Tianyu Guo has been working as a research assistant in the Department of Social-Ecological Interactions in Agricultural Systems at the University of Göttingen since November 2018. From 2012 to 2018, he studied sociology at the Agricultural University of China, where he obtained his bachelor and master's degree in this field.

"Tradition, indigenous knowledge, identity and social memory: How can a man-made ecological system be sustainable over thousands of years" is the title of his dissertation, in the frame of which he examines a traditional dry-land terrace system in rural China. His research interests focus on the oral history of farmers, narratives of local and indigenous knowledge, cultural identification of villagers, and comparative analysis in traditional social-ecological systems.

His fieldwork covers almost exclusively areas certified by GIAHS (Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems) or CN-NIAHS (China National Important Agricultural Heritage Systems). The core work of his study is the search for ways to maintain sustainability and resilience in an outstanding traditional agricultural ecosystem.

Further information: Researchgate.