Publication: “Between two Hypes” Big Data and Landgrab

In an interdisciplinary effort, Alex Gekker and Mirko Tobias Schäfer from the Data School and professor Annelies Zoomers from International Development Studies have investigated how digital methods inform research in the geo sciences. looking at the phenomenon of the landgrab debate, the researchers show how the data from social media platforms and websites can enrich the perspective of researchers. The data help to understand the dynamic of debates and their audiences, and data help to map participants as issue networks. In critical reflection on data practices, the authors point out the pitfalls of data visualization and call for increased data literacy. The article is published in Geoforum. If you are interested in the article and your university does not provide access to the journal please contact us for a copy.

Between two hypes: Will “big data” help unravel blind spots in understanding the “global land rush?”. In: Geoforum Vol. 69, February 2016, Pages 147–159 , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2015.11.017