research group leader, IntCDC University of Stuttgart, Germany📜
Marie Davidova is a systemic designer, architect, and researcher with a deep interest in post-anthropocene challenges, urban biodiversity, and more-than-human perspectives. She has had an extensive career in academia and research, working in various countries including Germany, the Czech Republic, Norway, and the United Kingdom. Her expertise includes codesign, prototyping, urban interventions, and tackling wicked problems through systemic design. Currently, she serves as an Independent Junior Research Group Leader at the University of Stuttgart.
Profile
Orcid
Education 🎓
Marie Davidova earned her Ph.D. from Czech Technical University in Prague in 2018, specializing in MOLAB. She also holds a Master of Architecture (MArch) from Arkitektur- og designhøgskolen i Oslo (2004-2007), focusing on architecture and design.
Experience 💼
Marie has held numerous prominent positions, including Lecturer at Cardiff University (2018–2021) and Main Investigator in several research projects at Technical University of Liberec. She is the founding member and chair of Collaborative Collective, z.s. in Prague, where she plays a key role as a researcher, fundraiser, and administrator. Marie’s experience spans teaching, architectural practice, and research in urban design, systemic approaches, and environmental practices.
Research Interest 🔬
Marie’s research interests focus on post-anthropocene futures, exploring urban biodiversity and the intersection of systems thinking with design. She works on understanding complex urban ecosystems through gigamapping and prototypical interventions, emphasizing co-design and systemic change in architecture and urban planning. Her recent work includes RP–29: COLife, a project on more-than-human ecosystems, addressing environmental sustainability and human-environment interactions.
Award 🏆
Marie has received multiple grants and awards, including the Urban Biodiversity Support Award (2023) and the Stuttgarter Change Labs Grant (2021-2022). Her work on urban ecosystems has been widely recognized and supported by both DFG and AHRC/DFG.
Publication 📚
“Codesigning More-than-Human Ecosystems with Social and Environmental Systems: The Gamification of NetWall and BioDiveIn” published in Land (2025). DOI: 10.3390/land14010165
“BioDiveIn”, presented at the Relating Systems Thinking and Design 12 Symposium (2024).
“COLife_05: Gigamap and Game Introduction” (2024) DataCite DOI
Conclusion
Marie Davidova is a highly deserving candidate for the Best Researcher Award due to her exceptional contributions in systemic design, urban biodiversity, and post-anthropocene research. Her innovative approach to urban interventions and complex ecosystem modeling, coupled with her leadership roles and prestigious awards, positions her as a thought leader in architecture and environmental research. With a continued focus on enhancing academic visibility and expanding collaborative partnerships, she is poised to make even greater impacts in the field.