological futures — because they are the ones who will shape the coastal cities of tomorrow.
paulkf@tcd.ie