at home… in China

Education/Academic History

University Education

• 2006 – 2008 (without degree), teacher training, University of Vienna, Austria
  2007 – 2008 at Latvijas Universitate, Riga, Latvia, with Campus Europae exchange program
• 2002-04, Ph.D. (Dr. phil.) in Sociocultural Anthropology, University of Vienna, Austria
  dissertation: “Cognizing Environments and Living in the World”
• 2002-04, Ph.D. (Dr.rer.nat.) in Ecology, University of Vienna, Austria
  dissertation: “Positive Ecology”
• 1996-2001, M.A. (Mag.phil.) in Sociocultural Anthropology, University of Vienna, Austria
  diploma thesis: “Buddhismus im Diskurs von Umwelt und Religion” [Buddhism in the Discourse on Environment and Religion]

Schooling

• 1988 – 1996: Neusprachliches Bundesgymnasium Neusiedl/See, Austria
• 1993/94: Roncalli High School, Indianapolis, IN (EF High School Year Abroad program)

Teaching Experience

at university/tertiary level

• since September 2008: German lecturer at Xiangtan University, Xiangtan, Hunan
• July-August 2009: German lecturer at Deutschkolleg – Zentrum zur Studienvorbereitung, Tongji University, Shanghai
• 2002/03: Teaching assistant for lecture course on ethnohistory, Institute of Sociocultural Anthropology, University of Vienna

at secondary level

• 2007/08: (guest) teacher for ESL/EFL at Agenskalna gimnazija, Latvia
• 2005/06: “Lernhilfe” (tutor) for children in municipal kindergarten, Vienna

Work Experience

• 2002-2004: Assistant at cultural anthropology branch of University of Vienna’s library
• 1999-2001: Tutor in technical support (IT equipment), and webmaster, Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology, University of Vienna
• 1998-2000: jobs in promotion/sales and customer service for Austrian mobile telecommunications company

Research Project Experience

• Capsicum ethnobotany:
  growing-out trials of chiltepin (2006) and of landraces from East Asia and the Himalayas (2007)
• Ethnography of Parkour:
  participant observation in Austria (Vienna, Salzburg) and Latvia (Riga), 2006-2008
• Stadt/Natur/Sport [City/Nature/Sports]:
  survey on relationships between sports practice and environmental attitudes in follow-up to “Sports and Sustainability,” supported by funding from the City of Vienna government, 2007
• Sport und Nachhaltigkeit [Sports and Sustainability]:
  literature study on (possible) relationships between engagement in sports activity, environmental attitudes, and orientation towards sustainable ways of life. Financed through Wissenschaftsstipendium der Stadt Wien (scholarship for science of the City of Vienna); 2006

Publications

• 2007: Menschenrechte und Nachhaltigkeit – Verknüpfte Zukünfte. [Human Rights and Sustainability – Entwined Futures] In: Erwin Riefler (ed). Popper und die Menschenrechte. [(Sir Karl) Popper and Human Rights] Frankfurt: Peter Lang
• 2005: Ecology and Anthropology: A Field without Future? In: Environmental and Ecological Anthropology, Vol. 1, Nr. 1 (February 25, 2005; Notes and Queries)
  Positive Ecology – Sustainability and ‘the Good Life’ (Ashgate Studies in Environmental Policy and Practice). London: Ashgate
• 2003: Wrana, Iris and Gerald Schmidt. Ethnologie und Wirtschaftsunternehmen. Von der Ambivalenz zum Siegerteam. [Ethnology and Business Enterprises. From Ambivalence to Winning Teams.] In: Seiser, Czarnowski, Pinkl, Gingrich (eds). Explorationen Ethnologischer Berufsfelder. [Explorations of Employment Opportunities for Ethnologists.] Vienna: WUV

Writings

• 2009: regular commentary for “Global Times“
  articles on chile peppers in China for fiery-foods.com (in English) and pepperworld.com (in German)
  CSR in China – Viel Neues im Osten? In: Glocalist Magazin Nr. 37, May/June 2009
• 2007: Irgendwo dazwischen. [Somewhere in Between.] Article (and interview) for Austrian radio station FM4 (“L’Auberge FM4″)
  My Love of Chiltepins. online: fiery-foods.com
• 2005: Ökonomie oder Ökologie? Ein gutes Leben – und Nachhaltigkeit! [Economics or Ecology? A Good Life – and Sustainability!] In: Glocalist Review Nr. 93, 2005
• 2002: Schatz der Menschheit. Über die Bedeutung der Kulturpflanzen. [Treasure of Mankind. On the Meaning/Importance of Cultivated Plant Species] In: Hagia Chora, Nr. 14, 2002