PhD
 

PhD Thesis Title: Spatial Patterns of Violence

PhD Supervisor: Prof. Ravi Bhavnani

Violence unfolds in spatial patterns that serve as unique pathways to underlying mechanisms and biases, as well as to avenues for conflict resolution and digital forensic investigations. Harnessing novel methodologies such as satellite and radar remote sensing, spatial econometrics, 3-D animations, GIS, OSINT sound profile analysis, and digital forensic methods, I investigate cases of violence of high political salience, in need of robust and reliable factual analyses. The thesis explores spatial patterns of aerial targeting in Gaza from 2005 until today, attacks against refugees and refugee shelters in Berlin and other German cities, and finally US gun violence. As a part of these efforts, he also teaches OSINT techniques at the Executive Education branch of the Graduate Institute for the Conflict and Fragility Management Program, as well as for master students in their methods training.
 

Profile
 

Joshua deploys advanced computational methods to document, study and present critical evidence about pressing cases of contemporary violence. This research interest emerged from studying migration studies and conflict resolution at the University College Maastricht, followed by a human-rights internship in East Jerusalem and a regional focus on Arabic and Middle East Studies at the George Washington University in Washington DC. During his Master at the IHEID, he acquired a stronger background in statistics and digital forensic methods, conducting a research project on aerial forensics in conflict zones, which led to the current PhD research. Next to his studies he works on UN reform at Article 109, plays the violin in the Philharmonie de la Genève Internationale, and leads the GISA Music Collective.

Publications and Works
 

• Aerial Occupation and Aerial Forensics in Gaza | Urban Morphology & Violence,  | Joshua Hellinger, Masters Student in International Relations/Political Science, Geneva Graduate Institute | Ravi Bhavnani, Professor, Department of International Relations & Political Science, Geneva Graduate Institute
   

Areas of expertise
 

• Statistics, Remote Sensing
• OSINT
• Spatial Modelling
• Human Rights Investigations, UN Reform